New Delhi: An unnamed monument, next to Chaumukha Darwaza in the Mehrauli Archaeological Park (MAP), which has forever stood without any historical identification, is now drawing visitors because DDA has made a reading room there.The once dilapidated and now restored structure is open to all for free and houses a modest, yet engaging, collection of books and board games like chess and carrom.
The effort is aimed at encouraging families to spend more time at heritage sites.”The idea of restoring the ruins was to give them a fresh lease of life and ensure their public use,” an official said. “Restoration began over a year ago and included providing the site a red sandstone floor, a repair of the walls and staircases using the original material.”Restoration and conservation of the remaining portion of the structure — including the roof that had completely collapsed — is under way by following heritage norms.
A temporary roof of red sandstone slabs and beams is being constructed that does not impose any structural load on the existing monument. “While Chaumukha Darwaza falls under the jurisdiction of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the adjoining, lesser-known structure is being restored by DDA,” an official said. “The project involves multi-agency coordination, the use of traditional restoration techniques, and improvements to visitor infrastructure.”Beyond monument-specific restoration, DDA has done largescale development work in the surrounding area, including desilting of waterbodies, the creation of pedestrian pathways, constructing sidewalls with small fountains, landscaping and the removal of encroachments.
These efforts are being undertaken in coordination with other agencies to enhance the visitor experience while preserving the historical character of the park.To begin with, DDA developed a large lawn in front of the reading corner building, where visitors were seen basking in the sun when TOI visited the site on Tuesday. Adjacent to this is a large lake with multiple operational fountains, adding to the aesthetic appeal. Staff were engaged in cleaning the lake to improve aeration and maintain biological oxygen demand (BOD) levels, while horticulture teams were planting seasonal flowering plants ahead of the spring season.
“Since the site is close to a restaurant facility and the recently restored Metcalf Boat House, weekend footfall is particularly high during winters,” an official said. “Earlier, this low-lying area was in ruins, and water from neighbouring localities used to collect here before draining into a dysfunctional waterbody. Now, pipelines laid beneath the lawns channel water directly into the lake, ensuring easy access even during the monsoon. During summers, footfall increases at night as the park remains open to the public till 8.30 pm.”DDA has also installed decorative lights around the restored structures, making the area visually striking at night and popular among photography enthusiasts.The authority is currently focusing on reviving several key monuments within MAP, including the Metcalf Boat House, Quli Khan’s Tomb, Balban’s Tomb Complex, Rajon ki Baoli, and Chaumukha Darwaza, as part of a broader restoration and conservation drive across the archaeological park.
