First Coronation of Aurangzeb
As astrologers indicated Wednesday the 21st July / l s t Z i l Q. , as an auspicious day for the accession, and no time was left to go to Delhi and make preparations for the
ceremony, Aurangzib stayed for a few hours in the garden
of Aghrabad [ = Shalamar ] , and sat on the throne at the above-mentioned auspicious time. The presents which
were made to the Princes, the high grandees, the mansabdars
and other officers, are beyond number ing. ‘Abdur Rashid Tatawi found the date of accession in the Quranic text .
There was no time for a Khutba, title or coins being struck.
That was done later in the second coronation
Excerpt From: “Maasir-i-‘Alagmiri – Muhammad Saqi Musta’d Khan”
Photographs by Sanjeev Singh
Shalimar Bagh was a garden built by Shahjahan more than 350 years back has now become one of the posh residential localities of North-West Delhi
Sir David Ochterlony & Lord Metcalfe of the British Raj used it as their summer lodge . Today its Sheesh Mahal is dilapidated and uncared for.
Bus : The area lies on Inner Ring Road and is serviced by Delhi Transport Corporation buses, the busiest route being Route No.166 (Shalimar Bagh to Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station).
Metro: The area has access to Azadpur Railway Station and is within a few minutes drive of five Delhi Metro Stations, Netaji Subhash Place, Pitam Pura and Kohat Enclave on the Red Line and Azadpur and Jahangirpuri on the Yellow Line.
From the Inner Ring Road, one can enter Shalimar Bagh through 3 roads: Richie Rich restaurant t-point, All Heaven’s restaurant t-point (or Hyundai car showroom t-point) and through the road from Prem Bari Pul (Prerna Chowk).
