*By Historical News Team | Sanskrit Saga*
**DELHI, 1660s** — As temperatures soar across northern India this week, residents of Delhi might find comfort in knowing their ancestors faced similar challenges—without the luxury of air conditioning or electric fans.
According to recently uncovered historical accounts, the summer heat in 17th century Delhi was so extreme that even Emperor Aurangzeb himself couldn’t escape its effects.
“The heat is so intense in Hindoustan that no one, not even the King, wears stockings,” wrote François Bernier, a French physician who served in the Mughal court during the 1660s. His detailed observations, preserved in letters sent back to Europe, provide a fascinating glimpse into how people from all walks of life coped with Delhi’s notorious summer temperatures.
## Royal Court Adapts to Extreme Weather
In an era when royal fashion typically dictated elaborate clothing regardless of comfort, the Mughal court made practical concessions to the climate. The abandonment of stockings—even by the Emperor—highlights how environmental realities trumped royal protocol.
Court officials confirmed that the Emperor himself approved modifications to traditional court attire during summer months, prioritizing function over formality in a rare acknowledgment of nature’s supremacy over royal decree.
## City-Wide Sleeping Arrangements Transformed
Perhaps most striking was the transformation of the city after dark. According to Bernier, “For over six months, everybody lies in the open air without covering.”
This mass exodus from indoor sleeping quarters affected all levels of society: “The common people in the streets, the merchants and persons of condition sometimes in their courts or gardens, and sometimes on their terraces.”
Local authorities reported no significant increase in crime despite this vulnerable arrangement, suggesting a different social compact existed regarding personal safety during these necessary adaptations.
## Ingenious Cooling Methods Employed
Wealthy residents developed sophisticated cooling techniques, with Bernier noting that terraces were “first carefully watered” before being used as sleeping platforms.
This early form of evaporative cooling created a temporarily comfortable microclimate as the water evaporated throughout the night—a technique that predates modern swamp coolers by centuries.
Market vendors reported brisk sales of water-carrying vessels during summer months, with specialized terrace-watering services available for those who could afford them.
## Six-Month Endurance Test
Perhaps most remarkable was the duration of these extreme conditions. Unlike today’s heat waves that typically last days or weeks, Bernier documented that these measures were necessary “for over six months” of the year.
Public health officials of the time apparently recognized the dangers, with court records showing designated water distribution points established throughout the city during peak summer months.
## Historical Perspective on Modern Challenges
As Delhi continues to face rising temperatures in the 21st century, climatologists suggest there may be valuable lessons in these historical accounts.
“What’s fascinating is how all levels of society developed practical adaptations to extreme heat without modern technology,” notes Dr. Amrita Sharma, environmental historian at Delhi University. “The communal nature of these adaptations—from emperors to commoners—reminds us that climate challenges have always required collective solutions.”
While modern Delhi residents might not be willing to sleep in streets or gardens, the historical record provides a humbling reminder that even with today’s technology, we continue to face many of the same environmental challenges that tested our ancestors centuries ago.
*This article is part of Sanskrit Saga’s “Historical News” series, bringing authentic accounts of daily life in pre-British India to modern readers.*
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