Lodhi Gardens
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Coordinates: 28°35′29″N 77°13′07″E / 28.591525°N 77.218710°E
Lodhi Gardens (Hindi: लोधी बाग़, Urdu: لودھی باغ) is a park in Delhi, India. Spread over 90 acres [1], it contains architectural works of the 15th century Sayyid and Lodhis, a Pathan dynasty which ruled much of Northern India during the 16th century, and the site is now protected by Archeological Survey of India (ASI) [1]. The gardens are situated between Khan Market and Safdarjung's Tomb on Lodhi Road. It is beautiful and serene, and is a hotspot for morning walks for the Delhites.
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[edit] History
Lodhi Gardens was originally two historic villages surrounding monuments surviving from the 15th century Sayyid and Lodhi dynasties, but the villagers were relocated in 1936 in order to create the gardens. As there is little architecture from these two periods remaining in India, Lodhi Gardens is an important place of preservation. The tomb of Mohammed Shah is visible from the road, and is the earliest structure in the gardens. The architecture is characterised by the octagonal chamber, with stone chhajjas on the roof and guldastas on the corners.
Another tomb within the gardens is that of Sikander Lodi, which is similar, though without the chhattris.
During British Raj, it was landscaped by Lady Willingdon, wife of Governor-General of India, Marquess of Willingdon, and hence named the 'Lady Willingdon Park' upon its inauguration on April 9, 1936 [2][3] , and 1947 it was given its present name, Lodhi Gardens. Later, it was re-landscaped in 1968 by J A Stein along with Garrett Eckbo [4], during the time Stein also made a glass house within the park [2].
[edit] Overview
In the middle of the gardens is the Bara Gumbad and Sheesh Gumbad. The Bara Gumbad ("Big Dome") consists of a large rubble-construct dome, a three domed masjid (mosque) and a residence surrounding a central courtyard, where the remains of a water tank can be seen. Opposite the Bara Gumbad is the Sheesh Gumbad("glass dome"), which contains the remains of an unknown family.
Further into the gardens you can travel across what used to be a watercourse connected to the Yamuna River to Sikander Lodhi's tomb. This tomb still has the battlements enclosing it. Nearby to Sikander's tomb is the Athpula ("Eight Piered") Bridge, which was built during Akbar's reign.
INTACH and Archeological Survey of India (ASI) now organize heritage walks for students and general public within the park area [5], which has become a favorite with morning walkers and yoga enthusiasts. INTACH has made available a small booklet, offering information about park's history, and the monuments, birds and trees within the complex [6].
[edit] References
- ^ a b ASI have included the remaining unprotected monuments of Lodhi Garden under the Delhi Circle protection umbrella The Hindu, Oct 16, 2002.
- ^ a b Lodhi Gardens turns 70 The Hindu, Apr 09, 2006.
- ^ Lodhi Garden
- ^ Eicher:City Guide - Delhi, Eicher Goodearth Publication. 1998. ISBN 8190060120. Page 117
- ^ Lodhi Gardens Delhi’s Oasis of calm Indian Express, Oct 09, 2008.
- ^ Walk by the green book in Lodhi Gardens Indian Express, March 22, 2005.
[edit] Further reading
- Sunday at the Lodi Gardens, by Vinay Dharwadker. Published by Viking, 1994.
- Lalkot to Lodi Gardens: (Delhi of Sultans), by Ranjit Sinha. Published by South Asia Books, 1996. ISBN 817167237X.
[edit] External links
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