Mehrauli Archaeological Park

The ground beside Qutb Minar has been built on more or less continuously for a thousand years, and around a hundred structures survive scattered through scrub and trees: the Rajon ki Baoli, a stepwell of the Lodi period descending in colonnaded storeys; Balban's tomb, holding what may be the earliest true arch in India; Jamali Kamali, a mosque with an adjoining tomb whose small painted and tiled interior is remarkable; Quli Khan's tomb, converted by a British officer into a country retreat; and Mughal garden walls, wells and pavilions between them. Much of it is unlabelled and found by wandering.

The main sights

• Rajon ki Baoli - a colonnaded stepwell descending in storeys.
• Jamali Kamali - a mosque and a small tomb with a painted tiled ceiling.
• Balban's tomb - possibly the earliest true arch built in India.
• The scattered ruins - around a hundred structures through the woodland.

When to go

October to March; the park has patchy shade and Delhi summers are hard. Mornings are best. Jamali Kamali's tomb chamber is often locked, and the caretaker may open it on request.

Good to know

The park is barely signed and easy to get lost in; a map or guide helps considerably. Some monuments are locked. Paths are rough and the area is quiet enough that solo visitors should be aware.

Nearby

Qutb Minar stands adjacent; Tughlaqabad lies east.

Key facts