Latest news with #Mughal-era
NDTV
7 hours ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Rekha Gupta Unveils Restored Mughal-Era 'Sheeshmahal', Takes Swipe At AAP
New Delhi: The 'Sheeshmahal' - a name given to former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's official residence is back in the limelight after incumbent Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, from the BJP, took a swipe at the Aam Aadmi Party at an event and alleged that the former government built 'Sheeshmahal' for pleasure from the hard-earned money of the people of Delhi. Ms Gupta was speaking at an event organised by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), and unveiled the 'Sheesh Mahal' in Shalimar Bagh, a structure from the Mughal era, restored by the DDA. The Chief Minister took a swipe at the AAP and said, " The former Chief Minister built a Sheesh Mahal for his pleasure from the hard-earned money of the people of Delhi. This Sheesh Mahal, on the other hand, has been dedicated to the public for their convenience." "This is the difference between the previous governments and the current government... We must return the previous Sheesh Mahal to its origin. The money taken from the public treasury should be returned," she added. In March, when Ms Gupta presented Delhi's budget, she fired jabs at the AAP and alleged that Mr Kejriwal's party misused Rs 45 crore of taxpayers' money to refurbish his former residence. These allegations went a long way toward ensuring the victory of Bharatiya Janata Party in the election. The 'sheeshmahal' controversy was widely seen as a key reason for the AAP's defeat in this year's election, with the BJP hammering Mr Kejriwal and his party over the alleged corruption. Meanwhile, Ms Gupta's official residence - Bungalow Number 1, Raj Niwas Marg - will also undergo a renovation that would cost Rs 59.40 lakh to fix electrical and civil work, and will involve the installation of 14 split air conditioners worth Rs 7.7 lakh, five LED TVs worth Rs 9.9 lakh, and 23 ceiling fans with a remote control costing Rs 1.8 lakh. Fourteen CCTV cameras worth Rs 5.74 lakh will be installed, and the residence will also have a UPS system for power backup. Other appliances include six geysers for Rs 91,000, one automatic washing machine for Rs 77,000, a toast grill for Rs 85,000, and one dishwasher for Rs 60,000. Sheesh Mahal Of Shalimar Bagh Ms Gupta, along with Lt Governor of Delhi, Vinai Kumar Saxena, Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, and Member of Parliament Praveen Khandelwal, today inaugurated the restored Sheesh Mahal at Shalimar Bagh, a Mughal-era structure originally built by Emperor Shah Jahan. The restoration is part of a larger initiative led by the DDA to revive neglected heritage sites across the capital, under the PM's vision of "Vikas bhi, Virasat bhi". The Union minister also slammed the previous AAP government while speaking at the unveiling ceremony. "When this restoration project was first taken up by LG Saxena, there was a repulsive government in Delhi. Now, there is a double-engine force multiplying government in Delhi," the minister said. According to the officials, the initiative was taken by Mr Saxena, and DDA restored the structure with the technical supervision of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Shalimar Bagh, built in 1653, has seen many phases of history, from the Mughal period to British rule. The authority has also restored an almost decayed 'baradari' and three heritage cottages within the Shalimar Bagh; two of the cottages have been adaptively re-used for community-focused purposes. The Readers Cafe Corner and Cafe Shalimar, a cafeteria for park visitors, now occupy these restored spaces
Indian Express
9 hours ago
- General
- Indian Express
In 17th-century Mughal-era Shalimar Bagh, palace complex, 3 heritage-era cottages unveiled after restoration
Once in a dilapidated condition, the palace complex in the 17th-century Mughal-era Shalimar Bagh in North Delhi has now been restored to its former glory. Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday threw open to the public the revived Sheesh Mahal, a baradari (pavilion), and three heritage-era cottages. Of the three restored cottages, two have been adaptively reused — one now houses the 'Readers Café Corner', facilitating literary engagement, while 'Café Shalimar', the other, is where the visitors can come, eat, and enjoy with their loved ones. The third cottage has been repurposed for official use while maintaining its heritage character. The restoration was carried out by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) under the technical supervision of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The work began following the L-G's visit to the site in January 2024. During that visit, the L-G had taken note of the dilapidated condition of the structures, which were buried under layers of silt and overgrown vegetation, according to the DDA. The Shalimar Bagh, DDA underlined, was built in 1653 and has witnessed multiple phases of Delhi's history — from the Mughal period to the British rule. As part of its restoration, while the ASI worked on conserving the architectural elements of Sheesh Mahal, the DDA redeveloped the surrounding garden in the traditional Char Bagh or a Persian-style garden layout. The baradari and cottages were restored using traditional material such as lakhori bricks, lime surkhi, lime concrete, and organic binders like gud, belgiri, and urad. Speaking at the unveiling event, Shekhawat said the Centre was committed to supporting conservation efforts in Delhi in line with the Prime Minister's vision of 'Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi' (development with heritage). Hitting out at the previous AAP government, Shekhawat said, 'When this restoration project was first taken up by L-G Saxena, there was a repulsive government in Delhi. Now, there is a double-engine force multiplying government in Delhi, and CM Gupta, this will transform Delhi into 'New Delhi' soon.' L-G Saxena said the project would help preserve Delhi's architectural legacy and urged citizens to safeguard such restored spaces from future neglect. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister gave credit to the L-G for taking the lead in protecting heritage sites across the Capital and thanked him for his 'constant guidance' in developmental work. DDA said the latest project follows its recent conservation work at sites such as Mehrauli Archaeological Park, Hazrat Nizamuddin Basti, St. James Church, and Anangpal Tomar Van.
Time of India
18 hours ago
- Lifestyle
- Time of India
Delhi's iconic Sunder Nursery turned into a swimming pool in the name of ‘summer fun' by visitors-- watch viral video
India's capital Delhi, is a dense and dynamic city, but there are certain places—such as protected heritage areas and public parks like Sunder Nursery—that serve as rare pockets of peace. These green lungs of the city are still rich in history, biodiversity, and serenity amidst the chaos of the metropolis. Situated next to Humayun's Tomb and bordering UNESCO World Heritage status, this beautifully restored Mughal-era garden isn't just a picnic spot. It's a symbol of thoughtful urban design, where families gather, readers sit under trees, and nature lovers catch their breath away from the city's chaos. But a recent Instagram video has ignited concern, frustration, showing just how fragile these shared spaces can be when used irresponsibly. Sunder Nursery turns into an unofficial swimming pool A video shared by Instagram user and Delhi University alumnus Ayyan Javed has gone viral, showing visitors diving and splashing in the fountain water system at Sunder Nursery. The once-serene water body, part of a carefully maintained heritage landscape, was transformed into a chaotic swimming hole. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The all new SP125 that comes with advance technology & features Honda Learn More Undo As the sky became darker over the garden, a voice in the background was heard saying, 'Yahan dekho — idhar paani kam hai, log zyaada hain!' (Look here — there's less water and more people!). The post, shared on June 30, was captioned, 'SWIMMING POOL IN SUNDER NURSERY Note: just to give awareness regarding to keep the place clean and pretty don't mess way to deep '. But many felt the so-called 'awareness' attempt missed the point. The video has already crossed over 325,000 views, 4,500 likes, 388 comments, and 25,300 shares. Social media reacts One Instagram user bluntly wrote, 'Adults acting like toddlers is literally Jaahiliyat on peak Now the ticket price will increase & restrictions too Dilli ke logon ko free ki cheez or saaf jagah ki qadr nhi hoti ' Another user said, 'This is exactly why tickets are mandatory, to maintain discipline and preserve such beautiful spaces… it ultimately comes down to individuals being responsible and respectful.' A third user commented in a more frustrated tone, 'Civic sense zero, individual responsibility in negative numbers! And when things go wrong… blame government! Wow mere deshvaasiyon.' What regulations might come in the wake of this uncivilised behaviour? If this misuse continues, stricter restrictions seem inevitable; there will be more surveillance, increased ticket prices, or even limited public access. But those who suffer won't be the ones chasing views. It'll be the regular visitors, families, students, and heritage lovers who respect and rely on spaces like Sunder Nursery to reconnect with nature and culture. Sunder Nursery isn't a swimming pool. It's a living piece of Delhi's heritage, and it deserves better.
India Today
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Viral video of people bathing in Delhi's Sunder Nursery pond sparks outrage
As heavy rain lashed Delhi-NCR over the weekend, a video from the heritage park Sunder Nursery triggered outrage on social short clip, posted by Instagram user Ayyan Javed, shows several visitors bathing and swimming in the ornamental pond at the historic site."Swimming pool in Sunder Nursery,' read the text overlay on the video. Watch the video here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ayyan Javed (@ayyanjaved_1820)advertisementAs the video went viral on social media, several sections of the internet condemned the behaviour as disrespectful and emphasised that Sunder Nursery, a park known for its Mughal-era structures, gardens, and ecological preservation, was not meant for such misuse.'This is absolutely disgusting and uncivilised behaviour,' a user said. Another commented, 'Civic sense zero, individual responsibility in negative numbers!'Several users added that there is a need for stricter enforcement and awareness: 'This is exactly why tickets are mandatory - to maintain discipline and preserve such beautiful spaces. Sadly, there's still a lack of awareness among people. While security is present, it ultimately comes down to individuals being responsible and respectful towards public spaces like Sunder Nursery.''This is so shameful. Creating ruckus in public spaces and destroying things are considered fun by this Instagram generation. When they put new rules after this kind of reckless behaviour, they will cry,' another user users lamented that such actions only encourage stricter regulations and punish those who genuinely wish to enjoy the space responsibly: 'We don't deserve beautiful structures and sites - we only deserve those mountains of garbage! So disappointing.'The Sunder Nursery management is yet to issue an official statement on the incident.- Ends
NDTV
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Delhi's Sunder Nursery Turns Into "Swimming Pool," Video Sparks Outrage
A video from Delhi's Sunder Nursery is going viral online, showing a group of people taking a dip in one of the heritage park's ponds. Sunder Nursery, known for its Mughal-era landscaping and biodiversity, prohibits such activities. So naturally, the clip has sparked mixed reactions online, with many expressing concern over the misuse of a public space meant for relaxation and cultural appreciation. The incident has also prompted calls for stricter monitoring to preserve the park's environment and purpose. In the video, several people, including children, are seen splashing water on each other and enjoying themselves. "Swimming pool in Sunder Nursery. Note: just to give awareness regarding to keep the place clean and pretty dont mess way to deep," the caption of the post reads. Take a look below: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ayyan Javed (@ayyanjaved_1820) Since being shared, the video has accumulated more than 316,000 views. Reacting to the post, one user wrote, "Sunder Nursery is the only decent park we have left with in Delhi with decent people and after all this nonsense things, the park authorities will put more restrictions and new rules which will make things worse for the people who come daily to the park." "This is exactly why tickets are mandatory, to maintain discipline and preserve such beautiful spaces. Sadly, there's still a lack of awareness among people. While security is present, it ultimately comes down to individuals being responsible and respectful towards public spaces like Sundar Nursery. We all need to understand the purpose of these places and use them mindfully," commented another. "Civic sense zero, individual responsibility in negative numbers! And when things go wrong or something is bad! blame government! Wow mere deshvaasiyon," wrote a third user. "This is so shameful . Creating ruckus in public spaces and destroying things are considered fun by this instagram generation . When they will put new rules after this kind of reckless behaviour then they will cry," said another. "This is absolutely disgusting and uncivilized behaviour," one user commented. "Govt has to appoint civic officers to take care of the places. And anyway civic sense in India is dead," expressed a second user.
