Delhi Sultanate: Every street and every intersection of Delhi tells a unique story. Today we are going to tell you about the oldest and beautiful place of Delhi, Hauz-e-Shamsi, which is today known as Hauz Khas Lake. This reservoir is 800 years old. Let us know its history and the story behind it.

Construction of Hauz Khas Lake

It is said that Prophet Mohammad once appeared in a dream to Sultan Iltutmish. He showed a place in the forest of Mehrauli where his horse Burak had laid his head. When the Sultan woke up, he set out to search for that place along with his spiritual guide Khwaja Qutubuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki. Miraculously a spring of sweet water burst forth there and the Sultan out of devotion ordered the digging of a huge reservoir.

How did Hauz-e-Shamsi get its name?

This reservoir was named Hauz-e-Shamsi which means Lake of the Sun. It was named after Iltutmish’s own title Shamsuddin which means Sun of Faith. Its construction started around 1230 AD. Iltutmish had built a red sandstone pavilion with a domed roof in the middle of the lake. A stone was also placed inside it on which there are hoof marks of the Prophet’s divine horse Buraq.

Praised by Ibn Battuta

Ibn Battuta, the famous Moroccan traveler of the 14th century, visited Delhi during the reign of Mohammed bin Tughlaq and also wrote about this lake. Ibn Battuta had described it as a freshwater river. With the passage of time, different dynasties have left their mark on this lake.

During the Lodi period, a grand ship palace was built on its banks. This palace Panipat seemed to be floating, which served as a resting place for pilgrims and travelers. Later, during the reign of Jahangir, Shahjahan and Bahadur Shah II, the Mughals gave it a new look by adding fountains, pavilions and gardens. Today this place has become a precious part of the cultural and historical landscapes of Delhi. In 2023, local residents formed a group named Pride of Shamsi. This group, along with ASI NGO SEEDS, conducted a cleanliness campaign here.