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Lodi Gardens – A Popular Cultural Heritage of Delhi

Lodi Gardens are among the historical gardens in Delhi which also houses the tombs of Sayyid and Lodi rulers. Early morning walkers and many other Delhiites consider it a great place to relax and hence the gardens are an amazing hangout for them. These gardens are very beautiful and home to a wide variety of fauna. The gardens acquire their name from the fact that they were laid out in 1936 when around four major monuments were built in the area during the Lodi dynasty, the last of the Delhi Sultanate. The Lodi monuments are like an icing on the cake for the serene environment of the gardens.

Lodi Gardens – A Famous Culture Heritage of Delhi

Preserved by the Archaeological Survey of India, the Lodi Garden is a site of huge cultural heritage of Delhi and Delhi Sultanate. Adorned with domes of the tombs of rulers from the Sayyid and Lodi dynasties, Lodi Garden stands as one of the few landmarks of Delhi that had been imbibed in the daily lives of all generation of Delhities over eras.

History

The construction of this place was set afoot with the building of the tomb of Mohammad Shah (the last Sayyid dynasty rulers) in 1444. The tomb of Mohammad Shah is easily visible from the road itself and is the oldest structure in the gardens.

Lodi Gardens
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Later in 1517 the tomb of Sikander Lodi was built by his son Ibrahim Lodi. This tomb is somewhat similar to Mohammad Shah’s tomb. Ibrahim Lodi was the last sultan of Delhi Sultanate from the Lodi dynasty as he was defeated by Babur in the First battle of Panipat in 1526, thus laying the foundation of the Mughal Empire and an end to the Lodi dynasty. The Mughal emperors renovated the gardens from time to time but hugely as per their requirements from the gardens. During the rule of Akbar the gardens were used as an observatory and served as a library for keeping records. Under the British Raj, the Garden was landscaped by lady Willington and hence acquired the name- Lady Willington Park.

Lodi Gardens Sheesh Gumbad
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In 1947 after the Indian Independence the gardens were named what they are presently known as- Lodi Garden. Further, in 1968 the gardens were re-designed by J.A Stein, who also architectured the adjacent India International Centre. Stein also constructed a glasshouse within the park. Now the place has been converted into a heritage site by the ASI and also it is  available for the morning walkers,nature and fitness enthusiasts due to calm atmosphere of the gardens.

Architecture

The gardens are studded with the disintegrating tombs of Sayyid and Lodi rulers, including the striking Bara Gumbad and mosque of the 15th century and the impressive tombs of Mohammad Shah and Sikander Lodi.

Amidst the gardens stands the Bara Gumbad constructed out of rubble, it is not actually a tomb (as the name suggests) but a gateway to an attached three domed mosque. Both these attractive monuments were built in 1494 during the rule of Sikander Lodi. The Sheesh Gumbad or the glass dome, which just opposite to the Bara Gumbad and resembles it, was built around the same time. The Sheesh Gumbad is somewhat smaller in comparison to the Bara Gumbad.

Lodi Garden, Delhi
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Inside the gardens stands octagonal the tomb of Mohammad Shah, with numerous ornate chattris built (as per Hindu architectures) around the central dome, a number of arches, verandas with pinnacles at each corner. The main tomb is supported by a 16 sided drum. It is made flat  and is surrounded by chattris.

The tomb of Sikander Lodi has a striking resemblance to the tomb of Mohammad Shah except the chattris. Another amazing architecture is the Athpula bridge built in 18th century the bridge derives its name from the eight piers which serve as its base. It is believed that the bridge was built under the rule of Mughal emperor Akbar.

Location & How to Reach

Lodi garden is located on the main Lodi Road, beside the India International Centre which is just 3 kilometres away from the magnificent Humayun’s tomb in the capital city – Delhi.

Lodhi Garden Inside View
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You can take the JLN metro station to reach the place as it is the nearest metro station to Lodi garden. Being in the capital city the garden can easily be accessed through railways, roadways or airways.

Entry Fee

There is no entry fee required to visit the garden. There are no charges applicable even for photography.

Timings

The visiting hours of the place are from 6:00 AM to 7:30 PM. The park is open throughout the week.

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About Anirudh Singh

Anirudh Singh is a passionate blogger and the man behind Amazing India Blog. He has 5 years of experience in the newspaper industry and he founded Amazing India Blog in 2015. Apart from writing and editing articles on Travel, Business and Technology at Amazing India Blog, he also contributes to other well known newspapers and online news blogs.