• The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is set to initiate conservation works at Zafar Mahal in south Delhi’s Mehrauli.

About Zafar Mahal

• This is the last structure built by the Mughals and served as a summer palace for the Mughal family.
• It is located in Mehrauli village, which is in the Southern part of Delhi.
• It consists of the Mahal (built by Akbar Shah II) & Hathi Gate (built by Bahadur Shah Zafar).
  • Hathi Gate got its name because of the fact that an elephant can pass through it with the ‘houdah’ (seat, where people sit on elephant) mounted over it.
• It was built in memory of the Hazrat Khwaja Qutubuddin Bakthiar Kaki, the renowned Sufi saint to whom almost all the Mughal Emperors were disciples.
• Zafar Mahal stands next to the Dargah of Qutubuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki.
• The complex contains the beautiful white marble Moti Masjid and several royal graves.
  • There’s even an empty grave for Bahadur Shah Zafar.
• The palace was used during the Phool Walon ki Sair (procession of florists) festival held after every monsoon.