On the search of Zafar Mahal

 After Mehrauli Archaeological Park Vlog, we decided to visit Mehrauli again, because there were some historical monuments that were unexplored. It was the lowest gap during our vlog because we were out again within a week. Khazan was surprised when I asked him to get ready for the new vlog. Firstly, he denied that the reason was the pain of his tooth. Finally, we agreed to visit Mehrauli tomorrow.

It was 28th of May, and garmi subah se keh ke le rhi thi. Khazan forgot his Parna, we were still in my room, but he did not bring the parna. While exiting, my father asked to get my breakfast done. After breakfast, we left again. It was around 8:50 am, because Khazan came around 8:35 am. And I was dressed like an office goer. We took an e-rickshaw from Agar Nagar after a frustrating moment (Khazan baith chuka tha, maine e-rickshaw wale uncle ko bola ki aap mod lo pehle uske baad mai baith jata hu, ek chutiya chalti rickshaw mein hi baith gya mere se pehle). We reached Nangloi around 10 am. There was rush at metro. We were discussing about the government. It was almost 12 pm, when we reached Qutub Minar metro station. 

Now, following the Google Maps for Zafar Mahal, we found an Unknown tomb and Madhi Masjid. Firstly, we thought that the gate is closed but somehow we entered this place. After clicking some photos, we entered the premises of this tomb, and as expected, it was also not maintained properly. And there were two couples, sitting in the corner, having their lunch (Abey Qutub Minar chle gye hote, aisi Khufiya Jagah pe baithkar khana kaun khata hai). While going across the tomb, the Guard asked us not to click any photos of Masjid. Khazan asked the name of Masjid from Guard, and he said," Mandi Masjid" People were sitting in the shadow of the tomb, nobody was roaming in the heat of 42 Degree temperature like us. It was the hunger inside us that was making us fly in this heat, the hunger of getting famous through our vlogging. Parinda bhi par nhi maar rha tha jahan iss dhoop mein, hum tomb ki chhat pe photography kr the they.The view from this height was amazing, Khazan was getting call, again and again, businessman!. We have visited so many hidden places in Delhi so far and noticed that most of the guarded has been posted here for 5-6 years, but they do not have any information about the places, and they are not curious to get some information also.

After this Unknown Tomb, now we were going towards the Zafar Mahal. Before that, we found a Jain Mandir, named Jain Mandir Dadabadi. One of the oldest Jain Temples. The important shrine believed to be of very historic origin goes back to the early 13th century, told by the manager of the temple. The story behind the Dada Bari temple goes like this. The Dadabari is the place where the second famous Jain saint Dādā Guru Manidhari Jinachandra Sūri Ji 1140-1166 A.D was cremated. According to the legend, while on his death bed, he told his followers that when he died the Mani magic jewel embedded in his forehead would fall out and should be placed in a bowl of milk. He also instructed them that his body should not be kept anywhere while preparing for the funeral. Everyone was so sad, however, that they forgot his instructions and set his body on the ground. When they tried to move it again, it would not budge, all attempts failed and the last rites had to be performed right there, at the spot where the shrine now stands. I do not know if the man was a priest or a guard at this temple. But his behavior was very bad. His exact words were like, " Kahan se aaye ho?, q jaana hai Mandir, kya kroge, Jao lekin Jaldi se aa jana." We were discussing about this on our way about this incident, how can someone do this when they are representing their religion. We praised the Sikh religion at this moment, as they never ask about your religion or reason to visit the Gurdwara. While discussing this moment, we were quite close to Zafar Mahal, and as per google maps, it was around 20m. When we asked some people, they denied and the reply was some, " Bhai Jahaz Mahal toh suna hai humne, but Zafar Mahal nhi suna." Khazan asked a shopkeeper and he told us that it is nearby the Dargah. Finally we reached the Zafar Mahal and now Khazan asked me to take our the gimble to shoot the video. And shockingly, I was not carrying the bag on my shoulders. Helplessly, now we were walking very fast without the help of Google Maps. I asked Khazan about the things in the bag. We were not afraid or stunned at this moment, and our reaction was very unexpected. We were laughing at our act. I said," Maan le agar hum what gye aur bag nhi mila toh". He asked me to stay positive. Finally, we reached Jain Mandir Dadabadi, and the bag was still there. We took a deep breath and drank water. Khazan started to make the video. There were so many airplanes flying over this location, I told Khazan ki ye Qutub Minar dekhne ke liye plane wala niche plane kr leta hai. Zafar Mahal- the last historical place built by any Mughal. People were playing cards, peeing in the corner, smoking, and getting their lunch done. This place has some different vibes, the building is almost shattered, waiting for a strong wind. We got to know that bats are living in abandoned historical places. We made a video of this place. There was Moti Masjid also. There were some students also, Khazan asked them to subscribe to our channel and told them about the Mehrauli Archaeological Park. While going towards the bus stand, Khazan gave me homemade sandwich from his bag.

Now we were going to visit another monument. It was Bhul Bhulaiya on our way, clicked some photos. We boarded a bus, and stepped down at Lado Sarai bus depot. On the bus stand, we were checking the list. We decided to visit Siri Fort, which was almost 5 km from this location. But Khazan asked me to visit the Art Gallery, which we left behind. We were hungry, so ate Parathey-Chholey and cold drink was again not cold. It was our bad luck, that we were not allowed to enter the Ojas Art Gallery because it was under construction. We are roaming in the street. It was our fourth round in the same round. Now we entered Sanjay Van. It was merely a Van(Forest), reserved under the government. While taking a quick tour of this place, we followed a signboard towards the Qila Rai Pithora. We climbed on the wall and sat for a moment. We were able to watch the Qutub Minar from this relative. We talked about our journey of vlogging, and how people are treating us after this hard work. Khazan told me that he got a phone call from one of his relatives after a very long time because of vlogging. It was not easy for me to pull out of the conversation, because we have to get our success from vlogging, no matter what happens, whatever it takes. If we would have a camera, then the photos will be more attractive. Leave it, will get one. While exiting the place, Khazan took my breath out when he shocked me by watching a snake. Somebody asked us about TB hospital. Now we were waiting for the bus and met some people from Madhya Pradesh, who were going to their villages, because of no labor. An uncle asked us about something, we did not understand. We were walking again and now took the bus to Khirki Village. 

We reached Khirki Village, now looking for the Khirki Mosque, and bought ice cream. So the Mosque was only around 200 m away from the bus stand of Khirki Village. We found the Khirki Mosque, and now looking for the entry gate. People have made boundaries towards the Mosque as per our observation. We walked almost every corner of the Mosque, but couldn't find the entrance gate. But while we were taking the exit, we found the gate. We talked with the security guard about the Mosque, he has been posted here for more than 4 years. He was all alone here, getting bored, and told us that no one comes here. I asked him to follow us on Instagram. Now, the Mosque was under construction and as per the guard, it is quite possible that people will be able to visit this place. Its condition was much better than the Zafar Mahal. 

Now we were again going towards the Siri Fort. While going towards it, we found Lal Gumbad on our way. The monument is a tomb, which contains the mortal remains of Shaikh Kabir–ud-Din-Auliya, a Sufi Saint who was buried here in the year of 1397.  Not much is known about the origins or the history of Shaikh kabir–ud-Din-Auliya except that he might have been the disciple of Sufi Saint Roshan Chirag Dilli of the Chisti order, who himself was the spiritual heir of the renowned Sufi Saint Nizamuddin Auliya. This obscure saint lived in the reign of the Tughlaq Dynasty, under the rule of the Tughlaq Emperor Mohammed-bin-Tughlaq & the tomb reflects the architectural style of that era. In fact, some historians point out that the tomb resembles the tomb of Ghiyath-al-ud-Tughlaq, the first emperor of the dynasty. The Lal Gumbad is named so, because of the bright red color of the monument. In fact, almost the whole structure, including the walls & façade has been made out of red sandstone. The shape of the main tomb is in the form of a square, topped with a plastered dome & which presently has frayed walls. This tomb is also said to be a protected monument, but we were unable to see any protection. Children are playing, a security guard is gossiping, and people are playing cards, smoking, and worshipping this place. 

After Lal Gumbad, we were again going towards another monument, we found a Tomb, named Tomb of Shaikh Yusuf Qattal. As expected, not maintained by the government. It seems to be like a most abandoned place. It was like a broken tomb. People had painted the wall with their tobacco spit. It was like a hot spot for gambling. A small but attractive tomb of Yusuf Qattal lies in the Khirki village. A Sufi saint he used to reside in the area and died in 1527. The tomb is quite ornamental. Sheikh Yusuf Qattal was a popular Sufi saint, who lived during the reigns of Sultan Ibrahim Lodi (1517-1526) and Badshah Zahiruddin Muhammad “Babur” (1526-1530), and died in 1527. He is believed to have performed religious devotions at nearby Satpula, a water harvesting dam built during the reign of Muhammad bin Tughlaq.

After the Tomb of Shaikh Yusuf Qattal, we visited Begumpuri Masjid. Our legs were paining because of our shoes. It was inside a village. And people were playing badminton on the premises of this Masjid. Someone was smoking. It was one of the biggest mosques in our list of hidden gems in Delhi. Again this was an excursion, with no maintenance at all. But it was a perfect spot for photography. One guard was sleeping and another one was chilling with somebody, they do not care about the visitors. The stairs of the Mosque were blocked so that people will be unable to climb its top. To begin with, a brief history. The Begumpuri Masjid was built in the 14th century, during the Tughlaq period. The three main Tughlaq Sultans—Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq, Mohammad bin Tughlaq, and Firoz Shah Tughlaq—between them ruled Delhi for less than 70 years, but during this relatively brief period, they constructed some of Delhi’s most enduring landmarks. Not beautiful, perhaps, but certainly long-lived: the three forts of Adilabad, Tughlaqabad, and Firoz Shah Kotla (which itself was only the citadel of the city of Firozabad, also established by Firoz Shah); scattered monuments like the madrasa at Hauz Khas and Mohammad bin Tughlaq’s palace, Bijai Mandal; numerous waterworks, tombs, and mosques. Firoz Shah Tughlaq even got repairs and additions made to existing structures like the Qutb Minar and Hauz Khas.

After Begumpuri Masjid, now we were going to find the Siri Fort. While going towards a narrow street, we found a hidden tomb. I asked a stranger about this place, and he said," Bhaiya humko nhi pta, hum yha bs rehte hain." We were climbing through a street when an aunt told us to take a different path. We did not know the name of this tomb. I was walking carefully through the bushes, fear of the snakes. I clicked some photos, then climbed on the top of this tomb. Some people were chilling at this place, they bunked their schools. We were looking for the name of this tomb. While exiting, we noticed a signboard, which got completely damaged with the rust on it. Somebody wrote Vijay Mandal on it. I got the name of the location afterward, it was Bijaya Mandal. We sat for a while outside this historical place and we noticed that the gates are completely damaged but the locks were completely fine. 

Now we were again going to visit the Siri Fort, walking around 5 km. It was a waste of the time, we crossed 5 villages to reach at this place. It was our bad luck that we could not find the Siri Fort after lots of hard work. Nobody had the easy words to describe the simple way toward the Siri Fort. People were quite easy with telling lies. Now, we got tired and decided to take the metro. Before that, we were looking for something to eat. We found a Tikki Wala, and he was selling Tikki worth 100 Rs. We cursed it. Now I took half fry and Khazan got his maggie. As he became a pure vegetarian, denied eating the half fry Before our food, we found a mosque with the name of Darwesh Shah. Delhi has a number of structures dedicated to saints and people about whom little or close to nothing is known. A mausoleum here, a mosque there, a pavilion in a derelict corner, or a little temple hidden somewhere. Darwesh Shah Ki Masjid (Mosque of Darwesh Shah) is one such structure dedicated to a saint about whom not much has been discovered to date. The mosque is located inside a DDA (Delhi Development Authority) park in South Delhi's Gulmohar Park. If you're traveling by Metro, get off at Green Park Metro Station.

Now we took the metro and left for home. Khazan slept. We decided to eat something at Chaos, but there was no entry during that hour. We could not eat at Burger King also, no sitting arrangement. We deboarded at Mundka Metro station. Khazan told me that his brother lives at Mundka. Then he bought Lassi and asked me to eat. I tried and my reaction was very weird, " Meethi lassi kaun peeta hai, Khraab ho rhi hogi yo!". Then we were waiting for a vehicle for Meer Vihar. Khazan took the medicine for tooth pain. We reached home around 9:30 pm.

Check our photos and videos to witness the full journey and share your valuable feedback with us.