Mehrauli definition and meaning

Mehrauli
— neighbourhood —
Qutub Minar
Mehrauli
Coordinates: 28°30′57″N 77°10′39″E / 28.51583°N 77.1775°E / 28.51583; 77.1775Coordinates: 28°30′57″N 77°10′39″E / 28.51583°N 77.1775°E / 28.51583; 77.1775
Country	India
State	Delhi
District	South West district
Government
• MLA	Balrum Tanwar
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	110 030
Telephone code	011
Vehicle registration	DL-xx

Mehrauli (Hindi: महरौली, Urdu: مہرؤلی, Punjabi: ਮਹਰੌਲੀ) is a neighbourhood in the South West district of Delhi in India. It represents a constituency in the legislative assembly of Delhi. The area is located close to Gurgaon and next to Vasant Kunj.

1 History
2 Geography and climate
3 Architecture
4 2008 blasts
5 Accessibility
6 Landmarks
7 Medical Facilities
8 Banks in Mehrauli
9 Schools
10 Areas under Meharauli
11 Areas in South Delhi
12 Historical architecture in Mehrauli
13 See also
14 References
15 Further reading
16 External links

History

Mehrauli, Which was earlier known as Mihirawali means Home of Mihir, was founded by the King Mihir Bhoja of the Gurjara-Pratihara Dynasty.^[1]

Mahatma Gandhi visiting the dargah of Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki, on his Urs, 27 January 1948.

Mehrauli is one of the seven ancient cities that make up the present state of Delhi. The Lal Kot fort was constructed by the Gurjar^[2] Tanwar chief Anangpal I around AD 731 and expanded by AnangPal II in the 11th century, who shifted his capital to Lal Kot from Kannauj. The Gurjar^[2] Tanwars were defeated by the Chauhans in the 12th century. Prithviraj Chauhan further expanded the fort and called it 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 the first Sultan of Delhi. Thus Delhi became the capital of Mamluk dynasty of Delhi (Slave dynasty), the first dynasty of Muslim sultans to rule over northern India.^[3] Mehrauli remained the capital of the Mamluk dynasty which ruled until 1290. During the Khilji dynasty, the capital shifted to Siri.^[3]

Balban's tomb, Mehrauli

In 12-century Jain scriptures, the place is also mentioned as Yogninipura, now noticeable by the presence of the famous, "Yogmaya Temple", near the Qutub Minar complex, believed to be built by the Pandavas.^[4]

Geography and climate

Mehrauli lies in the South West district of Delhi at 28°30′57″N 77°10′39″E / 28.51583°N 77.1775°E / 28.51583; 77.1775. To its north lies Hauz Khas. Vasant Kunj lies to its West and Tughlakabad to its south.

Like 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.^[5]

Architecture

Jamali Kamali Mosque and Tomb complex, Mehrauli Archaeological Park

Iron Pillar erected by Chandragupta II, within the Qutb complex

Though Mehrauli is like any ordinary neighbourhood today, its past is what distinguishes it in terms of architecture. Yet the famous conservation architect AGK Menon is doing all he could to displace the indigenous population and return Mehrauli to its past glory, as accorded by the British Colonial norms.

Even though the capital shifted from Mehrauli after the Slave dynasty rule came to an end, many other dynasties contributed significantly to Mehrauli's architecture.

The most visible piece of architecture remains the Qutb complex which was initiated by Qutub ud din Aybak with subsequent additions by Iltutmish and Alauddin Khilji.^[6] The Qutb complex is today a UNESCO world heritage site.,^[7] and also the venue for the annual Qutub Festival.

Mausoleum of 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 the left of the dargah, lies Moti Masjid, a small mosque, built for private prayer by the son of Aurangzeb, Bahadur Shah I.

Balban's tomb belonging to Balban, Slave dynasty ruler of Delhi Sultanate was constructed here in the 13th century can still be seen though in a dilapidated condition. Architecturally important structure as it 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).^[8]

The Jamali Kamali mosque was built in 1528,^[9] in honour of the Sufi saint Shaikh Hamid bin Fazlullah, also known as Dervish Shaikh Jamali Kamboh Dihlawi or Jalal Khan. The saint's tomb built in 1536 upon his death is adjacent to the mosque.

The Adham Khan's Tomb was constructed by 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 the labyrinth of its passages,^[10] 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,^[11] later it served as the residence of Sir Thomas Metcalfe, Governor-General’s Agent at the Mughal court.^[10]^[12]

2008 blasts

Concealed in a black polythene bag, the bomb was dropped by two unidentified persons riding a motorcycle New Delhi, September 27, 2008. Exactly a fortnight after three of the Capital’s top markets were targeted by terrorists, a medium-intensity blast ripped through the congested flower market in South Delhi’s Mehrauli area killing at least two and injuring 22 others.

Accessibility

I.G. International Airport is approximately 17 km.
18 km approximately from New Delhi Railway Stations

Landmarks

Adam Khan Tomb - Also known as Bhool Bhulaiya is situated next to Aggarwal Sweets and near Bus Stand.
Aggarwal Sweets - A Sweets Shop situated next to Mehrauli Bus Stand.
Ambawata Complex - A Fashion shopping complex situated near Mehrauli Bus Stand, opposite Aggarwal Sweets and on the road from Bus Stand to Kalu Ram Chowk.
Bhagwati Hospital - Situated near Canara Bank and Vijaya Clinic.
Bhuiya Chowk - A residential area, situated deep inside mehrauli, can be easily reached either from Gaushala (Kishan Garh,Vasant Kunj) with a distance of about 1KM or from Prince Public School with a distance of around 200M.
Canara Bank - Situated near Bhagwati Hospital.
Central Bank - Kalu Ram Chowk, near HDFC Bank.
HDFC Bank - Kalu Ram Chowk, situated near Police Station
Gandhak ki Baoli - It is an ancient step well located near Mehrauli Post Office.^[8]
Kalu Ram Chowk (also known as old Bus Stop) - It is located near Mehrauli Police Station and inside Mehrauli Market. Many other landmarks like HDFC Bank, Central Bank, Old Post Office, Verma Bakery and Welcome Bakery are situated around it.
Main Market - A very big market in South Delhi, starts from Mehrauli Bus Stand and stretches till Andheria Mod.
Mini Market - Very small market specially of Electronic Goods, near HDFC Bank.
Old Post Office - Now converted into a commercial complex and houses various sorts of commercial offices.
Police Station - Situated near Kalu Ram Chowk.
Prince Public School - In Ward number 2, in order to reach here one will need to go deep inside ward number 2. (Close to Bhuiya Chowk)
Qutub Colonnade - Situated near Qutub Minar.
Rajon Ki Baoli - 16th century stepwell near Gandhak ki Baoli ^[8]
Sanchar Hut - MTNL Office situated on the road between Mehrauli Police Station and Canara Bank.
Verma Bakery - A Very old Bakery situated next to HDFC Bank, near Police Station and on Kalu Ram Chowk.
Vijaya Clinic - A clinic situated near Canara Bank.
Yogmaya Temple - Around 1KM from Qutub Minar and about 100 meters prior to Bus Stand.

Medical Facilities

Vijaya Clinic
Vikas Hospital
Bhagwati Hospital
Aman Clinic (Mr khan )

Banks in Mehrauli

HDFC Bank (Kalu Ram Chowk)
Canara Bank (Near Vijaya Clinic)
State Bank of India
Central Bank of India
Shazib Khan

Schools

St. Johns School
Baba Banda School
Prince Public School
Saraswati Shishu Mandir
Qutab University

Areas under Meharauli

Areas in South Delhi

Historical architecture in Mehrauli

Tomb of Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki, Mehrauli.
The tombs of Mughal Emperor, Shah Alam II and his son Akbar II within Kaki mausoleum complex
Madhi Masjid entrance gateway, Mehrauli.
The bastion of Lal Kot fort, Mehrauli
Adham Khan's Tomb, Mehrauli.
Gandhak ki Baoli, stepwell, Mehrauli.
Zafar Mahal built first by Akbar Shah II in the 18th century with addition by Bahadur Shah Zafar II.
View of Jahaz Mahal from Hauz-i-Shamsi.
Bagichi Ki Masjid, Mehrauli Archeological Park
Rajon ki Baoli, stepwell
Jahaz Mahal on the bank of Hauz-i-Shamsi
Jamali Kamali tomb interior
Tomb of Mohammad Quli Khan, brother of Adham Khan, a general of Mughal Emperor, Akbar, later turned into a country house Metcalfe House or Dilkusha by Sir Thomas Metcalfe, near Qutb complex