HAUZKHAS HERITAGE

HAUZ KHAS

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

Hauz Khas is the historical battleground where Timur defeated Mohammed Shah Tughlaq in 1398. One can find the remnants of an ancient college and Feroz Shah’s tomb here and on the east to a short distance the Moth ki Masjid –built in the finest Lodi style.

Hauz Khas was a large reservoir built by Allauddin Khilji that was once the water catchments for the city. This village is remarkable for both the ancient and charming ruins in the nearby compound looking down on a still, green tank, as well as for the modern and posh shopping complex, which has sprung up around here. The madarsa, tombs and mosque around it built by Feroz Shah Tuglaq still make for an exclusive and exciting experience.

LOCATION

• It is located in South Delhi in Zone –F which is full of protected monuments, forested areas and heritage sites , also called the “GREEN LUNG” of Delhi.

HAUZKHAS

GENESIS GROWTH

13th CENTURY, HAUZ KHAS LAKE- ALLAUDIN KHILJI

14th CENTURY, L-SHAPED MADARSA-FIROZ SHAH

20th CENTURYVILLAGE FORMATION+ MIXED LANDUSE

N

OWNERSHIP

In 1931, ASI declared HAUZ KHAS COMPLEX, the monument of national importance. The village on the other side had developed as an agrarian settlement constituting 100 Jat and Muslim families in form of compact low rise plotted development.

During 1960s, city development authority i.e. DDA started consolidating land and village areas. The forested area i.e. Deer park, rose garden, district park and village area surrounding the complex and R.K. KHANNA STADIUM is under DDA.

Some monuments in the Deer park are protected by ASI.

N

ASI

DDA

ACTIVITIES AT MACRO SCALE

COMPLEX-MADARSA+ LAKE

VILLAGEDISTRICT PARK

DEER PARK

RESERVE FOREST

STADIUM

VACANT

1

2

3

4

TEACHING PAVILLION

CHATRI SHAPED GRAVES

FIROZ SHAH TOMB

WEST WING OF MADARSA

Source:www.goplaces.in5 LAKE

5

3

5

1 2

4

HAUZ KHAS LAKE

MCD PARKING

FORESTED AREA

MADARSA

Eatery

Designer stores

Traditional stores

Gallery

Schools

Trendy homes

ACTIVITIES AT MICRO SCALE

Source: INTACH WEBSITE

BUILT/OPEN SPACE

BUILTOPEN

CATCHMENT AREA ANALYSIS

• General catchment area consist of mainly 2 big nullahs which aligned from in south to north direction.

• The main source of water is rainfall during monsoons.

•The first nullah flows through JNU Campus and the other flows margin of Mehrauli and pass between Katwaria Sarai and Qutab hotel.

•Both the nullahs join Hauz Khas.

• The tank has perimeter of 1 kms and average depth of 2.2km.

Source: INTACH

ROOFTOP EATING SPACES

HAUZ KHAS MARKET HAUZ KHAS EATERY SPACESARTS & CRAFTS SHOPS

DESIGNER RETAIL STORES TRADITIONAL EATING SPACES

• The market place and architecture of this area is a blend of modern and traditional style.• With variety of activities, the potential of recreational aspects are good.

DEER PARK

•  This place is popular for walking, jogging and weekend outings. •It comprises many subsection such as Duck Park, Picnic Spots, Rabbit Enclosures etc. • The Park has 3 historical tombs of Mughal Era also.• It is also connected to District park.• People enjoy coming here…..

UPCOMING EVENTS

•The Ministry of Tourism of Government of India is in the process of setting up India's first night bazaar at Hauz Khas to be called the "Eco Night Bazaar". The objective is to provide organically grown foodgrains, seeds of rare plants, handmade paper products and a safe place to watch cultural festivals. 

•Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTDC) has also proposed setting up an open air theatre to present cultural fests, folk dances and plays. Eco–friendly shopping kiosk made in bamboo with a bamboo bridge to cross the lake are also planned.

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

Restaurants in Hauz Khas Village in south Delhi running without environmental clearance.

The present activities in the village are without treatment plants for waste water, a sewage system.

Height of building surrounding to the complex are restricting the sun.

Most restaurants are less than 100 meters from the monuments and so are under archaeological laws and the area has no municipal water supply, the restaurants, bars and pubs are using ground water, thereby depleting the resources.

According to the fire department officials, only two or three buildings in the area have got fire safety certificates. The rest are operating without the necessary no-objection certificate (NOC) from the department.

MAINTAINENCE ISSUES

The Madarsa and Hauz Khas complex is not well maintained as the condition is very bad, about to deteriorate. Conservation is needed at early pace.

Building is in bad condition. Steps to Lake are unsafe as unmaintained. Safety is concern issue, some places areDangerous to stay.

FACILITIES ISSUES

PARKING ISSUE:Parking facility is a problem as availability is poor.

BASIC FACILITIES ISSUE:There is no facility of Drinking water and public toilets within the Hauz Khas complex which creates problem among visitors. No public amenities like benches, dustbins, shades etc are given.

SIGNAGES:Proper wayfinding signages are not provided in the complex, people do not easily find the way to village.

REFRENCES

•IHC WALK, Habitat library resource centre, Aug 28 2006•Revival of Hauz Khas lake A Historic lake in urban Delhi, Manu Bhatnagar, 12 th world lake conference, 2008•INTACH website•Delhi to get Night Bazaar in Hauz Khas Village, Times of India, 2004•Hauz Khas village under scanner for illegal bars and fire safety, India Today, 2012•A Guide to Hauz Khas Village, www.goplaces.in