15th-Century Lodhi Tombs in Zamrudpur Face Encroachment and Neglect
Spot checks conducted in June and July revealed that four 15th-century Lodhi-era tombs in the urban village of Zamrudpur, located near Greater Kailash-1 in south Delhi, have fallen into severe neglect, with structures being encroached upon by buildings and used as cattle sheds and garbage dumps. The Grade 1 heritage monuments, built during the reign of Sikandar Lodhi, are listed in municipal records as public buildings under the care of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).
The largest of the four tombs stands nearly three storeys high and spans an area of 8.35 square metres. Walled off on three sides by residential houses just inches away, the structure features two private gates decorated with flower pots. Inside, an eight-foot-tall wall splits the structure, where a cow and calf are kept alongside dumped furniture and construction waste under the dome. A local man claiming ownership stated his family has cared for the building for generations, despite official records listing it as a public monument.
A second tomb's dome, situated roughly 20 metres below a nearby rooftop, has become a landing spot for trash thrown from the windows and balconies of surrounding five-storey buildings. A third tomb, located about 50 metres away and covering 6.58 square metres, is enclosed by six five-storey structures housing daily wage workers. Its 12 carved stone pillars and raised platform are used by residents as a clothesline and garbage site.
Anchal, a local resident, noted that while the structure serves as a landmark for delivery agents and guests, garbage continuously accumulates on it despite occasional cleanups. Longtime resident Sheila Devi, who has lived in the area for 30 years, said she watched buildings gradually enclose the structures over the decades.
The tombs were built by Zamrud Khan, an Afghan noble under Sikandar Lodhi in the late 15th century. The structures were documented in 1916 by Zafar Hasan of the Archaeological Survey of India and are listed as Grade 1 heritage by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH). MCD spokespersons did not respond to requests for comment regarding the condition of the monuments.
