Zafar Mahal and the dargah of Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki

A few weeks ago, my friend goaded me to go out, get some pictures. It was already about noon, so I headed for the Zafar Mahal at Mehrauli, which is not too far away and I could not visit this monument earlier. 

We took the walkway through the Mehrauli Archaeological Park, keeping the mosque of Kamali Jamali and the other buildings to the right and came across Rajon Ki Baoli to the left, one of the few remaining baolis or stepped wells in Delhi. There was also a small mosque on the top right hand side on the western wall

Rajon Ki Baoli 

We also came across some new excavations and conservation efforts being carried out by the ASI, a gallery, an unknown tomb probably dating back to the Lodhi period and gatehouses.

Also noticed a lone sparrowhawk enjoying the sun ...

More tombs and pavilions in ancient graveyards along the way, perhaps of powerful noblemen during the Sultanate period whom nobody remembers these days. The ego of men!

An unknown tomb

Then, another baoli, called Gandhak Baoli or the Sulphurous Well! It appears this was dug by Sultan Iltutmish for use of the Sufi saint Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki. The waters are said to have some sulphur content and curative properties. Since there are five floors to the structure, the water is really deep. We were now bang into the middle of Mehrauli village.

Gandhak Baoli, Mehrauli 

The summer palace of Zafar Shah is under much needed conservation for the interiors are all in ruins. Completely hemmed in from all sides by residences, the place is now used by children to play cricket and some older people for a game of cards.

The Zafar Mahal is the last palace built by the later Mughals and the last Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar installed the gateway to the building. He also lived in this building during the summer season. It is said that people used to salute him when he appeared on the balconies which was not liked by the East India Company, so they diverted the Mehrauli Badarpur road which used to run in front of the building.

We climbed some stairs to get to the top. Some other stairs end abruptly and some areas are quite perilous so they have a guard in place. So these were the rooms of the last Mughal emperor, before he was caught up with the Mutiny and was exiled to Rangoon by the East India Company

There is also a lovely little marble mosque attached to these premises, the Moti Masjid like that in the Red Fort. Between the Zafar Mahal and the Moti Masjid is a small yard containing the tombs of three later Mughals and alongside, an empty space where Zafar Shah would have liked himself to be buried, but for fate which denied him the two yards of earth in his beloved homeland

The dargah of the venerable sufi saint Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki is next door, actually. While you can enter from the Zafar Mahal side, the main entrance is from the Mehrauli village. That shoe rack to the right is where I left my shoes. Washed my hands. Bought a tray of rose petals to offer to the saint.

Made some small donations for charity, bowed my head to the saint and poured a handful of rose petals on his grave, wondering what he said to the masses that gathered to hear him everyday. Including the Sultan, incognito. 

And there are those who sing qawwalis everyday outside the main enclosure, bless them, for the saint was very fond of qawwali music. He also led an extremely austere life, giving away whatever was offered to him the same day.  

Lovers don't finally meet somewhere,

They're in each other all along.

(Jalaluddin Rumi)