NEW DELHI: Once grand residences of Mughal-era nobility, the Indian capital’s havelis now stand at a fragile crossroads. A handful have been restored, but many more are in decline.
Cracked facades, shuttered gateways and sagging balconies line the narrow streets of the 17th-century walled city now known as Old Delhi. Only a few restored homes show what the area once looked like, with open courtyards and carved sandstone pillars.
Inside one mansion now used as a cultural center, sunlight filters through stained glass onto sandstone arches while musicians tune instruments in a frescoed courtyard.
Outside, many buildings are abandoned or near collapse, their carved facades fading beneath peeling paint.
The contrast points to two outcomes: careful restoration or gradual decay.
“Who will pay?”
Atul Khanna, founder of the Kathika Cultural Centre, said the project aims to create an immersive cultural space within a restored building. He said conservation in Old Delhi faces major challenges.
Many mansions are divided among multiple heirs, leaving no single owner responsible for upkeep.
“When there are multiple ownerships, that becomes a challenge,” he said. “If the building is decaying, who is going to spend the money?”
Khanna also cited bureaucratic obstacles.
“There should be some kind of single window for anyone who is working with heritage,” he said. He added that easing procedures would be more effective than offering subsidies.
Another project, the 18th-century Haveli Dharampura, has been converted into a heritage hotel.
“Restoration in Old Delhi is still isolated unless there is sustained support and awareness,” said Vidyun Goel, whose family owns the property.
Residents said family disputes and pressure to convert properties into shops or apartments have accelerated the decline.
In Roshanpura, only a few old homes remain. Among them is the century-old Mathur ki Haveli, still occupied.
“We are in love with this house,” said Ashok Mathur, a fourth-generation resident. He said ceilings are deteriorating, floors are worn and doors require constant repair.
“There is no community left,” Mathur, 56, said. “We are living in a cocoon.”
Conservationist K. T. Ravindran said many mansions suffer from unclear ownership and multiple claimants.
“Often buildings that look intact from outside conceal deeper damage,” he said. Conditions are worse in inner lanes, he added.
Ravindran said revival is possible through neighborhood-level regeneration rather than isolated projects.
Oral historian Sohail Hashmi said each mansion was part of a broader social system of neighborhoods, crafts and traditions.
Khanna said the loss extends beyond the buildings themselves.
“When you lose a mansion, you are not only losing the structure,” he said. “Every element in it is a piece of art.”
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