Delhi : Tomb of Quli Khan and British Agent Sir Thomas Metcalfe's Guest House in Mehrauli Archaeological Park

Monday, October 19, 2015

Tomb of Quli Khan and British Agent Sir Thomas Metcalfe's Guest House is located in the Mehrauli Archaeological Park which is near the Qutub Complex, it is located on the Sri Aurobindo Marg and the closest Metro station being Qutub Minar. 

Information on Tomb of Muhammad Quli Khan

Metcalfe's House or Dilkhusha as it is known as was the second house built by Sir Thomas Metcalfe in 1830. He was a civil servant and appointed by the Governor General of India in the court of the last Mughul Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar.  The first one was built near Old Delhi Civil Lines in Delhi. 

Tomb of Muhammad Quli Khan

Metcalfe Guest House known as "the retreat" or "Dilkhusha" was designed like a country house in Mehrauli. Dilkhusha means "Delight of the Heart." built near the tomb of Muhammad Quli Khan. Tomb of Quli Khan was built in the 17th century. He was the brother of Adam Khan, who was the general and foster brother of Emperor Akbar. 

Interiors of Tomb of Muhammad Quli Khan

The tomb was built on a platform made of stone. it was redone of lately. A series of arched doors lead to rooms below the tomb premises. They are currently empty. The tomb was painted white in color, but due to the rains, it has turned black. The tomb is octagonal in shape with a dome atop it. There are writings atop the door to the tomb. The dome and the ceiling has beautiful designs on them made of blue colored stone. 

Chhatri near the Tomb of Muhammad Quli Khan

There is a Chhatri placed outside the tomb similar to the one near Jamali Kamali Mosque and Tomb.

Qutub Minar from the tomb arches

Thomas Metcalfe, considered it a location of strategic use, as he could keep a watch on Mughul Emperor Bahadur Zafar Shah, as he too had a summer palace there. Metcalfe resigned the Octagonal Tomb like a house with rooms in it, built gardens and follies around it. Making it appear like a European country house. The Guest House offered a wonderful view of the Qutub Minar in a distance. In was unable to locate the summer palace of the Emperor. 

Tomb of Muhammad Quli Khan

A couple of metres away are a series of rooms made of stone. They have arched shaped doors to enter, but no roof. I believe the roof might have collapsed. We visted each of the rooms constructed by Metcalfe. Though the walls of it erotic graffiti on them. Sure some ignorant people have been here and wanted to leave their mark on it. This happens on most of the historical monuments in the country which are not manned. It also houses a fire place which is intact. No furniture here as it was vandalized. Though it was a sunny day, we felt refreshed in its premises. No wonder it was strategically designed. 

Sir Thomas Metcalfe's Guest House

The Fire Place in Guest House premises

Metcalfe wanted to earn additional income and so he rented it out to honeymooning couples. The renovation of the tomb to a guest house was done in 1830. It was let out to public till 1853. In the revolt of 1857 it was vandalized. Thereafter it was not in use and remained neglected.

Goa - Church of Saint Cajetao in Old Goa

Monday, April 13, 2015

Located very close to Viceroy Arch in Old Goa, is the Church of Saint Cajetao.

Church of Saint Cajetao

The design of the church is very similar to St. Peter Church in Rome. This church was built in the 17th century. It was built of laterite blocks.

History of the Church

The church is white washed. It has got two twin towers at the entrance and a dome in the middle. The pillars on the outside of the church are beautifully carved.

Dome

In the church premises is a well, which is currently covered. 

The main altar is beautiful and so are the other altars and the pulpit. The carvings are wonderful. The Stations of the Cross are actual paintings in the church.

Main Altar

On the inside of the dome colored white and has writings on the inside of it.  

Goa - 17th Century Chapel of Todo O Bem in Verem

Monday, February 23, 2015

While returning from Fort Aguada, we missed our turn and so traveled by this road. The Betim Verem Road. The signboard you see in the below photo is located kist before th Verem junction.

Sign board on the Betim Verem Road

When I suddenly spotted this board, Chapel Built in XVII Centuary. I got curious and so we decided to take a de tour and check out the Chapel. But before that I asked the locals for the name of the road, to which they replied that it was the Betim Verem Road. 

Chapel of Todo O Bem

We asked a couple of locals about the whereabouts of it and they asked us to go straight on the lane and it would lead us to the Chapel.

The Chapel is named,  Chapel of Todo O Bem. Which means All that is Good. 

Chapel Door

Now we reached the Chapel, but it was closed. How do I get in. I saw these two kids playing football. I asked them, they told me that the key is with Gonsalves Uncle. 

Now Gonsalves Uncle stays outside the Chapel premises.

Another view of the Chapel

Knock Knock, the door was opened by the maid, I inquired if they had the key to the Chapel. She asked us to wait. 

Gonsalves Uncle, asked us if we were with the press, to which I informed that we are travel bloggers and blog of historic places on earth. He informed that he would show us the place but we would have to give a small donation just for the up-keeping of the place. To which we readily agreed.

Inscription

The Chapel as a small garden around it. The Chapel was single storey structure painted white with the borders in blue. It had statues of two saints above the wooden door and a silver bell atop it. Not sure who the saints were but they looked like St. Anthony.

Uncle asked us to wait at the main entrance, he then walked to the side entrance, got in and opened the main door for us.

Chapel from the inside

The sculptured arc that housed the door was very old. It had a inscription atop it too. Now this is surely 17th century stuff.

The Chapel looked like a Church from the inside. Main Altar, Pulpit, pews, mezzanine floor and Sacristy too. 

Spiral staircase

Uncle, told us that services are held here on zonal feast days. He informed us that the mezzanine floor is for the choir. A spiral staircase led to the mezzanine floor. I started climbing it and it gave out rickety sounds. I immediately receded. 

Uncle also told us that the Chapel was renovated in 1998.  Now the alms received as donation helps in the up-keeping of the chapel. 

Chapel of Our Lady of Rosary

Monday, May 28, 2012

Walk straight on from the Cathedral of Bom Jesus and we reach the Chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary.

This chapel reminds me of the chapels in Goa, called “Copel in Konkani.” In Goa, there is one chapel in every village, but this was the first one I had found in Daman.

The architecture of the chapels in Goa and Daman is remarkably similar, but that is not surprising, considering that both places have a strong Portuguese influence.

Chapel of Our Lady of Rosary

It appeared to me that a chapel feast had recently been celebrated here as there were buntings and festoons hung at the porch of the church. This church is not accessible to public. So I couldn’t see it from the inside. But I did learn that it was built in the 17th century.

Next, I headed off to see The Church of Our Lady of Augustia.

Cabo De Rama Fort

Monday, October 18, 2010

I always make it a point to visit Goa during my summer holidays. On one such trip, I decided to go see the Cabo De Rama Fort also known as Cape Rama Fort. located in Cancona taluka in South Goa.

View from the top

The Cabo de Rama fort is currently in ruins. The name Cabo de Rama is Portuguese for the head of Rama. According to ancient Indian mythology, Prince Rama, from the epic Ramayana, along with his wife Sita took refuge here during Rama's exile from Ayodhya.

Fortification of Cabo de Rama Fort

Nobody knows who built this fort. At some point in the 17^th century, however, the Portuguese took it over from the Raja of Soonda.

Steps leading to the wate body or pond

My cousin Sholto and I decided to visit the fort. We took the National Highway-17 to reach Cancona where the fort is located. One has to have a vehicle if one wants to visit the fort. Those who don’t have their own vehicle can choose to hire one. There are some public buses plying from Margao to the fort but the frequency of these buses is pathetic, and it is better to not rely on them.

Entrance to Cabo de Rama Fort

There is a rampart to enter the fort. In the old days, if a visitor was expected to the fort, the rampart would have to be lowered to enable the visitor to enter the fort. As the fort is on an island, the only entrance is through the rampart. Sounds really cool, doesn't it? I had seen such ramparts in the movies of the yesteryears but never in reality. How I wish I was born in that era! Currently the mechanism for operating the rampart is not functional. It is therefore always kept lowered down to enable public access.

Coconut trees all around

After entering the fort via the rampart, we decided to survey the ruined fort. The fort has got a few cannons that are worth checking out. The Church of Santo Antonio, located within the fort, is in excellent condition. Masses are offered here regularly.

St. Anthony Chapel in the fort premises

While the fort is in ruins, the western end of the fort has steep cliffs which provide a panoramic view of the place. From the western end, one can sight plenty of coconut trees which cover the land extremely densely, making it difficult for us to see the shore. It took us around two hours to view the fort.

View from the fort

We walked on the wall of the fort to see the view from every angle. The view I liked best was the one available from the sea side. Later, we had some refreshments before calling it a day.