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Jahaz
Mahal
(in
Urdu
language
‘Jahaz’
means
"Ship"
and
‘Mahal’
means
"Palace",
the
"Ship
Palace"),
is
located
next
to
Hauz-i-Shamsi
in
Mehrauli,
Delhi
on
its
northeastern
corner.
It
was
so
named,
since
its
reflection
(illusion)
in
the
surrounding
reservoir
looked
like
a
ship
floating
on
a
lake.
It
is
inferred
to
have
been
built
during
the
Lodi
dynasty
period
(1452–1526)
as
a
pleasure
resort,
Sarai
or
an
inn.
One
reason
for
building
the
Jahaj
Mahal
retreat
was
to
provide
transit
accommodation
as
a
Sarai
or
(inn)
to
the
large
number
of
pilgrims
from
Afghanistan,
Arabia,
Iran,
Iraq,
Morocco
and
Turkey
who
came
to
Delhi
to
visit
the
many
Muslim
shrines.
Another
version
is
that
it
was
built
as
a
retreat
for
the
emperors,
Akbar
Shah
II
and
Bahadur
Shah
II
and
their
families,
during
the
summer
months,
away
from
the
heat
and
dust
of
Delhi.
Its
construction
is
dated
between
1451
AD
and
1526
AD,
before
Babar's
invasion
and
the
beginning
of
Mughal
rule
in
Delhi.
The
palace
is
approached
from
the
eastern
side.
A
courtyard,
originally
in
a
rectangular
shape
now
seen
in
‘U’
shape,
is
in
the
center
of
the
palace.
The
palace
has
carved
impressive
square
chhatris
(six
of
them
with
different
numbers
of
pillars
–
six,
eight
and
twelve)
or
towers
in
the
corners
and
the
centre,
ornamented
with
beautiful
squinches
in
different
chambers
and
walls
(pictures
in
the
gallery).
The
domed
pavilion
over
the
central
gate
is
decorated
with
blue
tiles.
A
small
mosque
is
also
located
within
the
palace,
as
discerned
from
a
mihrab
in
a
niche
on
the
west
wall.
Jahaj
Mahal
is
the
venue
of
the
annual
colorful
festival
of
the
Phool
Walon
Ki
Sair
(means
a
procession
of
the
florists)
or
'Sair-i-Gulfaroshan'
held
in
October.
A
procession
of
flower
bedecked
pankhas
(fans)
made
and
carried
by
the
flower
vendors
starts
from
Mehrauli
at
the
overflow
outlet
of
the
Hauz-i-Shamsi
tank,
called
"Jharna",
stops
at
the
Yogmaya
Temple
for
the
first
offering
of
the
flower
fan
as
mark
of
reverence,
moves
to
the
Jahaj
Mahal
and
finally
ends
at
the
famous
dargah
of
Hazrat
Qutbuddin
Bakhtiar
Kaki
for
the
presentation
of
the
fans
and
chaddar
at
Kaki's
dargha.
It
marks
the
syncretic
Hindu-Muslim
composite
culture.
The
festival
was
started
by
Emperor
Akbar
Shah
II
in
1820.
It
was
popularised
by
Emperor
Bahadur
Shah
II.
It
was
discontinued
from
1942
for
a
time
during
the
British
period
but
was
restarted
in
1961
at
the
initiative
of
Pandit
Jawaharlal
Nehru,
the
first
Prime
Minister
of
India.
The
three-day
festival
is
held
at
the
Jahaj
Mahal
where
elaborate
cultural
programmes
are
organised.
Cultural
troupes
from
several
States
of
India
perform
dances,
drama
programmes
and
hold
musical
soirees
(particularly
Qawwalis),
in
their
colourful
regional
costumes
and
aspire
for
honours
recognising
their
talent.
Fire
dancers
lead
the
procession
with
pankahs.
'Light
and
Sound
Shows'
at
this
historical
monument
are
incorporated
with
state-of-the-art
technology
offering
a
once
in
a
lifetime
experience.
Among
the
numerous
architectures,
Jahaz
Mahal,
Mandu
provides
the
most
extravagant
experience
showcasing
the
history
and
its
associated
monuments.
This
light
and
sound
show
takes
you
to
the
medieval
era.
The
Conservation
Society,
Delhi,(CSD),
established
in
1984
as
a
voluntary
organisation
for
preservation
of
Delhi's
environment
and
architectural
heritage
with
the
main
objective
of
creating
awareness
among
the
public
of
Delhi's
heritage,
conducts
seminars,
workshops
and
heritage
walks
to
promote
awareness
and
pursue
conservation
activities.
Jahaj
Mahal
is
one
of
the
monuments
identified
by
CSD
to
pursue
concerted
conservation
activities
with
the
agencies
responsible
for
such
works,
in
Mehrauli,
Delhi's
urban
village
which
is
one
of
111
such
villages
identified
all
over
Delhi.
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