Mahendragarh eyes tourism boost with revival of heritage sites

Historical monuments—Chhatta Rai Bal Mukand Dass and Mirza Ali ki Baoli—which were in a dilapidated state over three-and-half years ago, are now undergoing a significant transformation. The renovation project, initiated for restoring these heritage structures to their former glory, has entered its final phase. Both monuments are located at the district headquarters — Narnaul city.

According to local officials from the Public Works Department (PWD), the renovation work is expected to be completed by April next year. Once finished, both sites will be opened to tourists, marking a major step in promoting heritage tourism in the region.

Popularly known as the Chhatta of Birbal, this expansive five-storey structure is a remarkable example of Mughal-era architecture. It features numerous halls, rooms, pavilions and was constructed by Ray-i-Rayan Mukand Dass, the Diwan of Narnaul, during the reign of Emperor Shah Jahan in the 16th century.

The monument is steeped in legend and mystery. It is believed to house four underground tunnels, reportedly leading to Jaipur, Mahendragarh, Delhi and Dhosi. According to local lore, Emperor Akbar and his adviser Birbal once visited the historic town, which is why the monument came to be popularly known as the Chhatta of Birbal. Similarly, Mirza Ali ki Baoli, also known as Takht Baoli, was a resort built during the reign of Emperor Akbar. It featured a beautiful garden, a water pool, a stepwell (baoli) with steps leading down to the water and an imposing three-storey gateway structure overlooking the baoli.

“Yes, the renovation work of both monuments has reached its final stage and is likely to take another eight months for completion. The project was initiated over three-and-half years ago following the approval of a proposal moved by the Department of Archaeology and Museums to the Centre and the state governments for their renovation of both historical monuments,” said Ashwani Kumar, Executive Engineer, PWD, Narnaul.

He explained that the renovation of Chhatta Rai Bal Mukand Dass was being carried out in three phases, while Mirza Ali ki Baoli was being restored in two. Prior to the project, both structures were in poor condition. Walls and rooftops were broken in several places and floor tiles had peeled off. Even the steps were crumbling and in urgent need of restoration. Now, all these are being repaired in conventional form, he added. Ashwani pointed out that the Department of Archaeology and Museums designed the renovation plan, while the PWD was executing it under the department’s guidance.

“Maintaining the originality of the monuments was a top priority. Every stage of work was carried out with extreme care to preserve the historical and aesthetic integrity of the structures. We used materials like marble, teakwood, natural colours and coloured stones to ensure authenticity,” he added.

The Executive Engineer further said the total cost of both renovation projects was estimated to exceed Rs 16 crore.