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Hindustan Times
04-07-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
ASI to conserve Shish Gumbad at Delhi's Lodhi Garden, floats tenders
New Delhi The Shish Gumbad at Lodhi Garden. (HT Archive) The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has floated two tenders, inviting bids for manpower and materials, worth over ₹46 lakh to undertake conservation of the historical Shish Gumbad at the Lodhi Garden complex, officials aware of the matter said on Thursday. In one of the tenders, a copy of which was accessed by HT, ASI said: 'Online Tenders on behalf of the President of India are invited in two bids system from established, reputed, experienced bidder for supply of manpower for undertaking the work of 'Conservation of Shish Gumbad at Lodhi Garden complex, New Delhi'…' In the other tender, also seen by HT, officials said that '…supply of manpower for undertaking the work…' has also been floated. According to the tenders, a total estimated cost of ₹46,25,440 has been proposed for the conservation work, with ₹29,26,015 for manpower and ₹16,99,425 for materials required for the work. The period of completion of work has been mentioned as 90 days. However, ASI did not confirm when work would start. The last date for the tender is July 7 and work will be completed in 90 days from the date of starting it, ASI said. The Shish Gumbad is one of several monuments of the Sayyid and Lodi periods at the Lodhi Garden, previously known as the Lady Willingdon Park, an ASI official said. According to ASI's listing of protected monuments, the structure was built during the Lodi period, 'perhaps during Sikandar Lodi's reign (1489-1517)'. 'There are several graves inside the tomb, but it is not known who was buried inside. It was probably built in the mid-15th century during Sikandar Lodi's reign,' writer and heritage activist Sohail Hashmi said. According to ASI's book 'Delhi and its Neighbourhood', the protected monuments and structures inside the Lodhi Garden include Muhammad Shah's Tomb, Bara Gumbad masjid, Shish Gumbad, Sikandar Lodi's tomb and an athpula (eight piers), which refers to a bridge with seven arches and eight piers. The book, describing the structure, says, 'Architecturally, it follows the usual pattern of square Lodi tombs with a 'double-storeyed' appearance…Its western wall contains a mihrab, which served as a mosque, but the other sides have a central entrance set in a projecting frame...' Hashmi said that the structure had glazed tile work, which led to its name. The ASI book also says: 'Originally, the tomb was richly decorated with blue tiles…now surviving in traces, gave it its Persian name meaning 'glazed dome'.'
Indian Express
03-06-2025
- Climate
- Indian Express
Witness to sunsets and stories, a beloved landmark falls in Delhi's Lodhi Garden
On a mellow June evening in Delhi, the setting sun cast a golden glow over the Shish Gumbad in Lodhi Garden. Children tumbled across the lawns, birds flitted from bush to hedge, and picnic blankets lay scattered, where couples sat in quiet conversation. But among this gentle bustle, something was missing. Or rather, something had changed. Behind the 15th-century Shish Gumbad, where the dome casts a long shadow at dusk, a majestic, weather-worn tree now lay collapsed — its roots were exposed, its trunk split, branches now motionless on the green. This was no ordinary tree. Though already dead, it remained standing, its bare branches outstretched, a witness to countless sunsets in this park at the heart of Delhi. 'I used to sit here under this tree and admire the monument,' said Shweta Sharma, 42, a resident of nearby Jor Bagh and a regular evening walker. 'It was a centre of attention — everyone clicked their photo near this large tree. A few days ago… it was gone. But people are still clicking photos, now, standing atop it.' The Shish Gumbad itself, as the plaque outside details, is a product of the Lodi Sultanate, built possibly during Sikandar Lodi's reign between 1489 and 1517. But for many, it was the now-fallen tree that added warmth to the monument's presence. The fall, said locals, happened during one of Delhi's recent storms. 'There was a lot of rain,' said Soam Vir, 40, who sells water and snacks nearby with his brother. 'The area around the tree was filled with water. Maybe its roots grew weak. This happened early in the morning — luckily, no one got hurt.' Vir, originally from Badhaui in Uttar Pradesh, has worked here for 20 years. He spoke of the tree like one might speak of an old companion. 'We've been looking at this tree for eight years now. It had lost all its leaves… can't even make out what tree it is anymore. My guess is that this was a kikar tree.' 'This is not the first tree to fall in Lodhi Garden,' said Vijay Kumar, 72, a retired corporate employee who has walked these paths for over a decade. 'These trees must be decades old.' An official at the New Delhi Municipal Council's horticulture department said, 'The tree was around 50 years old and served as a home to many birds. It had been dry and dead for a couple of years, so we had planned to cover it with a creeper to make it look green. Unfortunately, due to the strong winds in Delhi a few days ago, it collapsed.' 'The tree is commonly known as the Dhau or Chakwa tree, and its scientific name is Anogeissus acuminata. Once we realised it had dried up, we planted another tree of the same species elsewhere in Lodhi Garden,' said the official. 'Given the current weather conditions, we are focusing on regular pruning, and our disaster management teams are on high alert,' added the official. The tree, meanwhile, remained on the lawn for now. Its presence has shifted, but not vanished.
Hindustan Times
25-05-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Revamp of Rajon ki Baoli in south Delhi complete, handed over to ASI
As one steps into the Mehrauli Archaeological Park, the city's din fades, replaced by the hush of history. Down a winding path framed by trees and ruins lies the quiet presence of Rajon ki Baoli—a 16th-century stepwell nestled on the park's western edge. At first glance, it appears like any other relic of Delhi's past. But approach the northern gateway, and a grand space of symmetry and silence slowly unfolds. Restoration work on the baoli, which began in July 2024, is now completed. It had been handed back to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on May 16, an ASI official said. While the larger Mehrauli Archaeological Park falls under the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), the baoli is maintained by ASI. Its northern entrance opens into a serene courtyard and a descending flight of 66 stone steps that lead to the water's edge. Surrounded on three sides by high walls and open to the north, the stepwell remains partially filled with natural groundwater—an oasis amid ruins. Flanking its western side is a mosque and a tomb, both of which required significant conservation. 'The plasterwork on the tomb was in poor condition and has now been redone. We've also tried to recreate some of the ornamental carvings that had eroded,' said an ASI official. The uppermost tier of the baoli features a rhythm of arches—ten each along the eastern and western walls, with two to three blind arches in between. On the eastern side, the original ornamental medallions above each arch remain intact. On the western wall, however, the arches have been repaired and replastered, with none of the original ornamentation surviving. Among the more challenging aspects of the restoration was cleaning out the waterbody itself. 'One of our main tasks was removing the thick debris from the bottom of the baoli. The high water level made it difficult at first,' the official said. The source of the baoli is underground water, which had originally risen almost to the topmost steps. On the southern side lies a well, connected to the baoli at two levels to ensure water equilibrium. ASI plans to install a water-level-sensitive pump to manage excess water and maintain balance between the baoli and the well. 'Once the well was cleaned, we decided to install a motor that will activate based on water levels. It's a way to preserve the structure while respecting its original design,' the official said. Rajon ki Baoli—also known as Rajon-ki-bain—dates back to around 1506, built during the reign of Sikandar Lodi of the Delhi Sultanate. According to the ASI publication Delhi and its Neighbourhood, a chhatri (umbrella-like structure) near the mosque bears an inscription dating the construction to 912 AH (1506 CE), stating that it was built during the reign of Sikandar Lodi (1489-1517). Originally, the baoli served as more than just a water source. It was a gathering space, a cooling retreat, and a communal hub. According to an ASI board at the site, water from the adjoining well was used for drinking, while the baoli itself supported bathing, irrigation, and recreational use. In the 19th or early 20th century, the structure became a resting spot for stonemasons—raj mistris—lending the baoli its present name. On the western end, the restored chhatri now shelters the tomb of Khwaja Mohammad. 'One side of the tomb had collapsed. We've reconstructed the damaged portion and replastered the dome, including the ceiling medallion,' the official added. The mosque adjacent to the tomb had also fallen into disrepair, with sections of the ceiling and wall plaster eroded by time. These too have now been restored, with some inscriptions replicated based on historical records. The baoli has been handed back to ASI for further maintenance and conservation. ASI has also reintroduced fish into the water, hoping they will keep algal growth under control and bring life back to the stepwell. What was once a crumbling monument is now slowly returning to its former dignity—a rare space where the earth, water, and architecture of medieval Delhi still hold together in a delicate, breathing balance.
