Delhi’s ‘Sheesh Mahal’ officially opened its doors to the public on Wednesday, but this is not the same building infamously linked to former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s controversies.
Located in Shalimar Bagh, Northwest Delhi, this ‘Sheesh Mahal’ is, in fact, a 17th-century palace built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. It is renowned for its beautiful mirror work and bold Mughal-style architecture. The palace is part of a larger Mughal garden complex and has recently faced extensive restoration works.
This same structure was also the blueprint for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s jibe at Arvind Kejriwal’s official bungalow at 9, Flag Staff Road. The building was referred to as ‘Sheesh Mahal’ by the BJP and a controversial poll issue during the 2025 Assembly elections, considering its reported ‘luxurious’ refurbishments.
Following the inauguration of the refurbished Sheesh Mahal, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta made a remark at the expense of Kejriwal: “He had created a Sheesh Mahal for himself to feel comfortable, now this government has constructed a Sheesh Mahal for the people. There is the difference. I just want to say that let this Sheesh Mahal be a taller one.”
Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat also dwelled on the importance of the site and said the park, along with Sheesh Mahal, has remained a symbol of pride of Delhi for over four centuries.
Unfortunately, post-independence, apart from a few moments, the successive Delhi governments did not do much to maintain such historical heritage. As such, sites like Shalimar Bagh and its ancient buildings like Sheesh Mahal deteriorated and were almost destroyed. But due to the personal interest shown by the Hon’ble LG and collaborative efforts of the DDA, the restoration work done has actually brought back the splendor and grandeur of the park,” he said.