Shah Jahan's hunting lodge crumbles as it lies forgotten

Nestled near Kanjhawala in outer Delhi is an unusual urban village — Jaunti — home to over 200 families and a crumbling 17th-century “shikargah” or hunting lodge. Apart from the shikargah, smaller historical structures and urban constructions dot the entire village, buffing out the differences between what was medieval and what is urban. Amid these differences, or lack thereof, the heritage of the area remains a forgotten affair.

- Sadha Akhtar

According to the residents, the shikargah itself was constructed by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, who routinely stopped by along with his entourage during his hunting expeditions. The village, they said, grew within and around the hunting lodge. As the population grew, the village expanded and the hunting lodge or “Aam Khaas”, as it is known among the locals, shrunk to make space for newer constructions.

Yet, even after years of neglect, remnants of history can be found in every corner of Jaunti and the complex is now a pale shadow of its once glorious past.

The land occupied by the hunting lodge belongs to the Delhi Development Authority (DDA). DDA officials did not respond to queries seeking clarity on the encroachments and dilapidated state of the structures.

In 2018, the then-divisional commissioner of Delhi, Manisha Saxena, asked the archaeology department to draw a feasible plan for the restoration of the 370-year-old structure. Several agencies like the administration department, Delhi Urban Arts Commission (DUAC), and the Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC) were roped in to develop the village as a tourist destination but without result.

Senior officials from the state department of archaeology said the shikargah was not a notified monument under their watch. “The monument does not come under our jurisdiction. In the past, we carried out some repairs on request. We fixed the roof that sustained serious damage and was on the verge of collapse,” said an official, asking not to be named.