South Dehli
Posted by adminSouth Delhi
Hauz Khas Village, poised at the edge of a 14th-century water reservoir, and madrasa and tomb of Feroze Shah Tughlaq, is south along Aurobindo Marg from Lodi Gardens. Although the village has been transformed into an enclave of expensive boutiques, art galleries (particularly good is the Village Gallery which has a wide selection of modern and contemporary Indian art), and restaurants, it still retains much of its greenery and charm. Traditional dance performances are sometimes held here in the evenings.
Monuments dot the area: the ruins of Siri Fort, now very overgrown and difficult to see, stand near the Asian Games Village complex to the east (open only to members). Southwards on Aurobindo Marg, past the Outer Ring Road and Aurobindo Ashram, stands Qutb Minar Complex (open sunrise to sunset; entrance fee). This remarkable 72-metre (278-ft) high tower, engraved with verses from the Koran, was built in the 13th century by Qutb-ud-Din-Aibak, the first Muslim sultan of Delhi, to celebrate his victory over the Hindu kings. In the grounds, Aibak’s Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque is believed to be the oldest in India, built using parts of demolished Hindu and Jain temples. In the mosque courtyard is a 4th-century iron pillar, remarkable for having never shown any sign of corrosion. The ruins of Lai Kot, Delhi’s first city, are also in this area.
Other historic sites dot Mehrauli Village to the west amid a labyrinth of old Indian bazaars. Further west on Gurgaon Road the tombs of Jamali Kamali, noted for their coloured ceilings, and a giant statue of Mahavira face each other. Turn south again to see the spectacular modern temples and ashram complexes of Chattarpur. These offer courses in yoga, naturotherapy, color therapy, pyramid power and more traditional religious studies.
