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Mehrauli

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Mehrauli
neighbourhood
Qutub Minar
Qutub Minar
CountryIndia
StateDelhi
DistrictSouth West district
Government
 • MLANaresh Yadav
Languages
 • OfficialHindi, English
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
110 030
Telephone code011
Vehicle registrationDL-xx

Mehrauli is a neighbourhood in the South West district of Delhi in India. It represents a constituency in the legislative assembly of Delhi. The area is located close to Gurgaon and next to Vasant Kunj. Naresh Yadav of Aam Aadmi Party is the current MLA from Mehrauli.[1]

History

Mehrauli, earlier known as Mihirawali, which means Home of Mihir, was founded by King Mihir Bhoja of the Gurjara-Pratihara Dynasty

Mahatma Gandhi visiting the dargah of Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki, on his Urs, 27 January 1948.

Mehrauli is one of the seven ancient cities that make up the present state of Delhi. The Lal Kot fort was constructed by the Gurjar[2]Tanwar chief Anangpal I around 731 AD and expanded by AnangPal II in the 11th century, who shifted his capital to Lal Kot from Kannauj. The Gurjjar Tanwars were defeated by the Chauhans in the 12th century. Prithviraj Chauhan further expanded the fort and called it Qila Rai Pithora. He was defeated and killed in 1192 by Mohammed Ghori, who put his general Qutb-ud-din Aybak in charge and returned to Afghanistan. Subsequently in 1206, after the death of Mohammed Ghori, Qutubuddin enthroned himself as the first Sultan of Delhi. Thus Delhi became the capital of the Mamluk dynasty of Delhi (Slave dynasty), the first dynasty of Muslim sultans to rule over northern India.[3] Mehrauli remained the capital of the Mamluk dynasty which ruled until 1290. During the Khilji dynasty, the capital shifted to Siri.[3]

Balban's tomb, Mehrauli

In 12th-century Jain scriptures, the location is also mentioned as Yogninipura, now noticeable by the presence of the "Yogmaya Temple", near the Qutub Minar complex, believed to have been built by the Pandavas.[4]

Geography and climate

Mehrauli lies in the South West district of Delhi at 28°30′57″N 77°10′39″E / 28.51583°N 77.17750°E / 28.51583; 77.17750. To its north lies Hauz Khas. Vasant Kunj lies to its West and Tughlakabad to its south.

Like the rest of Delhi, Mehrauli has a semi-arid climate with high variation between summer and winter temperatures. While the summer temperatures may go up to 46 °C, the winters can seem freezing to people used to a warm climate with near 0 °C.

The soil of Mehrauli consists of sandy loam to loam texture. The water level has gone down in the recent past hovering between 45 m to 50 m due to rise in population.[5]

Architecture

Ahinsa Sthal : 13 feet 6 inches Mahaveer single rock idol.
Jamali Kamali Mosque and Tomb complex, Mehrauli Archaeological Park
Iron Pillar erected by Chandragupta II, within the Qutb complex

Though Mehrauli is like any ordinary neighbourhood today, its past is what distinguishes it in terms of architecture. Yet the famous conservation architect AGK Menon is doing all he could to displace the indigenous population and return Mehrauli to its past glory, as accorded by the British Colonial norms.

Ahinsa Sthal is a Jain temple located in Mehrauli, Delhi. The main deity of the temple is Mahavira, the 24th and last Tirthankara (human spiritual guide) of present half cycle of time. A magnificent statue of Tirthankara Mahāvīra is installed here.

Even though the capital shifted from Mehrauli after the Slave dynasty rule came to an end, many other dynasties contributed significantly to Mehrauli's architecture.

The most visible piece of architecture remains the Qutb complex which was initiated by Qutub ud din Aybak with subsequent additions by Iltutmish and Alauddin Khilji.[6] The Qutb complex is today a UNESCO world heritage site,[7] and also the venue for the annual Qutub Festival.

Mausoleum of 13th century, Sufi saint, Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki is also situated near the Qutub Minar Complex, and the venue for the annual Phoolwalon-ki-sair Festival. The dargah complex also houses graves of later Mughal emperors, Bahadur Shah I, Shah Alam II, and Akbar II, in an adjacent marble enclosure. To the left of the dargah, lies Moti Masjid, a small mosque, built for private prayer by the son of Aurangzeb, Bahadur Shah I.

Balban's tomb belonging to Balban, Slave dynasty ruler of Delhi Sultanate was constructed here in the 13th century can still be seen though in a dilapidated condition. Architecturally important structure as it is the first true arch in Indo-Islamic architecture, Another tomb, that of Balban's son, Khan Shahid, who died before he could be crowned, is also located nearby in Mehrauli Archeological Park.

A baoli or stepwell known as Rajon Ki Baoli was constructed in 1506 during Sikandar Lodhi's reign. It was used to store water though it is now completely dried and is now known as Sukhi Baoli (dry well).[8]

The Jamali Kamali mosque was built in 1528,[9] in honour of the Sufi saint Shaikh Hamid bin Fazlullah, also known as Dervish Shaikh Jamali Kamboh Dihlawi or Jalal Khan. The saint's tomb built in 1536 upon his death is adjacent to the mosque.

The Adham Khan's Tomb was constructed by Emperor Akbar in memory of his foster brother and general Adham Khan in 1566. The tomb, also known as Bhulbhulaiyan, as one could get lost in the labyrinth of its passages,[10] it was later used by the British as a residence, rest house and even as a police station. Close to Adham Khan's tomb, lies that of another Mughal General, Muhammad Quli Khan,[11] later it served as the residence of Sir Thomas Metcalfe, Governor-General’s Agent at the Mughal court.[10][12] The Mehrauli Archaeological Park spread over 200 acre, adjacent to Qutb Minar site was redeveloped in 1997.

Politics

In the 2013 Delhi Assembly Elections, Parvesh Verma of BJP was elected as the MLA of Mehrauli. He succeeded Yoganand Shastri, former Delhi Assembly Speaker affiliated to the Indian National Congress

Mehrauli Assembly Constituency comprises four municipal wards, namely ward 169 Lado Sarai (W), ward 170 Mehrauli (GEN), ward 171 Vasant Kunj (SCW) and ward 172 Kishangarh (W). All four wards are represented by women councillors in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.

Mehrauli, i.e. ward 170 is currently represented in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi by Pushpa Singh.[13] She was preceded by Satbir Singh, former Delhi Mayor and a senior leader of the Indian National Congress from Delhi.[14]

2008 blasts

Concealed in a black polythene bag, the bomb was dropped by two unidentified persons riding a motorcycle In Sarai Electronic Market in New Delhi on September 27, 2008. Exactly a fortnight after three of the Capital’s top markets were targeted by terrorists, a medium-intensity blast ripped through the congested flower market in South Delhi’s Mehrauli area killing at least two and injuring 22 others.

Accessibility

  • I.G. International Airport is approximately 17 km.
  • 18 km approximately from New Delhi Railway Stations
  • Nearest Metro Station is Chhatarpur & Qutab Minar Metro Station.
  • Bari Wala Kuan,Kali Ka Mandir
  • Adam Khan Tomb - Also known as Bhool Bhulaiya is situated next to Aggarwal Sweets and near Bus Stand.
  • Aggarwal Sweets - A Sweets Shop situated next to Mehrauli Bus Stand.
  • Ambawata Complex - A Fashion shopping complex situated near Mehrauli Bus Stand, opposite Aggarwal Sweets and on the road from Bus Stand to Kalu Ram Chowk.
  • Chaurasia Pan Palace - A Pan shop Near Mehrauli Bus Stand Opposite Ambawata Complex. A good pan shop
  • Bhagwati Hospital - Situated near Canara Bank and Vijaya Clinic.
  • Bhuiya Chowk - A residential area, situated deep inside mehrauli, can be easily reached either from Gaushala (Kishan Garh,Vasant Kunj) with a distance of about 1 km or from new sdm public school mehrauli with a distance of around 200M.
  • Canara Bank - Situated near Bhagwati Hospital.
  • Bishan Swarup Complex - A commercial Complex in Anaz mandi, Main market.
  • Central Bank - Situated at Sarai, near Shamshan Ghat.
  • HDFC Bank - Kalu Ram Chowk, situated near Police Station
  • Gandhak ki Baoli - It is an ancient step well located near Mehrauli Post Office.[8]
  • Kalu Ram Chowk (also known as old Bus Stop) - It is located near Mehrauli Police Station and inside Mehrauli Market. Many other landmarks like HDFC Bank, Central Bank, Old Post Office, Verma Bakery and Welcome Bakery are situated around it.
  • Lareesa Public School - Situated Near Bhuiyan Chowk
  • Main Market - A very big market in South Delhi, starts from Mehrauli Bus Stand and stretches till Andheria Mod.
  • Mini Market - Very small market specially of Electronic Goods, near HDFC Bank.
  • Old Post Office - Now converted into a commercial complex and houses various sorts of commercial offices.
  • Police Station - Situated near Kalu Ram Chowk.
  • new sdm public school ward num 2* Prince Public School - In Ward number 2, in order to reach here one will need to go deep inside ward number 2. (Close to Bhuiya Chowk)
  • Qutub Colonnade - Situated near Qutub Minar.
  • Ramlila Ground - Near Mehrauli Thana.
  • Rahul Footwear - Walking distance from Mehrauli Police station/Kalu Ram Chowk, A very Old footwear complex in Main Market Mehrauli.
  • Rajon Ki Baoli - 16th century stepwell near Gandhak ki Baoli [8]
  • Sanchar Hut - MTNL Office situated on the road between Mehrauli Police Station and Canara Bank.
  • Verma Bakery - A Very old Bakery situated next to HDFC Bank, near Police Station and on Kalu Ram Chowk.
  • Vijaya Clinic - A clinic situated near Canara Bank.
  • Vidhya Rattnam - Near Gurudwara & Bus Terminal Mehrauli. An old Destination for Astrological advice, Gemstones & Rudraksha.
  • Yogmaya Temple - Around 1 km from Qutub Minar and about 100 meters prior to Bus Stand.
  • Cheri One Qutub - Situated near Qutub Minar.
  • Udaya Apartments- Near Hanuman Mandir, Ward No.2
  • Jay Apartments - Near Prince Public School, Ward No.2
  • Study Planet Tutors - Near Nakshatra Apartments, ward no-7
  • Ram Classes - above LIC MTNL office Ward no-1
  • Baba Banda Bahadur Gurduwara - Martyer Place of Baba Banda Bahdur Singh /*100 Meters from Mehrauli Bus Terminal
  • Qutab Minar Metro Station - At the road of Mehrauli-Gurgaon Road nearest to the Jain Mandir.
  • Maqdoom Shah Colony - At the road of Andheria More to Mehrauli Market in ward No 8.

Medical Facilities

  • Vijaya Clinic
  • Vikas Hospital
  • Bhagwati Hospital
  • Aman Clinic
  • Dr. Bakaya Clinic
  • Yogmaya Hospital

Amarsons Eye Care

Banks in Mehrauli

Schools

  • Komal Pag School, Ward-6
  • new sdm public school
  • St. Johns School
  • Baba Banda School
  • Lareesa public School
  • Prince Public School
  • Saraswati Shishu Mandir
  • Qutab University
  • I.G Delhi Public School
  • st. Maria convent school
  • Bachpan Play School[15]

Areas under Meharauli

Areas in South Delhi

Historical architecture in Mehrauli

See also

References

  1. ^ http://www.india.com/news/india/delhi-assembly-election-constituency-wise-results-2015-complete-list-of-winning-mlas-277522/
  2. ^ Rahul Khari (5 January 2007). Jats and Gujars: origin, history and culture. Reference Press. ISBN 978-81-8405-031-8. Retrieved 28 September 2011. In the contemporary Delhi, there are about 75 villages inhabited by the Gujars out of which 12 villages happened to be in Mehrauli where Gujars belonging to Tomar clan dwell, who call themselves 'Tanwar'.
  3. ^ a b "Seven Cities Of Delhi: Mehrauli". Government of Delhi Official website. Retrieved September 16, 2006.
  4. ^ Yogmaya Temple
  5. ^ "Rainwater level in Delhi". Retrieved September 15, 2006.
  6. ^ "Article on Delhigate.com". Retrieved September 16, 2006.
  7. ^ "UNESCO website". Retrieved September 16, 2006.
  8. ^ a b c "Well worth a visit". Indian Express. May 10, 2009.
  9. ^ Jamali Kamali Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts.
  10. ^ a b Qutub Complex www.the-south-asian.com.
  11. ^ Tomb of Muhammad Quli Khan - Images
  12. ^ The tomb of Muhammad Quli Khan, brother of Adham Khan,.. British Library.
  13. ^ http://www.delhi.gov.in/wps/wcm/connect/3bc8f7004af00194b064bc926f0f9a50/Ward+Wise+Result+Sheet.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&lmod=-342544094
  14. ^ http://www.thehindu.com/2005/04/12/stories/2005041209800400.htm
  15. ^ "Bachpan Play School". Bachpanglobal.com.

Further reading

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mehrauli.
  • All About Delhi Delhi, the Capital of India, by Anon. Asian Educational Services, 1997. ISBN 81-206-1282-5.
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