The Seven Cities of Delhi
the important event, which took place here on the first day of 1903.
BATTLEFIELD OF BADLI-KI-SARAI. — About a mile beyond the village of Azadpur, where the Alipur Road joins the old Grand Trunk Road, is an old caravan-sarai, built for the benefit of travellers by some old king. The road used to pass through this sarai, but when converted into the Grand Trunk Road it was taken outside to the east. Just to the north of the village are two mounds, and an old building, which looks like a tomb. On the nearer mound is a grave,that of an officer killed during the battle. On this mound the enemy had posted their heavy guns, which opened with deadly effect on our troops advancing up the road, at the first flush of dawn, on June 8, 1857. On the west of the battlefield the railway runs, and beyond may be dis-cerned trees which mark the Shahlimar Gardens,laid out by Shah Jahan in 1653 ; here was the first halting-place of the emperor in his progress to the Punjab or to Cashmere. Beyond the gardens runs the canal, along the further bank of which the cavalry and guns made their turning movement, delayed by flooded country and numerous watercourses. Standing on the mound we can imagine the desperate charge of the 75th Foot,168
