Shahjahanabad X: Churiwalan Gali Area

Churiwalan Gali starts unassumingly from Chawri Bazaar Road and heads south to a junction of roads including Matia Mahal road and Chitli Qabar Bazaar road. The area south of Churiwalan Gali has a lot of interesting areas and buildings, including Imli Pahari (aka Bhojla Pahari) the only legitimate “hilly” part of the old city, and the grave sites of the saint Shah Turkman and Razia Sultan.

General location of Churiwalan Gali area with Jami Masjid for reference

General sequence of photos

Along Churiwalan Gali

The beginning of Churiwalan Gali from Chawri Bazaar road

Large haveli entrance

A couple of entrances along Chitli Qabar road (not to be confused with the longer Chitli Qabar Bazaar road)

Eastern Part of Churiwalan Gali Area

In the Imli Pahari area, the “hilly” section of Old Delhi

Steps leading up to the top of Imli Pahari

Near the top of Imli Pahari, the steps on the left do not lead to a residence, but are part of the lane leading to the top of the hill. Note the boulder embedded under the stairs – for more see my post on the “boulders of Old Delhi“

Imli Pahari area

Back on level ground

Old and new constructions together

One of many such doorways with Deco-style motifs in mosaic

Desi Deco in the Churiwalan Gali area

Along Prem Narain Road

Another Deco residence

Dargah of Shah Turkman & Razia Sultan’s Grave

Shah Turkman was a 13th c AD sufi saint, after whom the nearby Turkman Gate is also named. Just as with so many other dargahs of sufi saints, it is the often unassuming grave of the saint that is responsible for the construction of other, often much larger monuments around it, in this case the Kalan Masjid nearby, and the grave of Razia Sultan. While Razia Sultan’s grave is also unassuming, her significance is being the only woman ruler of Delhi.

Entrance to the dargah of Shah Turkman