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Hauz Khas |
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| To provide a steady supply of water to Siri,
the second city of Delhi, its founder Sultan Ala-ud-din Khilji
(1296-1316), excavated a large tank in 1300. Located to the
east of Siri, the tank was known as Hauz-i-Alai. Later, Firoz
Shah Tughlaq (1351-88) repaired the tank and built several imposing
monuments on the eastern and southern banks of the tank that
included his tomb, mosque and a madrasa (college). Thus the
place came to be known as Hauz Khas, meaning the royal tank.
At present the area around the monuments is also known by the
same name and is one of the most prestigious localities of the
capital, housing residential areas and elite shopping centers.
This is the same place where Timur Lane encamped in 1398 after
defeating Mahmud Tughlaq. |
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| Built on a L-shaped plan, the main monument in
the complex is the tomb of Firoz Shah with the entrance on the
southern side. It is a domed, rubble-built plastered square
tomb with high walls attached to a courtyard. Beautifully decorated
with Quranic inscriptions and plasterwork, the tomb reflects
the amalgamation of the styles of Indo-Islamic architecture.
An inscription over the southern gateway informs visitors that
the tomb was repaired during Sikander Lodi's reign. |
| Adjacent and to the west of the tomb is the madrasa
for religious training, built in 1352. It is a double-storeyed
structure with long pillared halls and small cells and a mosque
in its northern direction. There are also several staircases
leading from the madrasa down to the tank, now encircled by
paved pathways. Apart from these monuments, there are many structures
situated in the complex but their exact use is not known and
one can only appreciate their architectural beauty while relaxing
in the garden of the complex. |
| The not-to-be-missed feature of the area is the
cosmopolitan Hauz Khas village. Here you will find many boutiques
that display the clothing lines of well-known Indian designers.
There are also exclusive antique and curio stores and popular
restaurants, all in a so-called rural atmosphere. |
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