32-707: Mehrauli Archaeological Park is an archaeological area spread over 200 acre in the Mehrauli neighbourhood of the South Delhi district of Delhi , India, adjacent to the Qutub Minar (a World Heritage Site ) and the Qutb complex . It consists of over 100 historically significant monuments. It is the only area in Delhi known for 1,000 years of continuous occupation, and includes the ruins of Lal Kot built by Tomar Rajputs in 1060 CE, making it
64-557: A controversy erupted after the Delhi Development Authority demolished a 600-year-old mosque, madrasa and several graves without any prior notice. The demolition was criticized by several historians and scholars. Post Delhi's 2022 municipal delimitation, the Mehrauli assembly constituency (AC-45) comprises 3 municipal wards, which are Lado Sarai (ward 154), Mehrauli (ward 155), and Vasant Kunj (ward 156). Of these, ward 155
96-452: A marble well of 2 ft (0.6 m) width and 1 ft (0.3 m) depth. The sanctum is 17 ft (5.2 m) square with a flat roof over which a truncated shikara (tower) is built. Apart from this tower, a dome is the other feature seen in the temple (pictured). The idol is covered in sequins and cloth. Two small punkahs (fans) of the same materials are seen suspended over the Idol from
128-507: A stepwell, and Madhi Masjid. Other near by monuments Jahaz Mahal , Zafar Mahal of Bahadur Shah II alias Lal Mahal , Hauz-i-Shamsi and Tomb of Adham Khan . Pillars and remains of several monuments , Jharna which is like a pleasure garden of late Mughals are also lay scattered in the park. The redevelopment of the area as an archaeological park and conservation of important structures started in 1997, in collaboration between Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC),
160-464: Is a Hindu temple dedicated to the goddess Yogmaya , also considered to be a sister of Krishna as she took avatar as Vindhyavasini , and situated in Mehrauli , New Delhi, India , close to the Qutb complex . According to local priests and native records, this is one of those 27 temples destroyed by Mamluks and it is the only surviving temple belonging to pre-sultanate period which is still in use. Hindu king Samrat Vikramaditya Hemu reconstructed
192-448: Is a neighbourhood in South Delhi , Delhi , India. It represents a constituency in the legislative assembly of Delhi. The area is close to Gurugram and next to Vasant Kunj . Mehrauli is one of the seven medieval cities that make up the present union territory of Delhi. The Lal Kot fort was constructed by the Tomar chief Anangpal I around 731 AD and expanded by AnangPal II in
224-477: Is also venue of a large congregation of devotees during the Navratri celebrations. The present temple was restored in early 19th century and may be the descendant of a much older Devi shrine. Adjacent to the temple lies, a water body, johad , known as Anangtal Baoli , after King Anangpal Tomar , and covered by trees from all sides The temple is also an integral part of an important inter-faith festival of Delhi,
256-506: Is continued to this day in the name of Phool Walon Ki Sair , a festival held for three days during October every year. Another important fact about this ancient temple is that for more than 5000 years {i.e. the times when the said temple was built}, the people who live around this ancient temple have been taking care of the yogamaya temple. It is said and believed that all these people who are now more than 200 in number had one common ancestor at point in time who, hundreds of years ago started
288-615: Is like any ordinary neighborhood today, its past is what distinguishes it in terms of architecture. Ahinsa Sthal is a Jain temple in Mehrauli. The main deity of the temple is Mahavira , the 24th and last Tirthankara (human spiritual guide) of a present half cycle of time. A magnificent statue of Tirthankara Mahavira is installed here. Even though the capital shifted from Mehrauli after the Mamluk dynasty rule came to an end, many other dynasties contributed significantly to Mehrauli's architecture. The most visible piece of architecture remains
320-620: Is reserved for women, while the other two are unreserved. As of September 2024, AAP's Naresh Yadav is the MLA of Mehrauli. The councillor for Lado Sarai is Rajeev Sansanwal (AAP), for Mehrauli is Rekha Mahender Chaudhary (AAP), and for Vasant Kunj is Jagmohan Mehlawat (BJP). Concealed in a black polythene bag, a tiffin box bomb was dropped by two unidentified persons riding a motorcycle in Mehrauli's Sarai electronic market on 27 September 2008, killing 3 people and injuring 23 others. Yogmaya Temple Yogmaya Temple , also Jogmaya temple ,
352-568: Is the first true arch in Indo-Islamic architecture . Another tomb, that of Balban's son, Khan Shahid, who died before he could be crowned, is also located nearby in Mehrauli Archeological Park. A baoli or stepwell known as Rajon Ki Baoli was constructed in 1506 during Sikandar Lodhi 's reign. It was used to store water though it is now completely dried and is now known as Sukhi Baoli (dry well). The Jamali Kamali Mosque
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#1732855438882384-609: The Iron Pillar in the Qutb complex , and within the Lal Kot walls, the first fortress citadel of Delhi, constructed by the Tomar/Tanwar King Anangpal I around 731 CE and expanded by King AnangPal II in the 11th century who also constructed Lal Kot . The temple rebuilt in 1827 is a simple but contemporary structure with an entrance hall and a sanctum sanctorum that houses the main Idol of Yogmaya made of black stone placed in
416-547: The 11th century, who shifted his capital to Lal Kot from Kannauj .The Tomars were defeated by the Chauhans in the 12th century. Prithviraj Chauhan further expanded the fort, which is now Qila Rai Pithora . He was defeated and killed in 1192 by Mohammed Ghori , who put his general Qutb-ud-din Aybak in charge and returned to Afghanistan. Subsequently in 1206, after the death of Mohammed Ghori, Qutubuddin enthroned himself as
448-463: The Devotees to the goddess are placed over a marble table of 18 inches square and 9 inches height set in front of the idol in the sanctum floor. Bells, otherwise a part of Hindu temples, are not tolled during the worship of the goddess. Wine and meat are forbidden to be offered at the temple and goddess Yoga Maya is stated to be austere and exacting. An interesting display at the temple premises in
480-832: The Qutub Minar which was built by Qutb ud-Din Aibak with subsequent additions by Iltutmish and Alauddin Khalji . The Qutb Minar complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site , and also the venue for the annual Qutub Festival .Mausoleum of a 13th-century Sufi saint, Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki , is also situated near the Qutub Minar Complex and the venue for the annual Phoolwalon-ki-sair Festival. The dargah complex also houses graves of later Mughal emperors, Bahadur Shah I , Shah Alam II , and Akbar II , in an adjacent marble enclosure. To
512-611: The State Department of Archaeology, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), which first started systematic documentation of structures in the area and also started conducting heritage walks since 2000. Over the years, INTACH has restored some 40 monuments in the Park and added signages, heritage trails, and sandstone trail-markers. Mehrauli Mehrauli
544-483: The annual Phool Walon Ki Sair . In 12th-century Jain scriptures, Mehrauli is also mentioned as Yoginipura , after the temple. The temple is believed to be built by the Pandavas , at the end of Mahabharata war. Mehrauli is one of the seven ancient cities that make up the present state of Delhi. The temple has its association with Mughal Emperor Akbar II (1806–37) by Lala Sethmal. The temple lies 260 yards from
576-512: The first Sultan of Delhi . Thus Delhi became the capital of the Mamluk dynasty of Delhi ( Slave dynasty ), the first dynasty of Muslim sultans to rule over northern India. Mehrauli remained the capital of the Mamluk dynasty which ruled until 1290. During the Khilji dynasty , the capital shifted to Siri . In 12th-century Jain scriptures, the location is also mentioned as Yogninipura , now noticeable by
608-501: The labyrinth of its passages, it was later used by the British as a residence, rest house and even as a police station. Close to Adham Khan's tomb, lies that of another Mughal General, Muhammad Quli Khan , later it served as the residence of Sir Thomas Metcalfe , governor-general's agent at the Mughal court. The Mehrauli Archaeological Park spread over 200 acres, adjacent to Qutb Minar site
640-453: The left of the dargah, lies Zafar Mahal , the summer palace of the last Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar along with Moti Masjid , a small mosque, built for private prayer by the son of Aurangzeb , Bahadur Shah I . Balban's tomb belonging to Balban , Mamluk dynasty ruler of Delhi Sultanate was constructed here in the 13th century can still be seen through in a dilapidated condition. The architecturally important structure as it
672-598: The oldest extant fort of Delhi, and architectural relics of subsequent period, rule of Khalji dynasty , Tughlaq dynasty , Lodhi dynasty of Delhi Sultanate , Mughal Empire , and the British Raj . The region contains sites like Tomb of Balban , ca 1287 CE, wherein a true arch and the true dome were built for the first time in India, Jamali Kamali Mosque and Tomb of Maulana Jamali Kamali ( Jamali Kamboh ), built 1526 - 1535 CE, Quli Khan's Tomb, Gandhak ki Baoli, Rajon Ki Baoli ,
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#1732855438882704-449: The past (but now in an open wall panel) was an iron cage of 8 ft (2.4 m) square and10 ft (3.0 m) in height in which two stone tigers are exhibited. A passage, between the temple and the wall panel has flat roof which is covered with the planks overlaid by bricks and mortar and fixed with bells. It is believed that the main idol in the temple was that of Yogamaya ( daughter of Yashoda ), an incarnation of Durga , born as
736-505: The practice of taking care of the temple by offering prayers to the goddess which includes doing the shringar of the goddess yogamaya twice a day, cleaning the temple, making and distributing prasad to the devotees visiting the temple and other related things. These 200 odd people who now take care of the temple carrying forward the customs and traditions of their forefathers do it voluntarily and amicably. The annual Phoolwalon-ki-sair Festival (Festival of flower-sellers), which commences from
768-546: The presence of the " Yogmaya Temple ", near the Qutub Minar complex, believed to have been built by the Pandavas . It was also the execution place of Banda Singh Bahadur after he sacked the regional Mughal capital of Samana . Mehrauli lies in the South district of Delhi at 28°30′57″N 77°10′39″E / 28.51583°N 77.17750°E / 28.51583; 77.17750 . To its north lies Malviya Nagar. Vasant Kunj lies to its West and Tughlakabad to its south. Like
800-448: The rest of Delhi, Mehrauli has a semi-arid climate with high variation between summer and winter temperatures. While the summer temperatures may go up to 46 °C, the winters can seem freezing to people used to a warm climate with near 0 °C. The soil of Mehrauli consists of sandy loam to loam texture. The water level has gone down in the recent past hovering between 45 m to 50 m due to rise in population. Though Mehrauli
832-534: The roof. The walled enclosure around the temple is 400 ft (121.9 m) square, with towers at the four corners. Twenty two towers were built within the precincts of the temple at the orders of the Sood Mal, the builder. The floor of the temple was originally made of red stone but since then has been replaced by marble. The main tower above the sanctum is 42 ft (12.8 m) high and has copper plated shikara or pinnacle . The flowers and sweet meats offered by
864-468: The sister of Krishna . Kansa , cousin of Devaki (mother of Krishna) and uncle of Yogamaya and Kansa attempted to kill Yogamaya on Krishna Janmastami day when Krishna was born. But Yogamaya, who was cleverly substituted for Krishna, vanished after predicting Kansa's death at the hands of her brother Krishna. Later she reborn as Krishna's younger sister Subhadra . Another folk legend is that of Mughal Emperor Akbar II 's (r. 1806-1837) association with
896-418: The temple and brought back the temple from ruins. During Aurangzeb 's reign a rectangular Islamic Style hall was added to the temple. Though its original (300-200 BCE) architecture could never be restored after its destruction by Islamic rulers, but its reconstruction had been carried out repetitively by the locals. Yogmaya or Jogmaya is considered, an aspect of Maya , the illusionary power of God. The temple
928-609: The temple. His wife was distraught at the incarceration and exile of her son Mirza Jehangir who had fired from a Red Fort window at the then British Resident that had resulted in the killing of the bodyguard. Yogamaya had appeared in her dream and the Queen praying for her son's safe return had vowed to place punkah made of flowers at the Yogmaya temple and in the nearby Muslim shrine of Qutbuddin Bhaktiar Khaki. This practice set since then
960-498: Was built by Sir Thomas Theophilus Metcalfe in true English style as a pleasure retreat by surrounding it with many rest houses, follies, and gardens. 'Dilkhusha' in Urdu means "Delight of the Heart". The Adham Khan's Tomb was constructed by Mughal Emperor Akbar in memory of his foster brother and general Adham Khan in 1566. The tomb, also known as Bhulbhulaiyan , as one could get lost in
992-616: Was built in 1528, in honour of the Sufi saint Shaikh Hamid bin Fazlullah, also known as Dervish Shaikh tahaJamali Kamboh Dihlawi or Jalal Khan. The saint's tomb built-in 1536 upon his death is adjacent to the mosque. Near the Jamali Kamali lies the tomb of Quli Khan, which during the British period was converted into a country house by the Metcalfe family. Known as 'the retreat' or ' Dilkhusha ', this
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1024-467: Was redeveloped in 1997. Most of the monuments and heritage buildings in Mehrauli today lie in a state of despair. Due to unplanned urban sprawl especially after the Partition of India , most havelis , mosques and baolis were occupied and razed to build houses. Poor restoration and conservation have led to the disappearance, encroachment and vandalization of many heritage buildings. In February 2024,
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