Mehrauli Archaeological Park

Situated near the Qutub Minar complex, the Mehrauli Archaeological Park encloses a series of tombs, palaces, step-wells and ruins spanning the Sultanate, Mughal and British periods.

Overlooked by most tourists,it's worth a visit for its beautiful setting in a park and the sheer range of historical structures. Mehrauli is one of the seven ancient cities that comprise of the present state of Delhi, and the archaeological park here is a testament to the richness of our past.

Some of the most prominent monuments include the Tomb of Balban, Quli Khan's Tomb, Gandhak ki Baoli, Rajon ki Baoli, and the Jamali Kamali mosque. We chose to visit the Rajon ki Baoli, which is located towards the end of the park.

Built by Daulat Khan in 1506 during the reign of Sikandar Lodhi, the three-storeyed stepwell was meant for rajmistries or masons. There was not enough time left to visit the other monuments. With a wish to come back soon, we ended the excursion by sampling some delicious mutton kebabs that are available in shops lined up near the exit of the park.

The Mehrauli Archaeological Park is a hidden gem in the heart of a city which keeps us engaged in a busy routine of office and traffic jams. A day's visit to this heritage park is sure to soothe the nerves of the most troubled minds.