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Set amidst lush gardens and shady trees, Sham
Nath residence has retained its old world charm
and colonial architecture. It escapes the constant
noise and pollution of the inner city, yet remains
within easy access to the city's most magnificent
Mogul monuments like, Red Fort, Jamma Masjid
and the famous shopping centre of historic Chandni
Chowk with its quaint bazaars and meandering
lanes.
Guests will be enjoying all the comforts of a prestigious
family residence, formerly the home of late Mr.
Sham Nath - after whom the famous Heritage
Road has been named. He was the Mayor of Delhi
and an eminent minister in Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru's
cabinet.
Situated in the North Delhi residential area of
Civil Lines, with its impressive 'Days of
the Raj Bungalow', our residence is 10 minutes walk
from the famous Delhi University.
Civil Lines
Before 1857, when the Great Indian Rebellion (or
Mutiny) took place, there were just two or three
big houses in the area - Thomas Metcalfe's palace
by the river, Hindu Rao's house up on the Ridge,
and 'Lodlow Castle' at the southern end of Alipur
Road. After 1857, the British moved out of the Walled
City en masse, and settled in the area just north
of it, bounded by Quidsia Gardens to the south and
the Ridge to the north, and called it Civil Lines.
By 1890 'second tier' Europeans comprising railway
officials and mill managers moved into Civil Lines,
and over 110 large colonial houses in big leafy
gardens came up, as well as three hotels - the Maidens,
Hotel Sussie and the Cecil. While the Capital was
being built on Raisina Hill, the temporary capital
functioned out of the vice-regal lodge (now the
offices of Delhi University), in Civil Lines and
a Secretariat constructed on Alipur Road (Sham Nath
Marg), which now comprises the Vidhan Sabha.
Today, few old structures survive like, the Maidens
Hotel, Exchange Stores on Sham Nath Marg. There
is the Ridge of course, afforested (mainly with
acacia) after the Mutiny, and crowned by the burly
Flagstaff Tower and gothic looking Mutiny Memorial.
You can still walk in Quidsia Gardens where the
last emperor of Delhi, Bahadur Shah Zafar took to
the air on his elephant, and checkout the tombstones
in the Nicholson Cemetry across the road.
And there are still a few quiet, shady lanes, where
time travel is still possible in this part of Delhi…
-Compiled by Ranjit Lal, who has authored
many books, viz;
Fiction:
The Crow Chronicles (Penguin)
The Caterpillar Who Went on a Diet and other stories
(Puffin)
That Summer of Kakagarh (Tulika)
The Simians of South Block and the Yumyum Piglets
(Roli/IndiaInk)
Non-fiction:
Birds of Delhi (Oxford University Press)
Birds from my Window (Tulika)
Wild City (Penguin)
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