Are you looking for information on the Hauz Khas fort? Looking for things to do and places to visit in Hauz Khas? Wondering if House Khas and Hauz Khas are the same? In search of the best places to eat in Hauz Khas? Fret not! You have to come to the right place.
For, we have you all covered with this complete guide to visiting the historic Hauz Khas neighbourhood, as well as the Hauz Fort complex in Delhi.
Meanwhile, the Hauz Khas neighbourhood and its namesake fort complex were hidden gems a few years earlier.
Today, neither the Hauz Khas fort nor House Khas as a place, are hidden any longer — thanks to social media craze for Instagram-worthy places in Hauz Khas.
On the other hand, I have often heard the Delhi people pronouncing Hauz Khas as house khas or Haus Khus. While they interchangeably also use Hauz village, Hauz Khas market, or Urban village for Hauz Khas.
So yeah! All these are good to use when in House Khas.
Opt for our free-guided virtual tour, by reading this post further!
Combine your visit to the Hauz Khas fort complex with a guided walking tour of the Hauz Khas neighbourhood.
How about opting for a relaxed cooking class when in Hauz Khas?
Are you a book lover? Then, I suggest you tag along these books based on Delhi if interested. You can buy them instantly by clicking the links : Khushwant Singh’s Delhi through the Season , City Improbable – An Anthology of Writings on Delhi , Arvind Adiga’s The White Tiger and Anita Desai’s Clear Light of Day. Meanwhile, if you are looking for a simple breezy read to know Delhi’s history, then go for the illustrated The Historic City of Delhi
If you are looking for books on Indian history, then I highly recommend you read The Ocean of Churns , The Incredible History of India’s Geography, and, Land of the Seven Rivers: A Brief History of India’s Geography — all written by Sanjeev Sanyal
Now that we know the basics, come with me on a virtual tour of the Hauz Khas fort and its much famous Hauz Khas neighbourhood, as I meander through its lanes; seep in its vintage vibes amidst all the glitterati that has overshadowed the good-old House Khas.
Hauz Khas – An upscale neighbourhood of Delhi
It’s been quite a while, I visited the very popular Hauz Khas fort monument, inside the urban village of Hauz Khas, after my very first.
Since then, I have been procrastinating in marshalling my thoughts over the visit.
On the other hand, tourists and local people often visit the Hauz Khas urban village to shop and party, but many skip exploring the beautiful Hauz Khas fort complex.
Indeed, it’s a shame that many aren’t even aware that the Hauz Khas fort complex exists at the fag end of the urban village, in the Hauz Khas neighbourhood.
Are you guilty of this as well? Don’t.
Because it took us two years of our stay in Delhi to realize that there exists this gem of a monument called the Hauz Khaz fort.
What is House Khas?
Hauz Khas translates to a ‘royal water tank’ in Urdu, and since the area houses an ancient water supply tank, it’s known by the name of Hauz Khas.
And, I have often heard the Delhi people pronouncing Hauz Khas as house khas or Haus Khus. While they interchangeably also use Hauz village, Hauz Khas market, or Urban village for Hauz Khas.
So, House Khas is nothing but the Hauz Khas – a place that should surely be on your list of things to do in Delhi.
Who built the Hauz Khas?
The royal tank of Hauz Khas was built by Allauddin Khilji, who reigned over Delhi from 1296 CE –1316 CE.
The water tank built by Khilji is located at the fag end of the Hauz Khas urban village, while the Hauz Khas fort and monument are on its fringes.
Map of Hauz Khas Fort complex
I found this map inside the complex on an information board, and clicked it.
You are free to take a printout of this, keep it handy to navigate through the village as and when you take the plunge!
How to reach Hauz Khas fort complex?
As you enter the Hauz Khas neighbourhood, ask whereabouts for either the deer park or the Hauz Khas village.
Upon reaching the entrance of the Hauz Khas village, on your right hand side would be the Hauz Khas deer park enclosing the tank (Check the map above).
And, the end of this lane is located the Hauz Khas fort complex.
Car Parking at the Urban Village
Delhi and parking woes go hand in hand. And, the first thing we do as a family before venturing out in Delhi is to check the availability of parking nearby to the place of visit.
Exactly, why I thought, I should mention about the parking slots at Hauz Khas village.
Upon reaching the Hauz Khas Urban village, while the Hauz Khas deer park is onto your right, to the left is the vehicle-parking area.
But, beware! You will find many touts trying to divert your attention by posing as ‘parking keepers’ right from 500 meters towards the entry. Do not fall for their tricks.
There is ample parking space provided in the area I have mentioned. So, I repeat… do not fall trap to these touts.
Also, remember, vehicles of outsiders are barred from entering the Hauz Khas urban village.
Upon entering the Hauz Khas village, you will see numerous food joints, travel cafes, boutiques, antique shops, pubs, etc. This area is different from the Hauz Khas market that you hear a lot about, which isn’t in the Hauz Khas Urban village.
So, do not be stumped when you search for either the Hauz Khas urban village or Hauz Khas market in google maps. Remember, that these are two different areas in the Hauz Khas neighbourhod of Delhi.
Things to do in Hauz Khas
Take a stroll inside the Hauz Khas deer park. It’s a beautiful place to spend some family time.
As I mentioned earlier, upon entering the Hauz Khas Urban village, there are numerous food joints, travel cafes, boutiques, antique shops, pubs, et all to check out.
Also, while in the Hauz Khas village, remember to explore the narrow lanes. It is in these lanes that you are bound to find some wonderful collectionof clothes, trinkets, vintage stuff and more.
Do not miss visiting the Hauz Khas Fort Complex.
Places to eat in Hauz Khas
There are many eateries, pubs and food-joints in the Hauz Khas urban village.
We relished a nice wholesome lunch at the Naivedhyam, being vegetarians. And, I highly recommend this place to eat while in Hauz Khas, as it is conveniently located, and a great family place to indulge in good food.
Meanwhile, here are a few of the perky and funky looking restaurants nearby to the Hauz Khas village entrance, that you could also try.
In hindsight, we did not try out any of the pubs, as my kiddo had also tagged along. So, took a stroll in the village and headed to the Hauz Khas fort complex comprising of the erstwhile madrassas, water tank, and Feroze Shah’s Tomb.
A tour of the Hauz Khas fort complex
We deliberately made sure to reach the Hauz Khas fort complex between 4pm-5pm, so as to seep in the beautiful evening vibes : when the insides of the complex and its tombstones are painted in varied shades of orange and deep yellow by the rays of the setting sun.
Enhancing this beautiful sundowner if I may call so, is the greenery around of the manicured lawns and waters of the Hauz Khas tank, which add the perfect backdrop to this melange.
The ruins look a bit eerie as the sun goes down. Yet, this didn’t deter or dampen the spirit of but I saw that this did not dampen the spirit of college-goers and lovebirds who flock this monument for their own valid reasons.
Hauz Khas – The Royal Tank
As I mentioned before, the beautiful Hauz Khas or royal tank is a sight to behold with greenery all around it. And, the water too is green, owing to the algae growth in the Hauz Khas water tank, making it unfit to be portable any longer.
Most of the tourist accommodations in Hauz Khas village are situated on this side of the street and offer a wonderful view of the water tank.
The path that you see in the below pic is the trail that runs right through the deer park, offering a perfect walking path to evening walkers, strollers and joggers.
The monument is being slowly eaten away by urban infestation as can be deduced by the pic below — also, a reason why the area is known as the Hauz Khas Urban village…
Inside the Hauz Khas fort complex
Moving onto the left wing of the monument, one can have a glimpse of the Humayun’s tomb inside the fort complex, and also some of the rooms of the Madrassa.
The Humayun’s tomb here is different from the UNESCO heritage site of the Humayun’s Tomb, which inspired the design of the Taj Mahal!
If you didn’t know this fact, then head onto my in-depth article on the interesting facts about the Taj Mahal.
While, at the hauz khas complex, I could not capture the insides of the corridors — owing to usual menace of ‘love birds’ desperate to catch a glimpse of each other, resorting to pecking in these corridors!
I had to pull away my son who went onto explore some secret chambers below these corridors , citing some reason or the other (#facepalm)
Also one can see the prayer tombs in the lawn which is well maintained and offers some greenery to the eye.
Places to see in Hauz Khas
Meander through the quirky by lanes of the Hauz Khas urban village. With aesthetic lightning, colourful doors and quirky architecture, they are a treat to watch.
We found the below particular antique shop exclusive, and the little tea shop quirky : Loved the splash of yellow and the refreshing lemonade feel it oozed with.
Just below this beautiful yellow tea room is a unique collector’s paradise…..Do pay a visit, to be taken back to the past!
The care-taker of the shop is hesitant about allowing cameras inside….but then relented after some persuasion :p
So do cajole him a little if you want some snaps taken inside the shop. As I end this photo essay, I leave you with an insider’s glimpse of the shop…..
Hope you enjoyed this photo journey as much as I did presenting it to you…..Do share it with others 🙂
Also, let me know which part of the village did you find intriguing! You may also want to read ‘Places to Visit in Delhi’.
Ciao…
pretty amazing pictures. I have visit hauz khas but dont know about the quirky spots to visit . thanks for sharing !!
Looks wonderful! The serene water tank,splendid monuments and last but not the least -the unique collectors’ shop.All the snaps evoke interest.
This does look a gorgeous place and a must visit :))
Thanks for sharing :))
Those are some spectacular photographs. Thanks for sharing them with us. I’ve never been to this place. And I would so want to explore those secret chambers like your kid 😛
Thank you so much Shalini…You are always kind and generous with your appreciation 🙂 And yeah, u shud visit it atleast once to unlock d secret chambers ? BTW do let me know wen u come down 🙂