Delhi residents will get an opportunity to walk through some of the oldest surviving remains of the capital’s fortified past, with the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) organising a guided heritage tour of Sanjay Van on November 14. The walk will take participants to five historic structures, including well dating back to the Delhi Sultanate period and fortifications associated with Lal Kot and Qila Rai Pithora, Delhi’s earliest fortified city. The participation fee is Rs 500 per person, plus GST, and online registration is available through DDA portal.
The tour is being organised by the DDA in collaboration with the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), Delhi Chapter. It is the second walk under a six-month programme initiated on the directions of Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu to make the city’s heritage sites more accessible to the public.
The route will cover the Historic Well, Large Fortification, Small Fortification, the Bastion near the Small Fortification and the Lal Kot Wall. The Historic Well, located close to the Large Fortification, is believed to belong to the Delhi Sultanate period. Its deep circular masonry shaft was designed to reach groundwater and served as a source of water for communities and travellers in surrounding area.
The Large Fortification contains some of the best-preserved remains of Lal Kot-Qila Rai Pithora. The fortified settlement was established by the Tomars in the 11th century and expanded by the Chauhans in the 12th century. Its walls offer evidence of early Rajput military architecture and Delhi’s medieval history.
The Small Fortification is traditionally associated with the walled city of Prithviraj Chauhan. Its surviving features include a remnant of a mihrab on the western wall and two minarets at the corners.
The nearby bastion and Lal Kot Wall were also part of the defensive network of Lal Kot and Qila Rai Pithora. These structures had earlier fallen into severe neglect. The DDA has undertaken conservation work to stabilise them and improve public access.
At the Historic Well, damaged masonry was repaired, debris was removed from the shaft and a traditional-style timber shelter was installed. Restoration at the Large Fortification included structural stabilisation and excavation of selected areas, which exposed different historical layers. Visitors can now walk along the restored ramparts and explore the excavated sections. The Small Fortification has also undergone conservation.
The November 14 event follows the first heritage walk at Mehrauli Archaeological Park on October 24. Under its six-month agreement with INTACH, the DDA plans to organise 12 guided walks, with two each month, across six locations: Sanjay Van, Mehrauli Archaeological Park, Sultan Garhi, Tughlaqabad, Deer Park-Hauz Khas and the Northern Ridge. INTACH will prepare routes and themes, develop explanatory material, and arrange heritage experts and guides in coordination with DDA.