Context: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has told the Supreme Court that two structures inside the Mehrauli Archaeological Park in Delhi bear religious significance as devotees visit daily to the 13th century Ashiq Allah Dargah and Chillagah of Baba Farid, the revered 13th century Sufi saint.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about important structures in the Mehrauli Archaeological Park.
About Mehrauli Archaeological Park
- It is a large area spanning over 200 acres in South Delhi and belongs to pre-Sultanate to Colonial period architecture.
- It covers over 400 monuments including destroyed temples (Jain and Hindu), masjid, Dargahs, Qutub Complex, forts and tombs of many rulers including Balban.
- Archaeological structures in this park showcase Indo-Islamic architecture mostly belonging to the Delhi Sultanate era.
Important structures:
1. Rajon ki Baoli:
- It is a stepwell and also includes a mosque and tomb. It was built during the period of Daulat Khan Lodhi (1506 CE).
- The name Rajon Ki Baoli is derived from the 'Rajbirs' or 'Mistris' - the term used for masons. It got its name in the early 20th century because of the masons that moved in permanently into the area.
2. Jamali Kamali Mosque and Tomb:
- It is the tomb of a Sufi saint Shaikh Jamali Kamboh and possibly his disciple Kamali. They belonged to the period of transition between Lodhis and Mughals.
3. Tomb of Ghiyas ud din Balban:
- It was built in 1287 in rubble masonry style. According to many historians it had India’s first true Islamic Dome (Alai Darwaza of 1311 being the earliest surviving dome).
4. Jahaz Mahal:
- It was so named, since its reflection (illusion) in the surrounding reservoir looked like a ship floating on a lake.
- It is inferred to have been built during the Lodi dynasty period (1452–1526) as a pleasure resort, Sarai or an inn.
5. Zafar Mahal:
- It is considered as the last monumental structure built as a summer palace during the fading years of the Mughal era. It was built near the Dargah of sufi saint Hazrat Khwaja Quttubuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki.
- Nomenclature: Named after the last Mughal ruler Bahadur Shah Zafar (who built the doorway or Hathi Gate in the palace and completed the structure in 1847).
- Patronage: began during Mughal ruler Akbar Shah II (18th century).
6. Moti Masjid:
- The royal mosque is situated adjacent to the wall of Dargah of Hazarat Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki.
- This is a very small mosque with a double entrance. One door opens inside the premises of Dargah, and another opens in the Zafar Mahal. This was built by Bahadur Shah I.
