History of the Hauz Khas Fort

• Hauz Khas Fort near Hauz Khas Village was constructed during the reign of Allaudin Khilji, in 1284 and the place has the remains of its glorious past. This town was a part of the second city named ‘Siri’ built by Allauddin Khilji of the Khilji dynasty who ruled between 1296 AD and 1316 AD. Hauz Khas is derived from Urdu words which literally mean ‘Water Tank’ for ‘Hauz’ and ‘Royal’ for Khas.

• Construction of the Hauz Khas Fort complex began with the digging for the water tank. Allaudin Khilji planned it to provide water to the residents at the fort built at Siri. He named the tank Hauz-e-Alai (Hauz means Tank, in Urdu).

• Later, Firoz Shah Tughlaq, ordered reconstruction of the water tank and renamed it to Hauz Khas (which translates to Royal Tank). He also constructed various other buildings on the banks, and nearby. Along with the Hauz Khas Fort and Lake, the area saw the development of mosques, tombs and pavilions in the coming years. But the complex now is reduced to ruins.

The Architecture of Hauz Khas Fort:

This Tank measured 123.6 acres in area with a width of 600 metres and length of 700 metres with a water depth of approximately 4 metres. During that era, the Tank would fill to a capacity of 0.8 Mcum post monsoons; however, today, the size has considerably reduced due to siltation, modern developments, colony settlements and land encroachment. But despite these factors, the Water Tank is well maintained and has been preserved as a Historical and Protected Site.<br><br>During the 1980s, the Hauz Khas Village area was re-established into an upscale residential and commercial complex; however, steps were taken to ensure that the 14th to 16th Century Monuments remained untouched and protected. The current state of the Village still retains its old-world charm that is further enhanced by the beauty of the well-preserved Historical Sites. The entire site is seen planted with Tall Tress and dressed with well-manicured green lawns, gardens and pathways. The tank itself has been refilled with water and boasts of fountains set amidst a well-developed landscape area.