Near the bustling market of Karol Bagh, behind the huge Hanuman statue that has come to be a landmark for Delhi, a path unfolds into the Southern Ridge. On this path lies Bhooli Bhatiyari ka Mahal, famous as one of the most haunted places in Delhi, not so much on the account of verifiable incidents , but more so due to the many stories that surround it.

At the entry, a sign warns visitors against visiting after sunset. Some say that the guard on duty changes every few days, as no one is able to stay here for too long. Barricades stand at the huge masonry gate, that leads to a courtyard with rooms on the sides. In a corner stands a modern toilet, built by Delhi Tourism a few years ago.

Bhooli Bhatiyari is believed to be a hunting lodge built by Feroz Shah Tughlaq in the 14th century. Its structure closely resembles another structure called ‘Malcha Mahal’, also built by Feroz Shah Tughlaq. For the hunters who used this place, the entire ridge must have been visible from the fortress walls.

The name has more than one stories attached to it. Some say that the structure was once inhabited by a Sufi Saint named Bu Ali Bakhtiyari. Bhooli Bhatiyari is a distorted version of his name, eased for pronunciation. Another story chronicles a woman named Bhuri from the Bhatiyar tribe of Rajasthan lost her way and took shelter in the lodge. She continued to live here and so the place got recognized by her name. Some say she is the woman who possesses the Mahal.

In 2018, the monument was conserved by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH). The monument is recognized by the Archaeological Survey of India. One can visit by getting off at the Jhandewalan Metro Station followed by a 10-minute walk.