Spent more than 3 hours on 22nd May, 2016, visiting monuments of Rajput, Sultanate and Mughal era lying behind Kutub Minar and in Mehrauli ... 45 degree heat and a burning sun were forgotten till dehydration finally started taking over.
Photos again of 22nd May visit. Adham Khan was a general in the army of Akbar and was also the son of his wet nurse, Maham Anga. In 1561 he fell out with another noble of Akbar named Ataga Khan who was also the son of another of his wet nurse. Adham Khan killed Ataga Khan and for this act Akbar punished him with death by having him thrown down the walls of Agra Fort. Maham Aga also shortly died of grief after the 40 day mourning period and Akber had this monument built for them where they were buried.
Unlike traditional Mughal design, the monument has an octagonal shape. In about 1830 a British officer converted the monument into his residence but removing the structure of the two graves. Subsequently the building functioned as a guest house, a police station as well as a post office. The tomb was finally restored on the orders of Lord Curzon, but only one was built, that of Maham Anga was not rebuilt within the monument.
The Jahaz Mahal is located within the heart of Mehrauli on the banks of an old lake called Hauz-e-Shamsi. It appears that probably in old times the water of the lake partly or completely surrounded the building, but at present it lies a few meters to the west of the main structure.
The monument appears to have been constructed in the pre-Mughal Sultanate period, during the Lodi era, (between 1452 – 1526). It appears to have functioned as a Sarai or inn, but could have been a pleasure resort for the nobility also.
At present the cultural events of the famous annual event of Delhi, `Fulvalon ki sair’, take place in this monument.
In the above photograph taken on 22nd of May (last month) the Gandhak ki baoli was nearly filled with water, reaching the top floor, but it is a 5 story step well with pillared corridors all around. The water in this step-well contains sulphur and smells of it, giving it its name. It was said to have medicinal properties. The Baoli lies in the heart of Mehrauli market.
Visit same date - 22nd May. This is a large mosque with a sprawling courtyard within the ruins of the 1st city of Delhi which lie in the part of the ridge that extends behind the Qutub Minar. A guard was posted here and it is under the protection of the ASI but there was absence of any information board. It appears to be of the Sultanate period.
Visited and photographed on 22nd May. Mohd. Quli Khan was a brother of Adam Khan, foster brother of Akbar. His tomb, built in the 17th century, lies close to the Qutub Minar, affording a beautiful view of the monument, within the ruins of the first city of Delhi.
It was bought by Sir Thomas Theophilus Metcalfe (1795–1853), the Governor General last British Resident of Delhi. He converted into a `retreat’ called Dilkhusha (delight of the heart) by adding a structure all around it and surrounding it with extensive gardens and `follies’.
There are two meaning of the word `Follies’ one of these being - a costly ornamental building with no practical purpose, especially a tower or mock-Gothic ruin built in a large garden or park.
Metcalf used the building as a residence away from the main city of Delhi which lay at quite a distance. It was a special retreat during the monsoon months, providing an excellent view of the Qutub minar and surrounded by lakes and well kept gardens. Metcalf also rented it out to visitors and it is mentioned specially to honeymoon couples.
