Delhi Travel Guide
HISTORY OF DELHI
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 hope.
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.
DELHI TRAVEL GUIDE
India Gate : Built 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.
Built from sandstone, the arch also houses the Eternal Flame, a gesture in
memory of the Indian soldiers who laid their lives in the 1971 war with Pakistan.
Rashtrapati Bhawan : Formely 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.
Red Fort : So 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.
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.
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 Mantar : At 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 Tomb : The 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 Masjid : Work 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 Tomb : Representing the last phase of the Mughal style of
architecture, Safdarjang's Tomb stands in the centre of an extensive garden.
Rajghat : The 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 Mandir : Built 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.
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