Fountains dry & structures damaged: Talkatora Garden crying for attention

New Delhi: Once counted among the most picture-sque gardens in Lutyens' Delhi, Talkatora Garden under the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) is slowly losing its charm. Known for its expansive lawns, central fountains, walking paths and seasonal flower beds, the garden has been a favourite among walkers, families and tourists, especially in spring. But during a TOI visit to the garden on Friday, the fountains — once the highlight — were found non-functional. Locals said the nozzles had been missing for long, allegedly stolen due to lack of monitoring. Damaged electric wires and dried fountain beds added to the neglected look.
Lighting panels mounted on stone parapet pillars alo-ng the ramp leading to the bund and the iconic mehrab were either broken or missing. A large portion of the bund wall had collapsed and was covered with a makesh-ift green mesh. Staff said the wall had caved in more than six months ago during the rainy sea-son. "Restoration of this heritage structure and other damaged portions is the responsibility of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Some work has begun," a staffer said. Tiles and cemented structures near the bund, maintained by NDMC, were also found damaged. Talkatora Garden is a Mughal-era site linked to the 18th century, during the reign of Emperor Muhammad Shah (1719–1748). The name ‘Talkatora' comes from the Persian tal (tank) and katora (bowl), referring to a bowl-shaped depression that served as a water tank. An embankment (bund) was built during Muhammad Shah's reign to protect the water source. The site is also known as the area where the Maratha army camped and defeated the Mughals in 1737–38. Today, the arched gateways, walls and other structures are in disrepair, with plaster peeling off in several areas and bricks exposed. According to sources, Department of Archaeology and ASI maintain the heritage structures, while NDMC handles the garden's upkeep. While ASI did not comment, NDMC said restoration and upgradation works at Talkatora Garden were underway. "The fountain nozzles are being fitted to ensure smooth operation of the water features. Two smart poles near the ramp were temporarily removed to make them fully functional and compliant with required standards. All 226 lights across the garden are operational, ensuring proper illumination and safety," an NDMC official said. On the collapsed bund wall, officials said ASI is carrying out repairs to preserve the site's heritage character.