Before Delhi became Delhi it was Mehrauli - A Historic Walk Through The Archeological Park
2 h
By walk
Instant confirmation
About this activity
You will be picked up from your hotel in New Delhi in an air conditioned vehicle and driven to Mehrauli Archeological Park. There is no other place in Delhi that has such a diverse history. In this area, you will find ruins and monuments from the 11th century Rajput cities of Lalkot and Qila Rai Pithora, from the Delhi Sultanate, from the Mughals, and from the British era. Mehrauli's historical spots are now in ruins, except for the magnificent Qutub Minar.
We start our walk at Quli Khan’s Tomb or Metcalfe House. The tomb looks like a typical tomb from the outside but it was converted into a retreat by Metcalfe (an Englishman who belonged to the court of Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Mughal ruler). Inside, the tomb was converted to act as the dining hall and there were some small structures added to make it into living quarters. The most talked about structure is Metcalfe’s canopy or folly. It is a small canopy on top of a hill. This canopy is a good vantage point to view the wonders of this park.
Next, we see the Sultan Balban’s tomb, which has the distinction of having the first recorded arch built in India. Moving onwards, we witness the perfect blend of Indo-Persian architectural style at the Jamali Kamali. It comprises of a Mosque and a Tomb constructed in 1528-1529. The tomb is for two men named Jamali and Kamali. Jamali was the alias given to Sheikh Fazlu'llah, a renowned Sufi saint who lived during the pre-Mughal dynasty rule of the Lodi's. Our next stop is Dargah (saint’s mausoleum) of Bakhtiyar Kaki. There are few places in a city like Delhi where various faiths merge so seamlessly. The ‘dargah’ is more than just a saint’s mausoleum. Even today, this religious sanctum has a number of devotees who come to pray that their desires may come true. This is the oldest dargah in Delhi. Bakhtiyar Kaki is credited with establishing Sufism and the ‘chisti’ order in Delhi. Built by the followers of the 16th-century Sufi mystic and poet Jamali, this mausoleum is believed to resemble the inside of a jewellery box.
The last stop will be a visit to the Rajon ki Baoli, which is a large historic step well that was created to provide water to the area. Built by Daulat Khan in 1506, the three-storied step well has a unique symmetrical charm to its structure. The step well has a colonnaded arcade running along the three sides showcasing skilled craftsmanship from the period. Adham Khan's tomb and an adjacent mosque are also a part of this site.
After your tour ends, you will be brought back to your hotel in New Delhi.
Read more
Show less
We start our walk at Quli Khan’s Tomb or Metcalfe House. The tomb looks like a typical tomb from the outside but it was converted into a retreat by Metcalfe (an Englishman who belonged to the court of Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Mughal ruler). Inside, the tomb was converted to act as the dining hall and there were some small structures added to make it into living quarters. The most talked about structure is Metcalfe’s canopy or folly. It is a small canopy on top of a hill. This canopy is a good vantage point to view the wonders of this park.
Next, we see the Sultan Balban’s tomb, which has the distinction of having the first recorded arch built in India. Moving onwards, we witness the perfect blend of Indo-Persian architectural style at the Jamali Kamali. It comprises of a Mosque and a Tomb constructed in 1528-1529. The tomb is for two men named Jamali and Kamali. Jamali was the alias given to Sheikh Fazlu'llah, a renowned Sufi saint who lived during the pre-Mughal dynasty rule of the Lodi's. Our next stop is Dargah (saint’s mausoleum) of Bakhtiyar Kaki. There are few places in a city like Delhi where various faiths merge so seamlessly. The ‘dargah’ is more than just a saint’s mausoleum. Even today, this religious sanctum has a number of devotees who come to pray that their desires may come true. This is the oldest dargah in Delhi. Bakhtiyar Kaki is credited with establishing Sufism and the ‘chisti’ order in Delhi. Built by the followers of the 16th-century Sufi mystic and poet Jamali, this mausoleum is believed to resemble the inside of a jewellery box.
The last stop will be a visit to the Rajon ki Baoli, which is a large historic step well that was created to provide water to the area. Built by Daulat Khan in 1506, the three-storied step well has a unique symmetrical charm to its structure. The step well has a colonnaded arcade running along the three sides showcasing skilled craftsmanship from the period. Adham Khan's tomb and an adjacent mosque are also a part of this site.
After your tour ends, you will be brought back to your hotel in New Delhi.
Included
- 02 bottles of mineral water per person
- Service of English Speaking Local Guide
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Round-trip private transfer
- Transport by air-conditioned vehicle
- Bottled water
Not included
- Food and drinks, unless specified
- Gratuities
Additional
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Wheelchair accessible
- Children under 15 must be accompanied by an adult
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
Features
Cultural
85%
Tourism
75%
Original
20%
Collections
This experience is part of these collections
You may also like
See all 33 Collections
Click to discover other experiences
See all
Collections
City Tour
602 Activities
Collections
Private Trip
455 Activities
Collections
Private Tour
486 Activities
Collections
Taj Mahal
657 Activities
Collections
Taj Mahal Package
368 Activities
Collections
Temple Tour
109 Activities
Collections
Sunrise & Sunset
179 Activities
Collections
Agra Trip
442 Activities
Collections
Jaipur Trip
279 Activities
Collections
Golden Triangle Trip
540 Activities