In the 1980s, the Hauz Khas village, studded with domed tombs of Muslim royalty from the fourteenth century to sixteenth century, was developed as an upper class residential cum commercial area in the metropolis of South Delhi, India.
The water tank that was excavated during Alauddin Khilji‘s reign in the second city of Delhi to meet the water supply needs of the newly built fort at Siri, was originally known as Hauz-i-Alai after Khilji.
Established in 1352, the Madrasa was one of the leading institutions of Islamic learning in the Delhi Sultanate. It was also considered the largest and best equipped Islamic seminary anywhere in the world.The madrasa structure has an innovative design. It was built in L-Shape as one contiguous structure on the south and east edges of the reservoir complex.
The two arms are pivoted at the large Tomb of Firoz Shah. At the northern end there is a small mosque. Between the mosque and the tomb two storied pavilions exist now on the northern side and similar pavilions on the eastern side, overlooking the lake, which were used as madrasa.
The two arms are interconnected through small domed gateways passing through the tomb at the center. The North–South arm with balconies overlooking the reservoir is a two storied building with three towers of varying sizes.From each floor of the Madrasa, staircases are provided to go down to the lake.
The madrasa is flanked by the reservoir in the northern front and by a garden on its southern side at the second floor level. The entry to the garden is from the eastern gate which passes through the Hauz Khas village. The garden houses six impressive pavilions.The northern end of the madrasa is secured to a small mosque.
" It is difficult to believe that right in the centre of South Delhi there exists a time warp that transports you to a bygone era."
