Delving into Delhi's mysteries

A group of history enthusiasts on Saturday morning gathered near the Town Hall at Chandni Chowk to discuss an important piece of the city's historical jigsaw puzzle - what is believed to be the last resting place of Dara Shukoh.

- Aheli Das

But before the group began its discussion on the Mughal prince, they delved into the history of the Town Hall - itself a heritage building that was built in 1866.

Saturday marked the second heritage walk in a series that the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is conducting. Sanjeev Kumar Singh, an executive engineer affiliated with the MCD heritage cell, started the day's history lessons with a walk through the Town Hall - which housed the offices of the civic body for decades, till MCD got its swanky new building at Minto Road in 2011.

Singh pointed out the intricate design that runs along the upper beam of the front structure of the Town Hall, and said, "This was made by pressing wooden slabs onto wet chuna or lime. That is how they got the net-like design along with the leaves."

Today, the structure is in desperate need of repairs.