{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}} {{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}} {{Infobox monument | name = Mehram ki Sarai | native_name = | image = | image_size = | caption = | location = [[Mehram nagar]], [[Delhi]], [[India]] | designer = | type = [[Caravanserai]] | material = | length = | width = | height = | begin = | complete = 1639 CE | open = | restore = | dismantled = | dedicated_to = | relief = | coordinates = {{coord|28|33|53|N|77|7|8|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}} | website = }} [[File:Ruins of pavilion near Mahram nagar or IGI Airport.jpg|thumb|right|Ruins of pavilion at [[Mehram nagar]] near [[Indira Gandhi International Airport|IGI Terminal-1]].]]
'''Mehram ki Serai''' is a 17th-century [[caravanserai]] listed as a protected monument by the [[Archaeological Survey of India|ASI]], located on the land owned by the [[Ministry of Defence (India)|Ministry of Defence]] in the north-east corner of [[Indira Gandhi International Airport|IGI airport]].<ref name=mehr1>[http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/17th-century-caravanserai-falls-into-ruin-as-delhi-govt-defence-ministry-squabble/story-3qFH6tUbwzQdoCuSHs8vfP.html "17th century inn lies in ruin as Delhi govt, defence ministry squabble."], [[Hindustan Times]], 23 Nov 2017.</ref> It was built by Mehram Khan,<ref name=mehr1/> a eunuch and keeper of [[Jahangir]]'s harem.<ref name=mehr3/>
==Etymology== The name can be translated as ''"Inn of Mehram"''. The term [[Mahram]] itself means unmarriageable kin with whom marriage or sexual intercourse would be considered haram (illegal in Islam) or people from whom purdah is not obligatory or legal escorts of a woman during journey longer than a day and night (24 hours). In this context Mehram meant the eunuch named "Mehram Khan", a close escort and confidant who can freely talk and meet with women in king's harem.<ref name=mehr1/>
==History== According to the convener of [[INTACH]] Delhi, [[Madhulika Liddle#Background and Personal Life|Swapna Liddle]], the Mehram Ki Serai caravanserai for the comfort of travelers and [[eponymous]] Mehram Bazaar were built by a eunuch, Mehram Khan, who was an incharge of mughal harem during the reign of [[Jahangir]].<ref name=mehr1/><ref name=mehr3>Francis Gladwin, 1788, [https://books.google.com/books?id=GINfAAAAcAAJ&dq=mehram+serai&pg=PA62 "The History of Hindostan, during the reigns of Jehángir, Sháhjehán, and Aurungzebe."].</ref> It was built at a distance of 7 [[Kos (unit)|kos]] (22.4 km) from the [[Red Fort|mughal city]].<ref name=mehr1/> [[Mehram nagar]] village, that later came up near it, has a double-storey pointed-arch vaulted gateway with large wooden door.<ref name=mehr1/>
In 1622 CE [[Shah Jahan]] (known as prince Khurram at that time) raised an army with the support of [[Mahabat Khan]] and marched against his own father emperor Jahangir and mother [[Nur Jahan]]. Mehram Khan, [[Fidai Khan]], Motamid Khan (official court chronicler)<ref>Qazwini. fol. 233a translated by Begley and Desai (1984), page 14.</ref><ref name="K18">* {{cite book | last = Koch | first = Ebba | title = The Complete Taj Mahal: And the Riverfront Gardens of Agra | type = Hardback | edition = First | publisher = Thames & Hudson Ltd | isbn = 0-500-34209-1 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/completetajmahal0000koch/page/288 288 pages] | url = https://archive.org/details/completetajmahal0000koch/page/288 }}, page 18.</ref> and Kheleel Beg, were apprehended based on the evidence of Mirza Rustam and one more witness, after being accused of holding a secret correspondence with rebellious Shah Jehan.<ref name=mehr3/> Those two witnesses were executed by [[Fidai Khan]], and Mehram Khan was absolve of any wrongdoing by Fidai Khan.<ref name=mehr3/> Later in 1639 CE, Mehram Khan built the serai and bazaar, both named after himself.
== Architecture == The caravanserai, with [[chhatri]]s above and octagonal [[Vault (architecture)|vaulted]] cambers below on four corners, is built of rubble masonry and mughal [[lakhori bricks]]. The complex also has a [[Baradari (building)|baradari]] (open doors pavilion with 12 doors, 3 in each direction), 2 wells, an enclosure wall with 3 gateways, garden in the enclosure and a water channel coursing through the middle of the enclosure.<ref name=mehr1/>
==Conservation== By 2016, the dilapidated monument had been severely vandalised, two out of original four chattris and only one out of 3 original gates of enclosure survived, enclosure wall was broken at several places, both the wells had dried up, water channels was mostly buried under rubble, garden was overgrown with shrubs.<ref name=mehr1/>
In 2016 [[Government of Delhi]]'s Department of Archaeology in collaboration with [[INTACH]] commenced the conservation, one of the 2 missing gateway was rebuilt, both wells and parts of the water channel were restored. With 40% work completed, it came to a halt in May 2017 after Defence Ministry stopped the work as no permission was taken from the Defence Ministry for conserving the monument standing on the land owned by Defence Ministry.<ref name=mehr1/> Subsequently, efforts were being made by the Delhi state archeology department and local MLA to obtain the permission from Defence Ministry to complete the remaining work of this still dilapidated and abandoned monument.<ref name=mehr1/>
==See also== * [[Tourism in Delhi]] * [[Delhi Sultanate]] * [[History of Delhi]] * [[Timeline of Delhi]]
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/17th-century-caravanserai-falls-into-ruin-as-delhi-govt-defence-ministry-squabble/story-3qFH6tUbwzQdoCuSHs8vfP.html A November 2017 report on Mehram Ki Serai]
{{Delhi}}
[[Category:Ruins in India]] [[Category:Caravanserais in India]] [[Category:Government buildings completed in the 17th century]] [[Category:Tourism in Delhi]] [[Category:Monuments and memorials in Delhi]] [[Category:Mughal caravanserais]]