Lodi Garden

The Lodi Garden is a symbol of the national, historical, and architectural values. It is an epitome of the grandeur of the bygone Mughal Dynasty. Today, it has developed into a lush, tree-shaded garden with captivating monuments and plantation. The beauty of Lodhi Garden lies significantly in its captivating Indo-Islamic architectural styles. The park consists of a few notable historical structures – tombs, lake, Athpula - an eight pillared bridge, and much more.

Lodhi Garden was built during the 14th and 15th centuries by the Sayyid and Lodhi rulers. It was not so long after the Lodhi dynasty and the Delhi Sultanate came to an end in 1526 that Emperor Babur invaded and established Mughal rule in India. Although, there was no impression left on the Lodhi Garden. In 1936, the British Colonial government developed Lodhi Garden which was designed by the wife of the then Governor-General of India, Lady Willingdon.

The architecture of Mohammed Shah’s mausoleum features Islamic and Hindu styles. It consists of a huge central dome and eight chhatris. The eight small domed structures are beautified with a lotus finial and ornate pinnacles at the corners. It forms as an octagonal chamber and it is a sight to behold. Surprisingly, the mausoleum of Sikander Lodi draws revelation from Mohammed Shah’s tomb. Its architecture is defined by the Indo-Islamic style. The structure consists of the same octagonal design along with a central dome, minus the chhatris. It boasts of Mughal architecture design on the walls and you can enter the tomb through a domed pathway. The architecture of Lodhi Garden is a complete blend of different styles of architecture and small details in the carving. Spread over almost 90 acres, the garden was designed by architect Garrett Eckbo and architect Allen Stein. They established a glasshouse in the garden, a lake with a fountain which further leads to the addition of a bonsai park and rose garden.

• Muhammad Shah Tomb – The ‘Maqbara’ or tomb of Muhammad Shah Sayyid was built in the year 1444 for the third Sayyid sultan Muhammad Shah. It is one of the largest surviving tombs from the Sayyid Dynasty. It is located near the south-west corner of the Lodi Gardens.
• Sikandar Lodi Tomb – The tomb of Sikandar Lodi belongs to the second ruler of the Lodi Dynasty, Sikandar Lodi. He was the sultan of Delhi between 1489-1517 CE and was the son of Bahlul Lodi. After his death, his son Ibrahim Lodi built this tomb for him between 1517-1518 CE. The tomb is located inside Lodi Garden in Delhi.
• Bara Gumbad – The Bara Gumbad or ‘Big Dome’ is a monumental example of the architecture of the Lodi Dynasty and can be found in the Lodi Garden. It was built in 1490 CE and is attributed to Sikandar Lodi. The monument is believed to have the earliest constructed full dome of any building in Delhi.
• Shish Gumbad – Another of the architectural marvel of the Lodi Dynasty is the Shish Gumbad or ‘Glazed Dome’. It was built between 1489 to 1517 CE. The Shish Gumbad houses graves, whose occupants are not unequivocally identifiable.
• Athpula – This bridge was built by Nawab Bahadur, a nobleman in the court of Akbar (1556-1605). It is one of the very few surviving works built in Delhi area during Akbar’s reign. The bridge once spanned a tributary of the Yamuna, a part of the river system that once drained the South Delhi areas.

• Carry a sunscreen for protecting your skin from the scorching heat of Delhi.
• Wear comfortable shoes and clothes.
• Carry a scarf with you to save yourself from the heat.
• Take an extra water bottle with you to stay hydrated during your entire tour.
• Don’t litter the garden.
• Carry mosquito repellent cream with you for avoiding insect bites.
• Take shades and goggles with you to save yourself from the sun’s baking rays.
• Keep that umbrella handy in case of sudden rainfalls.
• Take anti-pollution masks in case of a sudden change in the environment.

• Jogging – The Lodi Garden, apart from being an extremely beautiful historical place to marvel at, is also emerged as a preferred jogging spot for people. With its quiet, calm and clean surrounding, the places serve to be a haven for the ones who choose to start their day with positivity.
• Take a guided tour – If you are a history buff and take an absolute delight in going through historical artifacts and stories then this could be one of the places for you to be at.
• Plan a picnic – If you are looking for a perfectly quite place to plan a picnic despite being stuck in the hustle bustle of this cosmopolitan city, then Lodi Garden could be just the right place.
• Photoshoots – The picturesque greenery and well-maintained surroundings act as a perfect backdrop to flaunt your photography skills.
• Shopping – The Lodhi Garden is very close to Khan Market as well as Chandni Chowk. Here you can find everything ranging from scented candles, household items, designer wear as well aslip smacking food.

• TIMINGS – The visiting hours for the Lodhi Garden is between 6 am and 7.30 pm.
• ENTRY FEE – There is no entry fee required for entering into Lodhi Garden.

Between the months of October to March is an appropriate time to visit the Lodi Garden if you want to avoid the scorching heat of the capital. Spring and winter are very pleasant and perfect for sight-seeing. It is advisable to not visit the place during April to June as the temperature can easily exceed 40 degrees Celsius. During monsoons, from July to September, the weather can be quite unpredictable. The weather here at times, can get humid and sweaty.

Lodi Garden is situated between Safdarjung’s Tomb and Khan Market in the heart of the southern part of New Delhi. If you commute by road, it can be reached in about 20 minutes from Connaught Place in New Delhi. Public transports such as auto rickshaws and app-based cab services such as Uber are popular options as well to reach the destination. Alternatively, it's possible to take the Delhi Metro Train.

• Khan Market – One of the oldest and the costliest markets in India, Khan Market is regarded as one of the most posh and classy places for shopaholics. It was established in 1951 and since then has successfully held the essence of its original structure even in the times of rapid modernization. From paper wraps to homeware and cafes, the place has it all.
• Purana Qila – Built on the banks of river Yamuna and spread over a vast 1.5 kms of area, Purana Qila is a masterpiece of the ancient glory and sterling architecture of the Mughal Empire.
• Meharchand Market – Gaining quick popularity in the suburbs of Delhi, Meharchand Market is home to an eclectic set of entrepreneurs. One can find the best stores to shop from in Meharchand Market.
• Safdarjung’s Tomb – Safdarjung's tomb is a sandstone and marble mausoleum which is located in Delhi, India. It was built for Nawab Safdarjung in the year 1754 and has an Indo-Islamic architecture design which epitomizes the Mughal Dynasty.
• India Habitat Center – The India Habitat Centre is a multipurpose building that serves as a medium to bring together relationships between individuals and institutions who are working in diverse habitat. It is located in Lodhi Road in New Delhi.

• Jamun – Located in Safdarjung in the heart of Delhi, Jamun is a regional Indian eatery that celebrates the diversity and the rich heritage of Indian cuisine.
• Indian Accent Restaurant – The India Accent Restaurant (as suggested by the name) is an Indian Cuisine specialty restaurant. That strives at complementing the flavours and traditions of India with global ingredients and techniques. It is located at Lodhi Road, New Delhi.
• Guppy – With a modern décor and carefully curated fun Japanese cuisine menu, Guppy is a wonderland for the people of Delhi. It is located in Lodhi Colony in New Delhi.