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14th-century Tughlaq Hunting Lodge

Bhuli Bhatiyari ka Mahal

Also Known As · Bhuli Bhatiyari ka Mahal · Bhuli Bhatiyari Palace

New Delhi, Delhi · monument

A weathered Tughlaq hunting lodge lost in the Central Ridge forest — rubble-stone arches, an old courtyard and a quiet woodland walk in.

Open dailyEntry Fee: Free EntryApproximately 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily (open-access ridge monument, no ticket gate); entry prohibited after sunset — the area is barricaded and unguarded after dark

Bhuli Bhatiyari ka Mahal is a 14th-century hunting lodge — a shikargah — built around 1354 CE during the reign of Sultan Firoz Shah Tughlaq, hidden within Delhi's Central Ridge Reserve Forest. Among the surviving Tughlaq-era ridge structures (alongside Pir Ghaib and Malcha Mahal), it is a rare, atmospheric fragment of Sultanate-period Delhi standing in a green, largely undeveloped remnant of the Aravalli ridge right in the heart of the capital.

Get Directions

Where to Eat Nearby

Nearby Vegetarian Eats

Roshan Di Kulfi, Karol Bagh

2 km away
casual

Pure-veg chole bhature and kulfi

Saravana Bhavan, Karol Bagh

2 km away
casual

Pure-veg South Indian dosas and filter coffee

Bikanervala, Karol Bagh

2 km away
casual

Pure-veg chaat, sweets and thalis

About

Bhuli Bhatiyari ka Mahal is a 14th-century hunting lodge — a shikargah — built around 1354 CE during the reign of Sultan Firoz Shah Tughlaq, hidden within Delhi's Central Ridge Reserve Forest.

  • Among the surviving Tughlaq-era ridge structures (alongside Pir Ghaib and Malcha Mahal), it is a rare, atmospheric fragment of Sultanate-period Delhi standing in a green, largely undeveloped remnant of the Aravalli ridge right in the heart of the capital.
  • Per the Delhi Department of Archaeology, it is a rectangular fortified enclosure of random rubble masonry — local Delhi quartzite bound with limestone mortar — with a pointed-arch entrance gateway bearing corner medallions, double doorways at its north-east corner, bastions strengthening the southern and eastern walls, and a two-storey plan: a lower level of small rooms around a courtyard and an upper terrace.
  • The origin of its curious name is uncertain — one tradition links it to a caretaker (variously rendered Bu-Ali or Boo Ali Bhatiyari), another reads 'Bhuli' simply as 'forgotten' or 'lost'.
  • Its popular 'haunted' reputation is pure folklore with no historical basis; what is real is the quiet pleasure of the forest walk in and the weathered Tughlaq architecture framed by dense ridge greenery.
  • For vegetarian travellers, the pure-veg institutions of Karol Bagh — Roshan Di Kulfi, Saravana Bhavan and Bikanervala — are a short ride away.

Practical notes

it is a free, open-access monument with no ticket, but it sits deep in secluded forest — visit only in daylight (roughly 7:00 AM–5:00 PM) and never alone; go in a small group. No guard remains after about 5:30 PM and the area is barricaded after sunset, when entry is prohibited. There are no facilities, railings or reliable lighting and the masonry is uneven, so wear sturdy shoes, carry water and watch your footing. From Jhandewalan metro (Blue Line) it is about a 10–15 minute walk, the last stretch through the ridge forest.

Timings & Entry Fee

Visiting Hours

  • • Daylight only — approx 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM
  • • No ticket gate
  • • Entry prohibited after sunset; barricaded and unguarded after dark
Days OpenOpen Daily (daylight)Entry FeeFree EntryTime Needed45 minutes to 1 hour

Entry Fee: Free — an open-access ridge monument with no ticket.

Verified: July 2026

Location & How to Reach

Address

Central Ridge Reserve Forest, off Vande Mataram Marg, near Jhandewalan Hanuman Mandir, New Delhi, Delhi, 110001

In the Central Ridge forest off Vande Mataram Marg, near Jhandewalan

📍 Get Directions🗺️ View on map

🚇 Nearest Metro: Jhandewalan (Blue Line) — about 1 km; R.K. Ashram Marg and Karol Bagh are alternatives

🚶 Walking from Metro: About a 10–15 minute walk from Jhandewalan metro, the last 5–10 minutes through the ridge forest.

Distance from

  • • Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL): 16 km (~45 min)
  • • Connaught Place: 4 km (~18 min)
  • • Jhandewalan metro: 1 km (~15 min)

Parking

street · Free / nominal

Vehicles can drive up close to the lodge on the ridge track; no formal lot.

🚕 Ride Hailing Tip: Cabs and autos can reach the ridge track off Vande Mataram Marg; arrange a return as it is secluded.

How to Reach: Take the Delhi Metro Blue Line to Jhandewalan; exit toward the giant Hanuman statue, then head about 250 m to a track turning onto Vande Mataram Marg into the Central Ridge — the lodge is a 5–10 minute walk through the forest. Cars, autos and bikes can drive up close. About 10–15 minutes on foot from the metro.

Things to Do

  • Explore the two-storey Tughlaq ruin and courtyard
  • Walk the Central Ridge forest path
  • Photograph the weathered arched gateway
  • Birdwatch along the wooded approach
  • Pair it with the Jhandewalan Hanuman statue

Best Time to Visit

Best SeasonOctober to MarchBest Time of DayMid-morning to early afternoonTime Needed45 minutes to 1 hourCrowd LevelsLow and secluded — a quiet forest ruin

History & Significance

History

Bhuli Bhatiyari ka Mahal is a hunting lodge (shikargah) built around 1354 CE during the reign of Sultan Firoz Shah Tughlaq of the Delhi Sultanate's Tughlaq dynasty, standing within the Central Ridge Reserve Forest along with a bund (embankment).

  • Per the Delhi Department of Archaeology it is a rectangular random-rubble enclosure of Delhi quartzite bound with limestone mortar, with a pointed-arch gateway, corner medallions, bastions and a two-storey courtyard plan.
  • It is among the surviving Tughlaq-era ridge structures, alongside Pir Ghaib and Malcha Mahal; its name's origin is uncertain and its 'haunted' reputation is folklore.

🏛️ Architect: Tughlaq-style random rubble masonry in Delhi quartzite bound with limestone mortar: a rectangular fortified enclosure with bastions strengthening the southern and eastern walls, a pointed-arch gateway with corner medallions, double doorways at the north-east corner, and a two-storey courtyard plan (lower rooms and courtyard, upper terrace).

Significance

Bhuli Bhatiyari ka Mahal is a rare surviving Tughlaq-period royal hunting lodge and an ASI/Delhi Archaeology-protected monument, valued for its 14th-century random-rubble military-domestic architecture and its atmospheric setting deep inside Delhi's Central Ridge — a green Aravalli remnant in the heart of the capital.

Places to Visit Nearby

Jhandewalan Hanuman Temple

0.8 km away

The towering giant Hanuman statue on the ridge edge.

Kamla Nehru Ridge

4 km away

A wooded stretch of the Northern Ridge with colonial-era relics.

Karol Bagh Market

2 km away

One of Delhi's biggest shopping and street-food hubs.

Sanjay Van

12 km away

A large forested ridge tract for nature walks in south Delhi.

Family & Accessibility

Kid Friendly2of 5Stroller AccessNoWheelchair AccessNoChanging RoomNoPet PolicyPartial

Family Highlights

  • • A 14th-century Tughlaq hunting lodge
  • • A short forest walk through the Central Ridge
  • • Arched gateway, courtyard and bastions
  • • Birdwatching along the wooded approach

Photography & Drone

Drone PolicyProhibited

💰 Equipment Fees: Free for personal photography.

📍 The Golden Spot: The pointed-arch gateway and courtyard framed by dense ridge greenery.

🌅 Best Light Time: Late morning, when light filters through the forest canopy.

Tips & Safety

⚠️ Common Scams

Secluded forest ruin

The lodge sits deep in the Central Ridge with uneven masonry, no railings, no facilities and patchy mobile signal; it is barricaded after dark.

Official AdviceVisit only in daylight and in a small group, wear sturdy shoes, carry water, watch your footing, and leave well before dusk.

💡 Insider Tips

🌅 Secret View: From the lodge's elevated embankment position you get a quiet, leafy panorama over the Central Ridge — a rare wild vantage in central Delhi.

🎯 Crowd Hack: It stays uncrowded; a weekday morning gives you the ruin and the forest almost to yourself — but never linger toward dusk.

💎 Secret Fact: It is one of the surviving Tughlaq-era ridge structures (alongside Pir Ghaib and Malcha Mahal); its "haunted" reputation is folklore with no historical basis.

⚡ Express Tour

30 minutes — the walk in and the ruin.

🔭 Deep Dive Tour

A morning — the lodge, the Jhandewalan Hanuman statue and Karol Bagh nearby.

🙏 Etiquette & Dress Code

Do's

  • Explore the two-storey rubble-masonry ruin and courtyard
  • Enjoy the quiet Central Ridge forest walk
  • Photograph the weathered Tughlaq architecture
  • Birdwatch along the wooded approach
  • Visit in daylight, ideally in a small group

Don'ts

  • Do NOT visit after sunset — the area is barricaded and unguarded
  • Do not go alone — it is secluded forest
  • Do not treat the "haunted" folklore as fact — it has no historical basis
  • Do not expect facilities — no toilets, food or reliable lighting on site

👕 Dress Code: Sturdy shoes for uneven masonry and forest paths; carry water and sun protection.

📷 Photography Rules: Personal photography is welcome; the ruin and ridge greenery are the draw.

Good to Know

💳 Money & Connectivity

UPINoCardsNoCashYes

🏧 Nearest ATM: Carry cash — nearest ATMs are toward Jhandewalan / Karol Bagh (1–2 km).

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Bhuli Bhatiyari ka Mahal timings and entry fee?

It is a free, open-access ridge monument (roughly 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM) with no ticket. Entry is prohibited after sunset — the area is barricaded and unguarded after dark, so visit only in daylight.

Which is the nearest metro to Bhuli Bhatiyari ka Mahal?

Jhandewalan on the Blue Line is nearest, about 1 km / a 10–15 minute walk including the forest path; R.K. Ashram Marg and Karol Bagh are alternatives.

What is Bhuli Bhatiyari ka Mahal?

It is a 14th-century Tughlaq-era hunting lodge (shikargah) built around 1354 CE under Firoz Shah Tughlaq, deep in Delhi's Central Ridge Reserve Forest — among the surviving ridge structures, in random rubble masonry.

Is Bhuli Bhatiyari ka Mahal really haunted?

No — the "haunted" reputation is pure folklore with no historical basis. The real caution is practical: it is a secluded forest ruin best visited in daylight and in a group.

Is it safe to visit Bhuli Bhatiyari ka Mahal?

Visit only in daylight and never alone — it is secluded forest with uneven masonry, no railings or facilities and patchy signal; no guard remains after about 5:30 PM and the area is barricaded after sunset.

Where can I eat vegetarian food near Bhuli Bhatiyari ka Mahal?

The pure-veg institutions of Karol Bagh — Roshan Di Kulfi, Saravana Bhavan and Bikanervala — are a short ride away.

Categories

Heritage & CultureNature & Outdoors

Related

Ancient ArchitecturePhotography SpotFree EntryNature WalkPeacefulSightseeing
#tughlaq#hunting-lodge#central-ridge#shikargah#ruins#free-entry
Bhuli Bhatiyari ka Mahal, New Delhi — TasteYatra