Metcalfe House, 19th century retreat house in Mehrauli, India
Metcalfe House is a 19th-century residential building in Mehrauli featuring British colonial architecture with stone columns, high ceilings, and decorated wall remains. It sits within Mehrauli Archaeological Park alongside other heritage structures.
Sir Thomas Metcalfe, British Resident at the Mughal court, built this house in 1835 by transforming a 16th-century tomb of Quli Khan. This conversion was typical of how the British adapted and repurposed existing structures across India.
The property is known locally as Matka Kothi, a blend of how Indian speakers pronounced Metcalfe and the word Kothi, meaning house. This name reflects how British and Indian cultures came together at this location.
The house is located within Mehrauli Archaeological Park and is best reached by taking the metro to Saket station and then hiring an auto-rickshaw or e-rickshaw to the park. Early morning visits are ideal to avoid crowds and escape the afternoon heat.
The property featured an underground billiards room and subterranean summer chambers called tykhanas, which provided cooling relief during Delhi's hottest months. These hidden spaces were a practical solution for coping with the region's extreme climate.
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