The oldest continuously inhabited area of Delhi, with settlements going back to the 8th century. Mehrauli anchors the southern end of the city and its historical layer cake: the Qutb Minar complex — the 72-metre minaret begun in 1193 and the ruins of India's oldest mosque — sits at its heart, surrounded by further medieval ruins scattered through what was once the first Sultanate capital. The Mehrauli Archaeological Park adjacent to the Qutb complex contains dozens more medieval monuments in varying states of preservation.
The village of Mehrauli itself, squeezed between the archaeological sites, has survived as a working settlement. The Adham Khan's Tomb on the main road is a domed 16th-century Mughal structure now used as a police station and accessible to visitors. The shopping village has become gentrified since the 2000s, with boutiques and cafes serving the south Delhi residential areas nearby.