Bhooli Bhatiyari (or Bhuli Bhatiyari ka Mahal) is a Hunting Lodge built by Feroz Shah Tughlaq in the 14th century. It resembles another structure, ‘Malcha Mahal‘ built by Firoz Shah Tughlaq. It is believed to have been built in 1354 CE. It is 518 ft. tall and 17 ft. wide. I found two different stories that attempt to explain this title. Brij KishanChandiwala in Dilli ki Khoj suggests that this place was the abode of a Sufisaint named ‘Bu Ali Bakhtiyari. Bhooli Bhatiyari is simply a distortion of his name. The other theory is that there was a Bhatiyarin (a tribal womanfrom Rajasthan, who manages a bhatti that is used to roast things), who forgot her way and ended up here. After her, the place came to be known as ‘Bhooli Bhatiyari.’
I had to go around the roundabout near the Hanuman temple twice to figure out the exit that should be taken to reach this place, since it is very narrow and the board with the directions is not easily noticed.
This red Aravali monument is 518 ft. wide and lies in the middle of a small forest. A large gate takes you to the actual monument. Another doorway with corbelled arches leads to a huge open square courtyard. On the sides of the courtyard, there are kothris (small rooms) for people who stayed here during the hunting season. To the north, there is a semi-circular structure that can be accessed through the stairs which are not in a good state. One imagines that the hunters in the Tughlaq era could see the entire ridge from this mini-fortress. On the outer edge, the structure has bulwarks, which would have ensured the safety of the Emperor when he stayed here.
This place is so quiet and peaceful that one can hear the sound of the rustling leaves while walking. People believe that this place is haunted. I personally had no such experience at this place. The only thing that scared me was the muggers that the policeman on duty warned me about. The guard (occasionally found at the place), on being asked about the place, told me about two murders that have taken place here.
There’s a small lake in this complex, which is covered with slime and moss. Everything in this time-ravaged place feeds the idea of it being haunted. It is also disheartening to see the heritage of the country in such a condition.
My visit to Bhooli Bhatiyari and the research that this project required have been the most interesting thing I’ve ever done. This place was like a maze, which is confusing but very exciting. I had heard a lot about it’s ghosts, but I didn’t experience any such thing. In fact, it was very peaceful. Another thing that caught my attention was the condition of the place, which at some point must have been very grand. It was disheartening to see the heritage of the country in such a condition.
Written by- Neha Solanki
Rediscovering Delhi 