Source: The post is based on the article “Conservation work at Delhi’s Zafar Mahal set to begin” published in Hindustan Times on 25th April 2023
What is the News?
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is set to initiate conservation works at Zafar Mahal in South Delhi’s Mehrauli.
What is Zafar Mahal?
Zafar Mahal is considered as the last monumental structure built as a summer palace during the fading years of the Mughal era.
The Zafar Mahal then called Lal Mahal and Rang Mahal was originally built by Akbar Shah II in 1820.
Later, the last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah II (aka Bahadur Shah Zafar) built the Hathi Gate and eventually gave it its present name, the Zafar Mahal.
– Hathi Gate got its name because of the fact that an elephant can pass through it with the ‘houdah’ (seat, where people sit on an elephant) mounted over it.
The emperor started the festival Sair-e-Gul Faroshan (Phoolwaalon ki sair) in Hazrat Bakhtiyar Kaki honor to celebrate his urs from this palace.
The complex contains the beautiful white marble Moti Masjid and several royal graves, including several emperors such as Shah Alam I and Shah Alam II.
It is said that Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar wanted to be buried here but since he was exiled to Burma, his last wish was never fulfilled.
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