#310
Balban’s Tomb, Mehrauli, Delhi
From: Swapna Liddle, author of Delhi: 14 Historic Walks
Thousands visit the world
heritage site of QutubMinar
in Delhi, but not many
know of the historically
rich area of the Mehrauli
Archaeological Park in its
immediate neighbourhood.
The Mehrauli area (where
Qutub Minar is located)
has been continuously
inhabited for probably
more than a millennium.
The park is situated mostly
to the south of the mideleventh century fortified
city of Lal Kot, often called
the “first city of Delhi.”
Portions of the ruined city
wall can be seen here, set
in a green area that is an
oasis in the metropolis.
The tomb of the
Emperor Balban, who
reigned between 1265-87, is
one of the oldest structures
located in the park, and
represents probably the
first use of the true arch
on Indian soil. Before the
advent of the Turks in the
late 12th century, Indian
builders were not familiar
with the arch in construction.
The earliest buildings,
commissioned by the early
Sultanate rulers Qutubuddin
Aibak and Iltutmish, saw
the first unsuccessful
experimentations with
arcuate forms (seen in the
buildings of the Qutub
complex). The ruined tomb
of Balban, however, exhibits a
true arch for the first time.
36 Travel Secrets November-December 2015
#311
How to be a Successful Travel Blogger
From: Mridula Dwivedi, [email protected]
I update my blog very
regularly. I am also almost
always travel focussed
because it is easy for me to
talk about travel.
One of my long term
readers pointed out that
I hardly ever focus on
myself while writing and he
liked that! Another reader
commented that they like
my down-to-earth tone.
4 tips for an aspiring travel
blogger:
1. Blog about the things you
like, otherwise chances are
that you will not update
your blog regularly.
2. Interacting with others is
important. Blogging is not
an isolated activity.
3 Be consistent: I guess it is
the consistency part where
many give up.
4. Join travel message boards
where you get to meet
other travellers.
My experience says it takes
time to get established. I
would not expect results
overnight.