Located in the heart of Qutab Road, near the Nabi Karim Police Station, the Imambara is a largely forgotten monument in the Paharganj neighbourhood of central Delhi. An Imambara is a congregation hall built by Shia Muslims, typically for the purpose of Shia mourning practices and ceremonies, especially those associated with the commemoration of the martyrdom of Imam Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.
Built from rubble masonry, this U-shaped structure originally featured open arcades on all sides. However, in the early 20th century, the British filled in these arcades when they repurposed the building as a municipal hospital for infectious diseases.
The roof comprises five bays, each topped with domes, while the rest of the structure is vaulted internally with flat tops. The Imambara is believed to date back to the Lodi period, constructed sometime between 1451 and 1526 CE.
Although the monument was renovated for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, its condition has deteriorated rapidly since then. It stands as one of many historical structures in Delhi now at significant risk.
This risk is particularly evident. Just east of the Imambara, across the road, stood a tomb, once part of the Imambara’s walled enclosure (which has since been demolished). The tomb, likely dating back to the Tughlaq period due to its slightly battered walls and low dome drum, had been renovated just 13 years earlier alongside the Imambara. Yet, during my 2023 visit, I found the tomb had been completely demolished.
Right : The remains of the demolished tomb in February 2023
It is baffling how such actions can take place in plain sight, merely 80 meters from a police station. However, if the property was privately owned and lacked heritage protection, the authorities may have had little power to intervene.
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