In 1748, Rangeela died and his son Ahmed Shah became the king. The same year Qudsia Begum built the Qudisia Bagh. The royal family came to the Bagh for picnics and for hunting jackals.

Lakhori bricks were used in Qudsia Bagh, which were much thinner and flatter than the bricks used today. They used limestone plaster to carve designs made by hand, known as stucco work. The Mughals were fond of art and architecture and designed their buildings with cusped arches and plain arches. The mosque and the entrance are proof of their architectural prowess.

We later went to Baradari which is a pavilion and was used as a lodge. A three-storey wall surrounded this Bagh, but much of this was destroyed by Britishers in 1857 with cannon fire.

We finally visited the mosque which had three bays (large gateways) and was used by the royal family for prayers. Outside the mosque was a tank called Vazoo, where people washed their hands before praying.

The walk was a magnificent one which reiterated the duty of all citizens of India to save and to protect our national heritage.
Sanyukta Karmarkar
Class VII-A

Built to hunt, now city lungs
Qudsia Bagh was named after Qudsia Begum, who was a dancer in the court of Mohammad Shah Rangeela. She was earlier known as Udham Bai, and later married Mohammad Shah Rangeela, who died in 1748. The Bagh was also built in 1748. Jackal-hunting was an activity in the Bagh. Lakhori bricks were used to build Mughal buildings — these bricks are thinner and flatter compared to ordinary bricks.

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