Hauz Khas

. It has had an important place in Delhi's history. Today, it is a major tourist and commercial area.

History

Alauddin Khilji (1296-1316) excavated a large tank here for the use of the inhabitants of Siri. Hauz Khas is the second city of medieval Delhi. It was originally known as Hauz-i-Alai after Khilji. Firuz Shah Tughlaq (1351-88) re-excavated the silted tank and raised several buildings on its southern and eastern banks which are known as Hauz-Khas or royal tank. The enclosure wall is partly modern.

A building of historical importance within this enclosure is the tomb of Firuz Shah Tughlaq, which was repaired during the reign of Sikandar Lodhi in 1507 AD, as is evidenced from an inscription on the entrance. The multi-storeyed wings consisting of series of halls and chambers on the north and west of Firuz Shah's Tomb were built by him in about 1354 AD to serve as a madrasa or college for theological training.

A Madrasa is an Islam center for higher education, like the present day college or university. There were three main Madarsa's in Delhi during Firoz Shah Tughlaq's time. One of them was the Firoz Shahi madrasa. After the sack of Baghdad, Delhi became the most important place in the world for Islam education. The subjects taught in the Madrasa were jurisprudence, medicine, chemistry, mathematics, astronomy, etc. Later on, Sanskrit was also taught.

Staircases lead down to the tank from the upper storey of the madrasa. At the northern extremity of the enclosure is a small mosque. One of the old entrances to the enclosure is from the west, now closed. The octagonal and square chhatris standing here were built as tombs over the graves possibly of teachers attached to the madrasa.

Taimur, who invaded Delhi in 1399, was highly impressed by the tank and buildings around it, but wrongly ascribed its construction to Firuz Shah Tughlaq

Today

Now Hauz Khas is one of the elitest South Delhi areas. Although Hauz Khas Village is not always kept in perfect condition, it houses exclusive boutiques and is home to several excellent restaurants, and is an expensive shopping district. It is surrounded by Safdarjung Enclave, Green Park, Deer Park , South Extension , Greater Kailash. There are some of the India's most prestigious institute situated in the neighbourhood including Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, National Institute of Fashion Technology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences,VIMHANS

See also: List of upscale shopping districts