Delhi: Roshanara Garden
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Roshanara Gardens, 1902
This section was written between 1902 when conditions were Readers will be able to edit existing articles and post new articles |
Extracted from:
Delhi: Past And Present
By H. C. Fanshawe, C.S.I.
Bengal Civil Service, Retired;
Late Chief Secretary To The Punjab Government,
And Commissioner Of The Delhi Division
John Murray, London. I9o2.
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Returning from the Badli-ki Sarai and Shalimar, the road to the right at Azadpur may be followed to the Roshanara Gardens. The point of separation is that where our force divided after the battle on 8th June 1857, and advanced in two bodies on the Ridge This road runs through gardens on both sides, passing on the left hand the Ochterlony Garden, or Mubarik Bagh, which was one of the finest round Delhi. Near the Sabzi Mandi and the Roshanara Gardens are two handsome gateways, each of three arches, and known as Tirpulia, built in 1728 by one Mahaldar Khan Nazir, or Superintendent of the household of the King Muhammad Shah, and bearing his name.
They formed the entrances of a bazar, on the right side of which is a garden made by the same official, approached by a handsome portal. There are very few notable buildings in or near Delhi of subsequent date to this, the principal being two of the Golden Mosques and the tombs of Safdar and Jang and Ghazi-ud-din Khan.
Half a mile nearer to Delhi, and two miles from the Kashmir Gate, are the gardens of Roshanara Begam, standing a little back on the right. The present grounds, which are extremely pretty, have been formed by the combination of several gardens into one, that from which the whole is named lying on the east side.
It was made in 1650 by the Princess Roshanara Begam, a daughter of the Emperor Shahjahan, and the devoted adherent of Aurangzeb against Dara Sheko and his partisan sister, Jahanara Begam and she lies buried in it, after having survived her brother’s accession for thirteen years. The grave enclosure, which is open to the sky, is placed in the middle of a pavilion which no doubt once stood in the centre of the garden; the tomb itself carries earth in the recess hollowed in it, like that of her sister at Nizam-ud-din. The gate of the garden on the east side was once decorated with beautiful encaustic work.
Across the canal, and reached by the road which runs south from the front of this gate is an interesting Armenian graveyard, containing a number of tombs which are much the oldest Christian graves in Delhi. It is known by the name of the family of D’Eremao, which was once connected with the imperial court.
About three miles from here, and four miles from Delhi, down the Rohtak road is a fine old masonry aqueduct, called the Pul Chaddar, by which the Western Jumna Canal was carried towards the city across the cut from the Najafgarh Jhil. This, and various bridges across the canal were blown up in 1857 to prevent the enemy crossing to the rear of our position.
Returning through the Sabzi Mandi from the Roshanara. Gardens to the city, the quarters of Kishanganj and Paharipur, from which the enemy so persistently annoyed and attacked our position in 1857, are passed on the south side of the Western Jumna Canal. The bridge across this on the road running south from the end of the Ridge leads in 300 yards to a solitary grave and monument in an open space on the right hand.
The former marks the resting-place of Captain G. C. M‘Barnett, killed in the attack of the 4th Column on 14th September 1857, and the latter records the bravery and losses (four sergeants, three corporals, and twelve privates) of the 1st Bengal Fusiliers near this spot on that day. “Familiar with the aspect of Death which they had confronted in so many battles from which they had always emerged victorious, they met his last inevitable call here with intrepidity, falling on the 14th September 1857 in the faithful discharge of their duty. This monument, erected by the officers and fellow soldiers of the 1st Regiment European Bengal Fusiliers, is their remembrance, which is part of its glory. The rest remains with the Lord.”
Outside the Kabul Gate of the city once stood the fine garden and tomb, known as Tis Hazari, of Malika Zamani Begam, the high-spirited mother of the Emperor Muhammad Shah, who freed her son from the Syad tyranny; and outside the Lahore Gate stands a third mosque built by a wife of Shahjahan, known as the Sarhandi Begam. It is not perhaps generally recollected that the Lady of the Taj died in 1630, two years after this Emperor ascended the throne, and that the bereaved husband proved by no means inconsolable during the thirty years of his reign. Both in size and in architectural merit, this is the poorest of all the buildings inaugurated under the auspices of the founder of modern Delhi, the domes being low and ungainly in shape; they are constructed of red sandstone, which is very unusual in domes of such a size.
Nearly a mile south of this gate and mosque, and across the channel which connects the Western Jumna and Agra Canals, is a fine old Sarai, known as the Idgah Sarai, and behind it to the south is the Dargah, or Sacred Enclosure, of the Kadam Sharif —the Holy Footprint, which must be approached on foot. This is a very interesting and picturesque building of the time of Firoz Shah, having been raised by that king as the last resting-place of his eldest son, Fatah Khan, in the year 1375. The tomb enclosure is surrounded by a citadel wall, like the tomb of Tughlak Shah, constructed, no doubt, to protect it against the attacks of the Moghals, as it lay, of course, outside the city of Firozabad.
The shrine is approached by two fine outer gateways, and consists of a quaint arcaded enclosure round the grave of the prince, over which the sacred imprint, sent by the Khalifa of Baghdad to Firoz Shah, is placed in a trough of water. It is worth while descending the steps on the north side of the mosque, in order to view the west end of the enclosure from the outside. South of the outermost gate of the outer walls is a fine stone tank; and on this side is situated the principal Muhammadan cemetery of Delhi, unhappily much neglected. On the Ridge west of the Kadam Sharif is the Idgah, a fine enclosure which merits a visit, which also must be made on foot. The view of the city from this point is very pleasing.
Roshanara Club
2025
Vibha Sharma, July 27, 2025: The Times of India
From: Vibha Sharma, July 27, 2025: The Times of India
New Delhi : Delhi Development Authority resumed operations at Roshanara Club in north Delhi after completing renovations that include modernised sports facilities, guest rooms and food services. DDA had taken over the club in 2023 after the lieutenant governor visited the club on Jan 12 that year and found it poorly managed.
The revamped heritage club will be unveiled by LG VK Saxena on July 27. The refurbishment encompassed upgrades to the squash and badminton courts, swimming pool and various sections of the clubhouse building. “DDA completed the overhaul of the electrical infrastructure, while the airconditioning system was enhanced with new units, and all ducting and wiring were properly concealed. The damaged fittings, switches, and light fixtures were replaced while keeping in mind the heritage character of the building. The civil works also involved anti-termite treatment, waterproofing, marble polishing, wooden flooring repairs, and renovations to sanitary facilities. These works will improve the aesthetics of the place and give long life to the structure,” said a DDA official.
DDA focused on preserving the club’s architectural legacy. The century-old façade, including the Europeanstyle doors and windows, Mangalore tiled roof and intricate wooden trusses were all restored. What uplifts the look are the antique chandeliers and original furnishings, which were refurbished and reupholstered to revive their classic charm.
Established in 1922, Roshanara Club holds the distinction of being one of India’s oldest social establishments. It is named after Begum Roshanara, the daughter of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, who was buried in the adjacent Roshanara Bagh. The club has served as a lush retreat for its members for over 90 years.
It is also considered the birthplace of the Board of Control for Cricket in India and to this date, offers a wide range of sports activities, including tennis (on synthetic and clay courts), basketball, table tennis, cricket, swimming, badminton, squash, futsal and yoga. These activities continued to take place even after DDA took over the club and began the revamp of the entire facility.
The 22-acre property became entangled in legal proceedings after the authorities sealed it in 2023. According to DDA, the club's administration continued operations despite the expiry of the land lease. However, the former club management maintained that the sealing was carried out despite a stay order from Delhi High Court.
“Noticing the century-old club in a state of sheer neglect and dilapidation with poor maintenance, LG directed DDA to take back the management of the club from the private entity that was running the institution,” explained a DDA official.
Saxena emphasised the need for immediate restoration and renovation of Roshanara Club to restore its glorious heritage and bring back the charm of a bygone era. “ With the restoration work of the clubhouse completed, members can enjoys its sprawling lawns, vintage architecture, and sports activities,” added another official.
The Roshanara Lake
2018: restoration efforts
From: Paras Singh, Dry for decades, Roshanara lake to get its mojo back, and maybe birds too, December 26, 2018: The Times of India
A lake in a beautiful Mughal garden ambience might not just be a picture painted by medieval miniaturists if the North Delhi Municipal Corporation is able to revive the waterbody in Roshanara Bagh. On the directions of National Green Tribunal, the civic body has finalised the plan for restoring the old lake in the Mughal garden built by Roshanara Begum, the second daughter of Emperor Shah Jahan, at what is now Shakti Nagar near the Kamla Nagar clock tower.
The lake was once a spot visited by migratory birds in the winter months. “It was fed by rainwater and channels from Najafgarh drain, but with change in the slope surfaces of the surrounding area and increased concretisation, it has remained almost dried up for a decade now,” said an official of the horticulture department of the north corporation.
The garden has a white marble pavilion built in the memory of the princess, who died in 1671 and is buried there. The Roshanara Club, started by the British in 1922, retains 22 acres of the garden area.
The garden has a white marble pavilion built in the memory of the princess who died in 1671 and is buried there. The Roshanara Club, started by the British in 1922, retains 22 acres of the garden area
Roshanara Club
As in 2024
Vibha Sharma, July 14, 2024: The Times of India
New Delhi : Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has restarted various sports activities at Roshanara Club in north Delhi, allowing the general public to participate on a pay-and-play basis. The authority has deployed its staff to oversee and manage the facilities, according to officials.
The sports complex offers a wide range of activities, including tennis, basketball, table tennis, cricket, swimming, badminton, squash, futsal and yoga. “These games can be accessed from 6 am to 9pm, except on Monday. While certain activities such as cricket and mini football are more in demand during weekends, recently introduced activities like yoga are also in demand despite the limited sessions called in the morning between 7am and 8:30 am. In May, we added the swimming pool facility and charged only Rs 100 per dip,” said a DDA official.
DDA intends to introduce additional disciplines and coaching sessions in the near future. In the previous month, the authority invited online tenders for the maintenance of its club, which included provisions for game attendants and supervisors. “Only those agencies having successfully completed similar works during the last seven years in any govt department or public sector undertaking were asked to apply so that the quality of services is not compromised,” said the official.
However, due to an ongoing dispute over the club’s operation, which is currently being heard in Delhi High Court, no provision for permanent membership has been initiated yet. The club, which has been embroiled in a legal dispute, was sealed last year. DDA claimed that the club’s management continued to operate the premises despite the expiration of the lease period. However, the former club management maintained that the sealing was carried out despite a stay order from the court. These developments had affected sports activities at the club.
Founded in 1922, Roshanara Club is situated in the heart of north Delhi and is regarded as one of the oldest clubs in India. The club, which spans 22 acres, has served as a lush retreat for its members for over 90 years. It is also considered the birthplace of Board of Control for Cricket in India. Sir Sobha Singh (1890-1978), a civil contractor and prominent builder of Lutyens’ Delhi, was among its founding members. He was the father of renowned Indian writer Khushwant Singh.
Another founding member was Rai Bahadur Amba Prasad, an eminent businessman born around 1860.
