Lodi Gardens

(All data as of October 2005)

Location:On the main Lodi Road, about a kilometer east of Safdarjang's tomb

Time to Visit:Open on all days

Admission Fee:Free and open to all

How to Reach:Tourists can either take local buses from various points within the city to reach the gardens, or they can hire auto-rickshaws and taxis or metro rail.

Preferred Timings:Sunrise - to late evening. Avoid public holidays when the park is full of picnickers

Photography charges: nil

Nearest Railway Station:New Delhi Railway Station

Nearest Metro Station: Central Secretariat

Functional Metro Station: Central Secretariat

Nearest International Airport:Indira Gandhi International Airport

Time required for sightseeing:From 1 hour to a whole day

Earlier known as Lady Willington Park, Lodi Gardens is located on the main Lodi Road, about a kilometer east of Safdarjang's tomb. Beautifully landscaped and well laid out with small water bodies, fountains and a jogging track, the gardens are very popular with people of all ages in the capital. Re-landscaped by JA Stein and Garrett Eckbo in 1968, the gardens also house the National Bonsai Park that has a fine selection of bonsais. However, the main attractions are the ancient monuments belonging to the Sayyid and Lodi periods around which the garden was laid out in 1936 by relocating the then existing village.

The Lodi Gardens has many species of trees, a Rose Garden, and a Green House, where plants are stored. The garden is at its best during the months of February and March, when winter flowers are in full bloom. Many species of birds can be seen in Lodi Gardens throughout the year. These include babblers, parakeets, mynahs, kites, owls, kingfishers near the lake and a family of Hornbills. Previously many vultures could be seen perched on the domes of the tombs, but their numbers have declined in recent years. The playful squirrels in the park are used to people and often approach visitors sitting on benches in the hope of being fed.

The Lodi Gardens are a popular picnic spot in winter and the park can get very crowded during winter afternoons. Yoga classes are held every morning in the park and regular walkers exercise early in the morning and late at night. Street lamps along the paths and jogging track ensure the route is well lit.

The Lodi Gardens are a beautiful example of history preserved in the heart of modern south Delhi. A walk around the serene oasis of the Lodi Gardens is sure to prove a refreshing break from the urban rush of bustling Delhi.

Structures within Lodi Gardens

Muhammad Shah's Tomb
The tomb of Muhammad Shah (1434-44), the third ruler of the Sayyid dynasty is located in the southwestern part of the garden. It is a typical octagonal tomb with the central chamber surrounded by a verandah having three arched openings on each side. There are stone lintels (chhajjas) along the arches of the verandah with the sloping buttresses at the corner and a chhatri on the roof over the center of each side. The tomb definitely shares its prominent features with the previous octagonal tombs but the beauty of this tomb lies in its proportions, the crowning lotus and decoration on the domes. There are eight graves inside the tomb of which the central one is said to be the grave of Muhammad Shah.

Bara Gumbad and Masjid
Bara Gumbad is a square tomb surmounted by a large dome, situated 300 meters northeast of Muhammad Shah's tomb. Though often considered as a gateway of Bara Mosque, which it is not, the tomb has facades and turrets and was supposedly built during the reign of Sultan Sikandar Lodi (1489-1517). According to the records, the interior of the tomb was beautified with stuccowork and paintings. Since the tomb had no graves so the person buried inside is till date unidentified. It is assumed that he must be an officer of high rank for whom such a magnificent structure was constructed.
Bara Gumbad Masjid is situated on the western side of the tomb just next to it. Built in 1494 AD as inscribed on its southern mihrab, the mosque occupies an important place

Sheesh Gumbad
Few meters north of Bara-Gumbad Mosque lies another Lodi period tomb, the Sheesh Gumbad also known as 'glazed dome' because of the beautiful blue tiled decoration of the tomb, which now only traces remain. Very similar to Bara Gumbad in appearance, the western wall of the tomb has the mihrab that served as a mosque. The tomb is surmounted by a dome, which was originally decorated with blue tiles. Some of the similar decoration can be seen today but only above the main façade. The interior of the tomb was also decorated with incised plasterwork containing floral designs and Quranic inscriptions.

Sikandar Lodi's Tomb
This octagonal tomb lies about 250 meters north of the Sheesh Gumbad and has features very similar to that of Mubarak Shah's tomb and Muhammad Shah's tomb. Located in the northwestern corner of Lodi Gardens, the tomb has a central octagonal chamber with each side opening in three arches with sloping buttresses at the corner. Unlike the above the mentioned tombs, the chhatris of this tomb are missing. The tomb is enclosed within a square garden and has a wall-mosque on the west.

Athpula
Athpula is further located east of Sikandar Lodi's tomb. As the name suggests (Ath-eight, Pula-piers), the stone bridge has eight piers and seven arches and crosses the small waterway running through the garden. The bridge is said to have been built during Mughal Emperor Akbar's reign by Nawab Bahadur.

Nearby Tourist Attractions
India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhawan, Ugrasen-ki-Baoli, Moth-ki-Masjid, Lotus Temple, Nizamuddin's Shrine and Chirag Dehlvi's Dargah

Nearby Places to Eat
Eatopia at India Habitat Centre, India International Centre for members only, Barista and other restaurants at Khan Market. There are many good eating joints are there in Ansal Plaza shopping mall on Khel Gaon Marg as well as in South Extension Part I & II modern markets. Since the gardens are near to Connaught Place, one can also many options to choose from the popular restaurants of CP.

Nearby Shopping Venues
Ansal Plaza, one of the best malls of Delhi on Khel Gaon Marg, South Extension Part I & II modern markets, Khan Market, Janpath and Connaught Place.