Lodhi Garden New Delhi – Heritage Amidst Nature

Lodhi Garden in New Delhi is unique. It not only carries a few eras of Delhi’s history in its folds but also is one of the rare historical places, that are living. This is not a place where only tourists come, walk around, click pictures, and go back. The Garden is very much an integral part of the life of Delhi’s people.

Those who are fortunate to be living in its vicinity probably use it as their everyday walking garden. Young couples use it to spend time together, and other Dilliwallahs make a one-off visit to sit and breathe the fresh air here. History buffs come here to see the Lodi-era tombs and mosques. Architects come to study the architecture of that time.

Lodhi Garden – Places to visit in Delhi

These days the gardens are the favorite haunt of photographers. They come here to click the picturesque locations, trees, and birds. Film-makers use it to depict the backdrop of Delhi. Master storytellers like Khushwant Singh sat here and wrote novels such as The Sunset Club set entirely in these gardens. Often called the lungs of Delhi, most people come here to spend some time with nature. Situated enviably between the Khan Market and Lodhi Road, it is easily accessible from both sides.

Going by the aura around Lodhi Garden, I expected it to be big, but it is actually a mid-sized park spread over about 90 acres. There were two villages that existed around the monuments till the early 20th century, one of them was called Khairpur.

History of Lodhi Garden

In 1936, the place was landscaped and the garden was created. It was named Lady Willingdon Garden, after the wife of the then governor-general of India. After independence, gardens were named after the dynasty whose remains still adorn it.

The Garden was re-landscaped in 1968 and a glasshouse was added to it. It has a natural terrain that goes up and down at places with big and small monuments punctuating the abundant nature. It has small and not-so-small ponds with flowers and birds and a Bonsai garden.

Lodhi Garden Walking Trail

My walk started from the Khan market side. As you enter from the parking, the Athpula Bridge would be right in front of you.

Athpula Bridge

Athpula literally means 8 bridges. It was called so as it stood on 8 pillars forming 7 arches. The central arch is the biggest one with subsequent arches becoming smaller, giving a concave shape to the bridge.

As it stands today, you wonder where is the river over which this was built. The water surrounding the bridge is an artificial water body. Well, though the youngest monument this bridge is still 400 years old, built during Akbar’s time by Nawab Bahadur over a canal that connected to the Yamuna. What is noteworthy about this bridge is that this is one of the rare imprints in Delhi from Akbar’s time.

Sikandar Lodhi Tomb

Follow the paved path around the Athpula and you would see a fort-like wall. You have to go around it to reach the gates of Sikandar Lodi’s tomb. Built-in the early 16th century by his son Ibrahim Lodi, this tomb is in the typical octagonal shape of the Lodi era. This tomb has an uncanny resemblance to Adham Khan’s tomb in Mehrauli, with three archways opening on each of the eight sides.

The inside of the tomb has a high dome, with a painted ceiling and beam and lintel entrances in red sandstone. Arches inside have geometrical designs in blue and green. The western wall gives the impression of being a mosque with a Mihrab-like recession. The walls enclose huge gardens that surround the main tomb building. The platform outside the entrance wall has two canopies.

Legend of Octagonal Tombs

A legend says that the Mughals thought of Lodis as traitors. In their era, the traitor’s tombs were made in the Octagonal style like that of Adham Khan’s. Another interesting point is that Sikandar Lodi chose to be buried in Delhi while he used to rule from Agra.

Sheesh Gumbad

Move a little ahead and you would see Sheesh Gumbad and bang opposite it Bara Gumbad. Now, these are square tombs from the Lodi era. Sheesh-Gumbad was so-called because its outer finish with blue enameled tiles gave the impression of being a mirror. Very few of these tiles survive now and the dome carries a bare look. A family seems to be buried in this tomb, which is fairly well preserved from the outside but is totally ignored inside.

Bada Gumbad or the Big Dome

Bara Gumbad has a mosque on one side and a Mehman Khana or guesthouse on the other. As you enter Bara Gumbad, you suddenly are hit by the sheer height of the dome. On the platform between the dome, mosque, and guesthouse are some graves that probably belong to a later period. The Bara Gumbad mosque was the most pleasant discovery of this walk.

This mosque with three domes and five arches has a beautiful engraving of geometric designs and Arabic verses in an off-white color. It is a riot of incised plasterwork. It also has some of the best Squinches that I have seen in Delhi monuments. The interior of this mosque is pretty well preserved making it worth visiting.

Read More – Garden of Five Senses, Delhi

No one knows who is buried in these two tombs. But I guess it is safe to assume that these must be noblemen, going by the grandeur of these tombs. It is argued that Bara Gumbad is not at all a tomb, but a gateway to the mosque. But apparently, the graves have been found inside establishing it as a tomb.

Mohammad Shah Tomb

As you walk towards the Lodi road, you would see another majestic octagonal structure, with peculiar and ornate Chhatris or canopies all around the octagon. These Chhatris make the distinct element of this tomb, with everything else very typical of the tombs of that era. This is the Sayyid dynasty’s Mohammad Shah’s tomb. It is the biggest structure in these gardens. The ceiling again has some elaborate circular paintings in blue and red enclosed in a star-like formation. It makes a very photogenic tomb, as it is on a higher mound and is absolutely symmetrical.

Here and there you would see some grave platforms in the gardens. It would almost feel as if you have come to meet all those who lay buried here. The dead do speak to you, not literally, but through the pieces, they left for the future generations, cast in stone carrying an imprint of their times. The monuments show the importance given to people after they died. Not sure if their lifetimes were way smaller than the life of their tombs if they got the same reverence and gratitude. I am not sure if they met as many people in their lives as they meet from their graves.

Birds

While absorbing history, do not miss the present. A variety of birds live here and a lot more visit during winter. In case you do not know much about the birds, there are elaborate boards to explain the various varieties of the birds that you can see here. Of course, the trees and plants are there to admire all around.

Read More – Birds in My Garden

I missed the Kos Minar built during Sher Shah Suri’s time. You find them all along the Grand Trunk road that runs from Amritsar to Kolkata.

Travel Tips

• Entry is free.
• The visitor’s timings are 5:00 AM to 8:00 PM from April to September. During the winter months of October to March, the timing is 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Open on all days of the week.
• You need at least an hour to see the garden properly. If architecture and birding interest you, you can easily spend half a day there.
• The closest Metro Station is Jor Bagh on Yellow Line. You need to walk for about 5 minutes or take an auto from there.
• Lodhi The Garden Restaurant on the garden premises serves European and Mediterranian food. It is a high-end restaurant. You can always hop over to Khan Market for a bite.
• Shoot the birds with your camera but do not feed them.

More Delhi Walks on IndiTales:

Walking on the Walls of Lal Kot

Walkthrough the North Ridge

Walking the South Mehrauli Trail

North Mehrauli: Ruins & Remains from Across the Eras

Walkthrough the 1857 Revolution