If Hauz Khas or Jantar Mantar are on your Delhi itinerary this season, it’s worth checking the fine print first. An RTI response accessed by PTI reveals that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is carrying out conservation, repair and visitor-facility work at 10 protected monuments across the capital, and entry has been restricted at several of them.
What’s Happening At Hauz Khas And Jantar Mantar
At the Hauz Khas Complex, a portion of one group of structures within Hauz Khas I has been closed off while emergency structural repairs are carried out. The complex, built around a medieval reservoir commissioned during Alauddin Khalji’s reign, is also home to a madrasa and tomb associated with Sultan Firoz Shah Tughlaq. Visitor movement has similarly been restricted within Jantar Mantar, the 18th-century observatory built in 1724 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, as well as at Agrasen Ki Baoli in central Delhi.
The Full List Of Monuments Under Repair
The RTI response doesn’t specify exactly when restrictions began but confirms emergency structural work is also underway at the Kotla Firoz Shah complex. Meanwhile, visitor facilities are being refurbished at Tughlaqabad Fort and the tomb of Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq, two architecturally significant but lesser-visited Sultanate-era sites. Together, the 10 monuments span some of Delhi’s most historically dense pockets, from Sultanate forts to Mughal-era observatories.
Also Read: Delhi: From Mehrauli Archaeological Park To Shah Jahan’s Turkman Gate, 22 Monuments To Be Revamped
Why Visitors Should Plan Ahead
None of the sites have been fully shut to the public; access is restricted only to specific structures or sections under repair, while the rest of each complex stays open. Anyone planning a heritage trail through South or Central Delhi this month should check ahead, especially if Hauz Khas, Jantar Mantar or Agrasen Ki Baoli are on the list. The ASI hasn’t indicated a timeline for full access resuming, so a quick check before heading out could save a wasted trip.
Cover Image Courtesy: CanvaPro/ Andrey
FAQs
Which Delhi monuments currently have restricted access?
Parts of Hauz Khas, Jantar Mantar, Agrasen Ki Baoli, Kotla Firoz Shah, Tughlaqabad Fort and Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq's tomb, among 10 sites under ASI repair.
Is Jantar Mantar completely closed?
No, only specific structures within the complex have restricted visitor movement.
Why is entry restricted at Hauz Khas and Jantar Mantar?
ASI is conducting emergency structural repairs and visitor-facility upgrades at these sites.
