Flagstaff Tower

A walk along the wanding roadways of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) park leads to the Southern Guard House and then to the Flagstaff Tower. A couple of yards to the left of the main walkway is the Southern Guard House. A small rectangular structure with a pedimented roof. Built in the first part of the nineteenth century the Southern Guard House along with the nearby Flagstaff Tower, was part of the cantonment area of the armed forces of the British East India Company.

A memorial dedicated to anti-caste activist, political leader and neo-Buddhist Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar. The memorial building is in the shape of an open book which signifies the Constitution of India. The site incorporates several Buddhist elements, including a bronze Ashoka pillar at the entrance, a Bodhi tree surrounded by fountains with that move to Buddhist chants in a sound and light show, and two Sanchi-style toranas (gateways).

The seat of the Delhi Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha), as well as the executive branch of the Government of Delhi. Built in 1912, the building was originally designed by E. Montague Thomas to hold the Imperial Legislative Council as the British moved the capital of India from Calcutta (present-day Kolkata). The Old Secretariat was vacated when the new Council House (present-day Samvidhan Sadan) in New Delhi was inaugurated in 1927.

From the Hindu Rao Hospital gate a long walk northwards along the North Ridge leads to the park maintained by Delhi Development Authority (DDA). Next to the entrance of the park is the Chauburja Mosque. This was also constructed by Feroz Shah Tughlaq and along with Pir Ghaib and the baoli was part and parcel of the hunting expeditions. Literally meaning the Mosque with four towers (or probably domes), sadly only the dome of the south – east corner survives to this day. The eastern side has three arched entrances and four bastions.

Delhi has countless monuments and they are located in the most unusual places. The Hindu Rao Hospital houses a couple of ruined buildings dating back to the Delhi Sultanate. The ridge was once a favourite hunting ground for Feroz Shah Tughlaq (reign 1351 – 1388). Pir Ghaib, located inside the Hindu Rao Hospital complex is a remains of one of hunting lodges of Feroz Shah Tughlaq. Later on it was abandoned and probably served as a mosque and even as an astronomical observatory. It also probably served as a residence of a Muslim saint, who disappeared mysteriously. No wonder Pir Ghaib literally translates into the "vanished saint"! Today the gate of the Hindu Rao Hospital is located just opposite the Ashokan Pillar, a winding road through the hospital complex leads to the Phir Ghaib. The structure has remained intact and a stairs leads to the terrace of the two storied structure. The terrace houses a cylindrical structure. which was probably a part of the observatory. Right next to the Pir Ghaib is a step well called Hindu Rao Hospital Baoli, dating back to the same period. It is a large well with a flight of steps leading to the water. A simple structure with almost no ornamentation.

The Ashokan Pillar lies 200 meters north of the Mutiny Memorial and on the same side of the road. It is located opposite the Hindu Rao Hospital. The entire ridge area was one a favourite hunting location of Feroz Shah Tughlaq. This pillar was shifted from Meerut by Feroz Shah Tughlaq (reign 1351 – 1388) and was placed at the emperors favourite hunting location. Incidental this region of Delhi contains another Ashokan Pillar shifted by Feroz Shah Tughlaq from Topra and set up in Firoz Shah Kotla. The pillar contains the Ashokan Edicts, I – V, partly or almost fully. During the reign of Farrukhsiyar (1713 – 19) the pillar was severely damaged and broken into five pieces. The pieces were shifted to Asiatic Society of Bengal in Kolkata. In 1866 they were received back and were erected together in 1867.