North
India Travel Guide
Delhi Tourism
One of the most fascinating
aspects of Delhi is the "visibility" of its historic past. Were it not
for the demands of urbanization, large portions of the city could well be earmarked
as archaeological parks. This is because the rulers of successive dynasties between
the 13th and the 17th centuries established seven cities in different parts of
Delhi. A chronological review of these cities fortunately also serves as a suitable
itinerary for tourists and highlights the important monuments amongst the 1300
officially listed.
Delhi's history goes much further back in time than
the 13th century. In 1955, excavations at the Purana Qila revealed that the site
was inhabited 3000 years ago. Ware pottery known as Painted Gray Ware and dated
to 1000 BC confirmed this as being yet another site associated with the epic Mahabharata.
The excavations also cut through houses and streets of the Sultanate, Rajput,
post-Gupta, Gupta, Saka-Kushan and Sunga periods, reaching down to the Mauryan
era (300 BC), thus revealing almost continuous habitaion. The association of Emperor
Ashoka (273-36 BC) with Delhi has come to light with the discovery of a Minor
Rock Edict in the locality known as Srinivaspuri.
A clearer picture of
the city emerges from the end of the 10th century, when the Tomar Rajputs established
themselves in the in the Aravalli hills south of Delhi. The isolated, rocky outcrop
facilitated the defence of the royal resort which the Rajputs called Dhilli or
Dhillika. The core of the first of the seven cities was created by Anangpal Tomar
who is said to have built Lal Kot, which is the first known regular defence work
in Delhi. The Chauhan Rajputs later captured Delhi from the Tomars . Prithviraj
III, also known as Rai Pithora, extended Lal Kot, adding massive ramparts and
gates, and made Qila Rai Pithora the first city of Delhi.
Today, only
the ramparts are visible near the Qutub Minar , though the city is known to have
had several Hindu and Jain temples. Prithviraj was ruling Delhi when Muhammad
of Ghur invaded India, and died fighting the invader at the Second Battle of Tarain
in 1192. Ghur returned, but left as his viceroy, his slave Qutbuddin Aibak.
In
1206, Qutbuddin crowned himself as the Sultan of the Slave or Mamluk dynasty,
and became the first Muslim ruler of Delhi. Qutbuddin, had however, commenced
his architectural career even before he chose to become the sultan. The mosque
was essential to the Islamic emphasis on congregational prayer, while the burial
of the dead, as opposed to cremation, introduced the tomb to India.
The
earliest of these Islamic structures are to be seen in the Qutub complex and the
incorporation of many Hindu elements is due to the ready availability of building
material and the use of local craftsmen. Qutbuddin raised the Quwwat-ul-Islam
(might of Islam) mosque, which is the earliest extant mosque in India. Within
its spacious courtyard he retained the 4th century Iron Pillar, probably the standard
of an ancient Vishnu temple. The pillar has puzzled scientists, as its iron has
not rusted in all these centuries.
In 1199, Qutbuddin raised the Qutub
Minar either as a victory tower or as a minaret to the adjacent mosque. From a
base of 14.32 mtrs it tapers to 2.75 mtrs at a height of 72.5 mtrs. It is still
the highest stone tower in India, one of the finest tower Islamic structures ever
raised and Delhi's recognized landmark. It was completed by the Sultan's successor
and son-in-low, Iltutmish. The tomb of Iltutmish, which he himself built in 1235,
is nearby. Its interiors are profusely decorated with calligraphy, thought the
dome has collapsed.
The Khalji rulers displaced the Slave dynasty in 1290,
and when Alauddin Khali ordered renovations of the mosque in 1311, he also raised
the impressive Alai Darwaza, the southern entrance to the mosque. It is the first
example of a building employing wholly Islamic principles of construction, including
the true arch. In 1303, Alauddin, established the second city of Delhi, called
Siri, of which nothing remains but the embattlements. He also had dug a vast reservoir,
Hauz Khas, to sypply water to his city.
Contemporary historians describe
the Delhi of that time as being the "envy of Baghdad, the rival of Cairo
and the equal of Constantinople". (for the sake of convenience, tourists
visiting the Qutb complex could also see the Tomb of AdhamKhan and Zafar Mahal
in Mehrauli, and the Tomb of Jamai-Kamali behind the Qutb Minar. These, however,
belong to a later date.) The Khalhjis were replaced by the Tughlaq dynasty in
1321. of its eleven rulers, only the first three were interested in architecture
and each of them established a new city.
History
Delhi
: A Transition through Time - As you walk along the narrow bylanes of this city
of dreams, tread softly. Every crumbling wall has a story to tell. Every yesterday
is replete with history. Rulers have come and gone. The city has lived through
wars and resurrection, repeatedly rising from the ashes.
Cradling civilisations
since times immemorial Delhi goes back hundreds of thousands of years back into
time
Stone tools belonging to early stone age were discovered from the
Aravalli tracts in and around Anangpur, the Jawaharlal Nehru University Campus,
the northern ridge and elsewhere - evidence that the Early Man lived here.
Excavations
at Mandoli and Bhorgarh in east and north-west Delhi respectively have thrown
up remains of chalcolithic period dating back to 2nd millennium BC, 1st millennium
BC as well remains of 4th-5th century AD have been traced here.
The excavations
of the ancient mound of Indraprastha, capital of the Pandavas, located withing
the fold of the sixteenth century Purana Qila revealed evidence of continuous
habitation of the site for almost 2500 years.
According to the Mahabharata,
the Pandavas founded their capital Indrapratha in the region known as Khandava-prastha.
Delhi was also witness to the glories of the Maurya Empire during 3rd century
BC. The Ashokan edict engraved on a rock in East of Kailash as well as remains
found in Purana Quila excavations belonging to the Mauryan period point to Delhi's
importance during this era.
The first city of Delhi, Lal Kot was founded
by the Tomar ruler Anangpal, in the 11th century. It was extended to Qila Rai
Pithora by King Vigraharaja IV (Circa 1153-64). Qutbuddin Aibak became Delhi's
first Sultan in 1206 and laid the foundations of the Qutb Minar, India's tallest
stone tower at the site of the first city of Delhi subsequently the kings of the
Sultanate dynasties, Khaljis, Tughluqs Sayyids and Lodis continued to build. New
cities as Delhi grew.
The second city around Siri by Alaud-Din Khalji
(1296-1316); Tughlaqabad, the third city built by Ghiysud-Din Tughlug (1321-51);
Firuzabad, the fifth city of Delhi, is now represented by Kotla Firuz Shah, founded
by Firuz Shah Tughluq (1351-88).
It was Humayun who laid the foundations
of the sixth city - Dinpanah. This was destroyed and reconstructed as the Purana
Qila by Sher Shah Suri however, it was the Mughals who took Delhi to the zenith
of architectural glory.
While some construction activities did continue
during the reign of Akbar (1556-1605) and Jehangir (1605-27), it was Shah Jehan
(1628-58) who built the seventh city, Shahjahanabad which remained the Mughal
capital until 1857.
The British in 1911 shifted the capital of India to
Delhi. The eighth city of New Delhi took shape in the imperial style of architecture.
From then to now Delhi continues to throb with vitality and hop
The ruins
and ramparts still stand tall in dignity - and amidst them rise modern buildings
and giant skyscrapers. It's a breathtaking synthesis of yesterday and tomorrow,
the holding on to the past and surging ahead to the furture.
Call it what
you will.. it's Delhi.
Delhi Places of Interest
Qutub Minar The origins of Qutab Minar are shrouded
in controversy. Some believe it was erected as a tower of victory to signify the
beginning of the Muslim rule in India. Others say it served as a minaret to the
muezzins to call the faithful to prayer. No one can, however, dispute that the
tower is not only one of the finest monuments in India, but also in the world.
Red FortSo called because of the red stone with which it is
built, the Red Fort is one of the most magnificent palaces in the world. India's
history is also closely linked with this fort. It was frorth here ht the British
deposed the last Mughal ruler, Bhadur Shah Zafar, marking the end of the three
century long Mughal rule. It was also fromits ramparts that the first prime. Minister
of India, pandit Jawharlal Nehru, announced to the nation that India was free
form colonial rule.
Purana Quila The fort is said to be constructed
on the historic site of Indraprastha (900BC) by Humayun and Sher Shah. Covering
a circuit of about a mile, the walls of the fort have three gates and are surrounded
by a mat fed by the river Yamuna.
Jantar MantarAt first sight,
the Jantar Mantar appears like a gallery of modern art. It is, however, an observatory.
Sawai Jia Singh II of Jaipur (1699-1743), a keen astronomer and a noble in the
Mughal court, was dissatisfied by the errors of brass and metal astronomical instruments.
Humayun's
TombThe mughals brought with them a love for gardens, fountains and water.
The first mature example of Mughal architecture in India, Humayun's Tomb was built
by the emperor's grieving widow, Haji Begum, in 1565 AD.
Jama MasjidWork
on the Jama Masjid mosque was begun in 1650 by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan to
complement his palace at the Red Fort. More than 5,000 workers toiled for six
years to complete the largest mosque in India. Every Friday, the emperor and his
retinue would travel in state from the fort to the mosque to attend the congressional
prayers.
Safdarjung's TombRepresenting the last phase of the
Mughal style of architecture, Safdarjang's Tomb stands in the centre of an extensive
garden.
India GateBuilt as a memorial to commemorate the 70,000
India soldiers killed in World War I, India Gate was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens
and completed in 1931.
Rashtrapati BhawanFormely the Viceregal
Lodge, the building is the highlight of Lutyen's New Delhi and was completed in
1929 at a cost of 12,53,000 pound sterling. Located in an area of 130 hectares,
the palace has 340 rooms.
RajghatThe mortal remains of mahatma
Gandhi were cremated on this spot on the west bank of the river Yamuna on the
evening of January 31, 1948.
Lakshmi Narayan MandirBuilt in
1938, the temple is an ideal introduction to some of the gods of the India pantheon.
The temple contains a large number of idols and visitors can also watch priests
performing ritualistic prayers.
Click here for more Details about Lakshmi Narayan
Mandir
Delhi Excursions
Agra Travel
GuideAgra, or the city of the Taj, as it is known all over the world,
forms the first destination on the itinerary of most travelers coming into India.
Jaipur
Travel GuideJaipur, capital of Rajasthan, also known as 'Pink City' is
sorrounded by an ancient 20ft high wall and eight gates.
Bharatpur Travel
GuideThe 55 km journey by road from Agra drives you to the town of Bharatpur-the
eastern gateway to Rajasthan.
Mathura Travel GuideMathura the
birthplace of lord Krishna is an important place of pilgrimage and thousands of
devotees throng the city throughout the year.
How
to Reach Delhi
Air : All the major National and International Air
Lines have their flights operating from Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport.
Rail
: The Indian Railway with their modern and organised network connects Delhi to
all major and minor destinations in India. There are three important Railway Stations
in Delhi namely New Delhi Rly. Station, Old Delhi Rly. Station and Hazarat Nizamuddin
Rly. Station.
Bus : Delhi is well connected by road to all major destinations
in North India. The Inter State Bus Terminus (ISBT) are located at Kashmiri Gate,
Sarai Kale-Khan and Anand Vihar. Delhi Transport Corporations of the neighbouring
states provide frequent bus services through Air Conditioned, Deluxe and Ordinary
Coaches.
