Malcha Mahal

Mystery shrouds Malcha Mahal. Can you feel the weight of its secrets? Malcha Mahal stands before you, a crumbling testament to a forgotten era. This Tughlaq-era hunting lodge, built by Firuz Shah Tughlaq in 1325, whispers tales of royalty and ruin. Malcha Mahal was once known as Wilayat Mahal, after Begum Wilayat Mahal of Awadh. She claimed to be a descendant of the royal family of Oudh. In 1985, after years of protest at New Delhi railway station, the Indian government granted her residence in Malcha Mahal. The Begum’s protest was a desperate attempt to reclaim her ancestral property, seized by the British during the annexation of Awadh. Imagine living within these decaying walls, a stark contrast to the opulent life she believed was her birthright. The Begum, along with her daughter Sakina and son Prince Ali Raza, lived a secluded life here. Tragedy struck in 1993 when the Begum died by suicide. Her children remained, shrouded in mystery. Prince Ali Raza, also known as Cyrus, passed away in late 2017. His sister, Sakina, died some years earlier, her exact date of death unknown. Malcha Mahal, once a symbol of power and leisure, now stands as a silent witness to a family’s tragic tale. The ruins echo with their story, a poignant reminder of loss and the weight of history.