Jahaz Mahal

Jahaz Mahal is a palace building in Mughal style located in Mehrauli, South Delhi, featuring carved stone details, arched entryways, broad courtyards, and pavilion towers at each corner. These structures overlook the ancient Hauz-i-Shamsi water reservoir and together form a connected complex of residential and administrative spaces.

The palace was built between 1452 and 1526 during the Lodi Dynasty period as lodging for pilgrims traveling from Afghanistan, Arabia, Iraq, and Turkey. This international use shows the building served as an essential stopping point on journeys to sacred destinations.

The annual Phool Walon Ki Sair festival arrives each October, bringing Hindu and Muslim communities together to process through the grounds with flower-decorated fans. This celebration has become a way for people to honor the palace's role as a place where different faiths once met.

The site is located at the end of Mehrauli bazaar near Qutub Minar metro station and welcomes visitors from sunrise to sunset every day. Arriving in the early hours offers better light for viewing the structures and fewer people walking around.

The palace takes its name from a visual trick created when its reflection in the surrounding water looked like a ship floating on the reservoir surface. This naming reflects how the old landscape and water shaped the impression visitors had when approaching the building.