Mehrauli

Context: Mehrauli city in Delhi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was recently revamped for the G-20 summit.

About Mehrauli City: 

Introduction: 

• Mehrauli is one of the seven medieval cities that make up the present union territory of Delhi apart from Siri, Tughlaqabad, Jahanpanah, Ferozabad, Deenpanah and Shahjahanabad.
• The Lal Kot fort was constructed by the Tomar chief Anangpal I around 731 AD and expanded by AnangPal II in 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.
• In 1206, after the death of Mohammed Ghori, Qutubuddin enthroned himself as 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 the presence of the ‘Yogmaya Temple’, near the Qutub Minar complex. 
• It was also the execution place of Banda Singh Bahadur after he sacked the regional Mughal capital of Samana.

Various historical structure in Mehrauli: 

• There are a number of tombs of prominent people from the Sultanate (1206 to 1506) and Mughal (1506 to 1857) era. These tombs are usually placed near the dargahs of saints.
  • Tombs of the later Mughals are near the dargah of Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki in Mehrauli or Humayun’s tomb near Nizamuddin Auliya’s dargah.
• 16th Century tomb of Adham Khan and his mother, Maham Anga: 
  • Reminder of Akbar’s wrath on Adham for murdering his general and prime minister Atgah Khan.
  • Built in an octagonal shape with low towers at corners.
  • Consists of Lodhi-style domed octagonal chambers with ‘Verandahs’ on each side. 
• Zafar Mahal or Lal Mahal built in red sandstone: 
  • Zafar Mahal was the summer palace of the last Mughal Emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar II.
  • The building has two components namely, the Mahal, which was built first by Akbar Shah II in the 18th century, and the entrance gate that was reconstructed in the 19th century by last Mughal ruler Bahadur Shah Zafar II.
  • Bahadur Shah Zafar II, wished to be buried in the precincts of the Zafar Mahal. However, after the first war of Independence (1857), he was deported by Major William Hudson in 1858 to Rangoon (Burma/Myanmar), where he died of old age.
  • This palace is also known for the Phoolwalon Ki Sair pass. This festival was started in 1812 by Akbar Shah II’s wife Mumtaz Mahal, after her son Mirza Jahangir was exiled to Allahabad by the British Resident Sir Archibald Seton.

• Jamali Kamali tomb and mosque contain the tombs of Sufi saint Jamali or Shaikh Fazlu’llah and his disciple. Jamali was a well-known court poet who enjoyed the patronage of the Lodhi dynasty and that of Babur and Humayun as well.
• Tombs of Ghiyasuddin Balban (1266-87) and his son, Shahid Khan: 
  • Shahid had died fighting against the Mongols near Multan during Balban’s reign. 
  • Balban of Mamluk dynasty is remembered for taking strong steps to control dacoity and robbery on Delhi roads in the 13th Century.
  • Balban’s tomb is housed in the building Dar-ul Amaan (Haven of Safety) and as the name suggests, it served as a haven from debt collectors.
  • It is the first site where the true arch and dome, a prominent feature of Indo-Islamic architecture, introduced by the Turks, made its appearance.
• A baoli or stepwell known as Rajon Ki Baoli: 
  • It was constructed in 1506 during Sikandar Lodhi's reign.
  • It was used to store water.
  • It was commissioned by Daulat Khan in 1506 CE, an administrator of the Lodi dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate.
  • The enclosure of Rajon Ki Baoli includes a mosque and a tomb.
  • The name Rajon Ki Baoli is derived from the 'Rajbirs' or 'Mistris', the term used for masons.
  • A courtyard surrounded by a verandah with many beautiful pillars and the arches in the verandah are made in the typical north Indian fashion of that time.
• Qutb Complex, close to the North-West of Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque:
  • Tomb of Shamsuddin Iltutmish (1211-1236 CE):
    • Built by Iltutmish himself in 1235, a year before his death.
    • Made in white marble, surrounded by carved arched entrances on the three sides.