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Hauz Khas Fort & Deer Park: Timings, Metro Station & Places To Visit

Hauz Khas, with its heart being the historic Hauz Khas Complex, is a wealthy neighborhood in South Delhi. This area offers a blend of both rural and urban lives. Hauz Khas, in Urdu, means ‘water tank’ and is named after an ancient water reservoir, which is now part of the extensive Hauz Khas Complex.

According to history, Hauz Khas, then known as Hauz-e-Alai, is the place where Ghazi Malik defeated Khusro Khan of Delhi Sultanate in the year 1320.

Hauz Khas Nearest Metro Station

In order to visit Hauz Khas Delhi, you can either take a cab from anywhere in Delhi or take a metro. If you are taking the metro, you need to get down at the Hauz Khas Metro Station. It is the interchange metro station, between the Yellow Line and Magenta Line of the Delhi Metro, which serves the Hauz Khas Enclave.

Hauz Khas Fort Timings

The Hauz Khas Complex is open from Monday to Saturdays from 10:30 AM to 7:30 PM. Normally a visit to the Hauz Khas village takes anywhere between 2 to 6 hours. The best time to visit this place is between the months of October to March as both the summers and winters in Delhi are very harsh.

Hauz Khas fort Ticket Price

Hauz Khas fort ticket price is Rs. 30/ for an Indian person

Read more: Top 35 Tourist Places To Visit In Delhi

Places to Visit in Hauz Khas

Do you know the different places near Hauz Khas you can visit? Here is a list that will help you make the most out of your Hauz Khas trip:

Hauz Khas Fort:

hauz khas fort

Located at one end of the one of the Hauz Khas village, the history of the Hauz Khas Fort traces back to the 13th and 14th centuries and is a popular site for heritage walks. This fort was part of the second medieval city of the Delhi Sultanate, Siri, which was built during the reign of Alauddin Khilji.

The aesthetic ruins of the fort include a madrassa, a water tank, a mosque, and the main tomb of Feroz Shah Tughlaq with six pavilions around it. All of these are built between 1352 and 1354 AD.

The main tomb, which was built by Feroz Shah Tughlaq for himself, is the focal point of the place. It is located at the intersection point of the two wings of the L shaped building that constitutes the Madrassa.

There are ample eateries, boutiques, and antique shops only at a stone’s throw away from the fort.

  • Timings: The fort is open from Monday to Saturday from 10:30 AM to 5:00 PM.
  • Entry Fees: The entry to this place is ₹15 for Indians and ₹200 for foreigners.

Hauz Khas Village:

Hauz Khas Village

Located around the Hauz Khas Complex, the Hauz Khas Village is a historic habitation well known since the medieval times. A water tank/reservoir surrounded by beautiful buildings and a well-maintained park.

The old charm and an aesthetic appeal are retained by the existing status of the village through the well-maintained parks with walkways, the urbane market and quirky places of interest that have spruced up the old Mughal surviving structures.

This village existed as an urban village at the edge of the Hauz Khas area and started developing after the 1960s. In the mid-1980s, the village started getting modernized, when the designer boutiques of the fashion designers moved into the village. The restaurants started coming up in the late 1990s.

Today the Hauz Khas village in Delhi, also known as the New York East Village of Delhi, has turned into a posh locality and is well known for its electric nightlife with around 50 restaurants, cafes, bars, and pubs. The place has an infectious energy and there are many live events, from stand-up comedy to live jazz, hosted by the different cafes.

  • Nearest Metro: The Hauz Village nearest metro station is the Hauz Khas metro station.
  • Timings: The Hauz Khas village timings are from 10:30 AM to 5:00 PM. The village is open from Monday to Saturday
  • Entry Fee: The entry fee to this place free of cost, which is a win-win.

Hauz Khas Market:

Hauz Khas Market

The Hauz Khas market is an authentic market place in Delhi that is home to numerous outlets that retail a variety of art and crafts, antiques, consumer durable goods, furniture, fashion garments, shoes, accessories, and even multi-cuisine restaurants.

The Hauz Khas market offers a peaceful and serene experience that is very unique and can not be seen in any other market place in Delhi.

This is due to the ancient architectural backdrop and the location of the market. The Hauz Khas market is well known for its curio shops, designer stores and some South Indian specialty restaurants, and a travel café.

Another attraction of the market is its fascinating and stunning art galleries, some of which have come up in the past few years. A few famous art galleries in the Hauz Khas market include the Delhi Art Gallery, the Impulse Art, the Village Gallery, the Art View, the Rang Art Gallery, the GNR Art Gallery, Arjun’s, and Green House.

The Hauz Khas market also features unique stores like Yodakin, which is a book, music and cinema store. The dining outlets in the market are the best place to look up to for a break during your shopping spree.

  • Timings: The Hauz Khas market opens between 10:30 AM to 7:00 PM from Monday to Saturday and remains closed on Sundays.
  • Entry Fees: The entry to this place is free.

Hauz Khas Lake:

Hauz Khas Lake

The Hauz Khas Lake is the water reservoir after which the Hauz Khas area is named. It is said that the lake used to be a massive water reservoir, which provided water to the then newly built Hauz Khas fort and the city of Siri, the second medieval city of the Delhi Sultanate.

This water reservoir was built by the Khilji ruler Alauddin Khilji in the year 1295 AD. It was originally known as Hauz-i-Alai after Khilji. There was a two-storeyed pavilion built in the center of the water reservoir and was connected to the city of Siri through a causeway.

The reservoir is said to have been partially destroyed by the time Feroz Shah Tughlaq, one of the peaceful rulers, took over. He not only reconstructed the water reservoir but also added stones to make embankments for the reservoir and made it fully functional again, except the pavilion.

The reservoir was of about 123.6 acres area, with dimensions of 700 m length, 600 m width and 4 m depth. Its storage capacity at the end of each monsoon season was reported to be 0.8 Mcum. Now, the tank has reduced in size due to encroachment and siltation. However, it is still well maintained.

  • Timings: The Hauz Khas Lake is open on all days from sunrise to sunset.
  • Entry Fee: The visit to the Hauz Khas lake is free of entrance charges.

Deer Park:

Deer Park

Deer Park or the A.N. Jha Deer Park, named after the famous social worker Aditya Nath Jha, is located in the Hauz Khas village. The park has four different wings, which are the Rose Garden, the Deer Park, Fountain Park, and the District Park. This park is popular for walking, jogging, and weekend outings and has several historical tombs from the Mughal Era.

Often referred to as the ‘lungs of Delhi’, it is a green respite from the hustle bustle of the city. Among all the overcrowded city life of Delhi, the deer park is one of the few green zones that the people can still enjoy and cherish.

The Deer Park is home to several different animals and birds. However, the main attraction of the deer park is the deer. The deer here are kept in a large enclosure where they can roam around freely but feeding the animals is strictly prohibited for the visitors, and so is throwing stones at them. Throwing stones at the animals is punishable by law.

Deer Park in Hauz Khas village is a beautiful place for weekend outings. If you are thinking of a family outing or picnic in, you can look up to the Deer Park. It has all the things that can leave your children captivated.

  • Timings: The Deer Park is open on all days from sunrise to sunset.
  • Entry Fee: The entry to the park is absolutely free of cost, which is a win-win.

Mosque:

Mosque

The mosque in the deer park is a small yet elegant mosque from the Lodi era, built during the reign of Sikander Lodi.

The slab on the entrance of the mosque dates the building to 1505-06 and credits the construction of it to Kasumbhil, the nurse of Fateh Khan, the son of the governor of the area around this time.

This mosque is placed on a raised platform within a fenced enclosure, which also has an old well. The low walls, which surround the enclosure, is made in rubble masonry out of local stones and has a flame shaped battlements. The mosque itself is built of dressed stone, yet traces of plaster decoration are visible.

  • Timings: The mosque is open on all days.
  • Entry Fees: The entry to the mosque is free of cost.

Kali Gumti:

Kali Gumti

Located amidst the green bounty of the Deer Park, the Kali Gumti or the ‘small black domed building’ was built in the 14th century, during the reign of the Lodi Dynasty.

It is so named probably because it is covered with traditional organic mortar which is used to prolong the life of the building. In the process, the growth of the microorganisms turns the plaster black in color.

The Kali Gumti stands in a small enclosure with a wall mosque on its western side and is very quiet and isolated. The building has arched entrances on the north, south, and east, except for the western part which isn’t pierced by a doorway.

This small and simple building is decorated with a band of kanguras along the edge of its roof. The equally austere wall mosque has arched niches, kanguras, and taller arches, which form the mihrabs.

This building is quite isolated from the rest of the region and is not quite popular. However, if you are a person who loves old heritage stuff, you must have a look at this.

  • Timings: This place open on all days from sunrise to sunset.
  • Entry Fee: The visit to the Kali Gumti is free of entrance charges.

Munda Gummad:

Munda Gummad

Located next to the Hauz Khas Lake facing the Feroz Shah Tughlaq tomb, Munda Gummad or the ‘bald dome’ is a pavilion inside the Deer Park built on a raised hill like rising. Alauddin Khilji of the Khilji Dynasty built it in 1295 AD.

It is believed that the Hauz Khas Lake close by used to be a water tank, which provided water to the Siri, the second medieval city of the Delhi Sultanate. This pavilion, which used to be two-storeyed, was built in the center of the water tank and was connected to the city of Siri by a causeway.

The upper story of the pavilion was damage when Feroz Shah Tughlaq took over. The stone bases of the pillars that once were a part of the upper story can still be seen. There is a staircase, which leads upstairs, from where you can have a wonderful view of the Hauz Khas Complex.

  • Timings: The only way to the building is through the Deer Park Complex. So, you can visit this place whenever Deer Park is open, on all days from sunrise to sunset.
  • Entry Fee: The entry to the Deer Park is free of cost.

Shree Neelanchala Temple:

Shree Neelanchala Temple

Shree Nelanchala Temple is one of the places to visit near Hauz Khas. If you are in Hauz Khas, you should not skip visiting the famous Jagannath Temple built by the Oriya community of Delhi in 1969.

This temple is famous for its annual Rath Yatra festival which is attended by thousands of devotees. The temple is very close to the Hauz Khas metro station.

The temple is fully built according to the Odisha style temple, just like the Shri Mandir in Puri. In the front side of the temple, there is a Simhadwar or ‘the main door’ with 22 steps known as the ‘Baishi Pahacha’, which leads to the Mukhashala.

In the Garbhagriha of the temple, Chaturthi deities are installed, Shri Jagannath, Shri Balabhadra, Maa Subhadra and Shri Sudarshan. In the same floor of the temple, other deities are also installed, namely Lord Shiva, Lord Hanuman, Maa Bimala, and Maa Laxmi. Their respective temples are built around the main temple of Lord Jagannath.

In front of the Mukhashala or the main area, there is a pillar known as the Aruna Stambha, built in marble stone, facing the Chaturdha Deities. It is a tradition that before entering the main temple or Garbhagriha, each devotee should touch and embrace the Aruna Stambha.

It is advisable to wear decent apparel while visiting the temple. Leather items are not allowed inside the sanctum and the footwear is also to be left behind while entering the temple.

This temple was built in replication to the Puri Jagannath Temple and serves as a center of cultural, religious and spiritual interests of the Oriyas in Delhi.

  • Timings: The temple has different visiting times for summers and winters. During the summers, the temple opens at 5:00 AM in the morning and closes at 10:00 PM, whereas during the winters, the temple opens at 6:00 AM and closes at 9:00 PM. It is open on all days irrespective of the season.
    However, the best time to visit the Shree Neelanchala Temple is during the Rath Yatra. During this festival, Shri Jagannath, Shri Balabhadra and Maa Subhadra are placed in a wooden chariot and carried across the streets, which are strewn with flowers and grains by the devotees. The whole thing, the thousands of devotees gathered in the streets to share the burden of the chariot, is a visual treat.
  • Entry Fee: The visit to the temple is free from entrance charges.

Conclusion

Now that you know all about the places to visit in Hauz Khas and the Hauz Khas timings, what are you waiting for? Look for holidays, pack your bags and head towards Delhi.

However, if you are a Delhite, all you need to visit this place is a small weekend. There are a lot of places to visit in Hauz Khas with friends. If you visit this place once, you are surely going to look for chances to come back here over and over again.

Places to visit near Hauz Khas

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