Conservation work on at Mughal-era jharna

Restoration work by INTACH and the Delhi Government on in full swing at the jharna site at the Mehrauli Archaeological Park in the Capital.

In six months from now, Delhiites will be able to see a jharna at the Mehrauli Archaeological Park.

Historically, the jharna , located behind Qutub Minar at Jahaz Mahal, earned its name from the waterfall created by a drainage of surplus water called Hauz-e-Shamsi during the Mughal period.

It is now under conservation and restoration by INTACH, in consonance with the Delhi Government.

INTACH Delhi chapter director (projects) Ajay Kumar says: “We are actually strengthening the ‘building’ of the

jharna by using traditional materials like choona , gur , sheera and surkhi , and trying to peel off, very carefully in a scientific manner, the whitewash this building got every year during Phool Walon Ki Sair [which begins from here]. There has been no renovation, conservation or restoration of this building for nearly 500 years.”

Mr. Kumar is also trying to consolidate the area around the jharna , as there is an open ground and a water tank close by. Earlier, the water tank had five steps, but now only two steps remain and it the tank filled with garbage. There are also some semi-collapsing pavilions around and ‘missing links’ in the old pillars.

Historical ‘links’

The architectural, constructional and historical ‘links’ to the jharna have interesting ‘routes’ through which water used to originate. From Hauz-e-Shamsi, the water used to flow till the Qutub. It used to cover an alley of 30 metres to 40 metres. This alley is not visible anymore as various constructions have covered it.

Close to the drainage point at Lado Sarai there existed a flower hub. Presently, the hub has evolved into a flower market. Close to a location called Jamali Kamali, there was a depression with water in it.

“It was like a lake and it was used by the bird,” says Mr. Kumar.

In 1638, Thomas Madcaff, the Resident General of India and a lover of Indian architecture and farms, bought a 1,000 acre plot there and converted the depression into a boat house. He modified the space with landscaping and named it Dil Kusha.

The jharna restoration will take six months to complete, but water recharge in the jharna might see the light of the day anytime soon. “My job is to strengthen the building. To recharge water in it, I require more helping hands and interest from government departments like the DDA, MCD and the Urban Development Department,” he added.

As for the source of water, there is a pipe that comes to the jharna . The other way, Mr. Kumar added, is to pump water artificially.