The chillah, or retreat, of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya is one of Delhi’s most peaceful monuments. This is where Delhi’s iconic 14th century sufi saint lived, meditated, and passed on. This is his khanqah – a monastery – where he also used to perform chilla-kashi, the spiritual practice in which a secluded Sufi undertakes his meditation for 40 days.
This is not the place where Nizamuddin Auliya lies buried. His mazaar is at the heart of the nearby basti, named fondly after him. The Chilla is where he lived – secluded yet complete, in the wild but one with the Holy Spirit. His grave is right opposite the Chilla quarters.