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Cities|MonumentsofDelhi

Monuments
1300+
Heritage
Monuments
(/monuments)
(/)

Rulers
15
Dynasties
&100+
Rulers
(/rulers)

Cities
History
15Historic
3000years
citiesand
ofglorious
1Delhi
history
(/cities)
(/history)

CitiesofDelhi

DelhiisaPhoenixrisenfromashesseveraltimes.Everyinvadertriedtodestroyeverythingthatcameinto
hiswayandestablishednewcitadelsandfortsusingthesamematerial.Thispagegivesaquickshapshotof
allthecities,thatnowform'DELHI'.
No. Established

Name

c.800B.C. Indraprastha

c.100B.C. Dhillika

1024A.D

1170A.D. QilaRaiPithora

1288A.D.

1302A.D. Siri

1320A.D. Tughlaqabad

1334A.D. Jahanpanah

1351A.D. Ferozabad

LalKot

Kilokri(Killu
Ghari)

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Type
01.Major
City
1.Small
Town
02.Major
City
03.Major
City
2.Small
Town
04.Major
City
05.Major
City
06.Major
City
07.Major

Dynaty

PresentLocation

Pandavas

AroundOldFort&PragatiMaidan

RajaDhillu

Mehrauli

Tomar
Rajputs

SanjavVan,betweenMehrauliand
J.N.U.

Chauhans

LadoSarai,Saket,Mehrauli

Mamluk/Slave NearAshram&MaharanaiBagh
Khilji

SiriFort,ShahpurJat

Tughlaqs

Tughlaqabad,nearBadarpur

Tughlaqs

AreabetweenSiri,Mehrauli&
Tughlaqabad

Tughlaqs

FromPragatiMaidantoShajahanabad

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City
3.Small
10 1415A.D. Khizrabad
Sayyids
NearNewFriendsColony
Town
4.Small
11 1433A.D. Mubarakabad
Sayyids
Nosignificanttracesleft
Town
08.Major
12 1530A.D. Dinpanah
Mughals
FromPragatiMaidantoNizamuddin
City
09.Major
13 1542A.D. DillSherShahi
Suris
FromOldForttoFerozShahKotla
City
10.Major
14 1648A.D. Shahjahanabad
Mughals
OldDelhi
City
11.Major
15 1911A.D. NewDelhi
British
CentralDelhi
City
DifferenthistorianscountcitiesofDelhiindifferentmanner.SomesaytherearesevencitiesinDelhiand
somesaythereare11.Whilethereisawidedisconnectinthetheory,thispagetriestogivetheinformation
onvariousmajorestablishments,thattodayformtheNationalCapital'Delhi'.

KhandavprasthaandIndraprastha(Indrapatta)

ThelegendofMahabhartatellsthatPandavasgotfivevillagesfromtheirbrothers,theKauravas.Thesefive
villageswereSonprastha,Paniprastha,Baghprastha,TilprasthaandKhandavprastha.ThePandavasmade
theircapitalintheforestofKhandva(Khandavprastha)wheretheybuiltanicepalace,comaprabletothe
empireofLordIndra,hencecalledIndraprastha.Thedateoftheirexistanceishighlydebateableand
differenthistorianshaveusedtheirowntechniquestocalculatedifferentdates,tojusttidisagreetoeach
other.Theonlycommingthingcameoutofthisisthattheyexistingsomewherebetween1500BCand800
BC.Asthelegendgoes,RishiVedVyasaledPandavasintheceremonyoflandmeasurementforthecity.
TheychoosethelandonthewesternbankofriverYamunawiththeriverflowingfromNorthtoSouth.This
locationwasidealasperVastuShastra.Aravalionthewesternsidegavenaturalprotectiontocityfrom
enemies.Deeptrencheswerebuiltaroundthecityandwerefilledwithwater,whichgavedeceptive
appearanceofocean.Thecityhad32largegateswithwoddenbridgesoverthesetrenches.King
YudhishtiraissaidtohavebuiltNigambodhGhatandNiliChhatriTemple,whicharestillinuse.Ancient
formofcanons(calledSatahiniandIsupa),capableofshooting100stonesandarrowsatatimewere
mountedatregularintervalsonthewallofcity.Thecityissaidtohavefloodanddraughtprevention
measures.
Ontheauspiciousday,KingYudhishtiraenteredthecitysittingontheroyalelephantthroughVardhman
GateandpassedthroughtheRajMargtothemansion.Toranswereerectedatprominentplacesanddrums
werebeatentoannouncetheentry.Brahminschantedswastivachnamandmantras.Itissaidthatthisvery

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palacewasthecauseofthefamousMahabhartawar,whichtookplace80kmsawayfromIndraprastha.
6thcenturyBrahmin,BiddhistandJainliteratureshedsomemorelightonthismagnificentcity.Shams
ShirajAfif's14thcenturyworkTarikhiFiruzshahimentionsIndraprasthabeingheadquartersofpargana
(district).AninscriptionfromalmostsameperiodwasfoundinNarayanavillageofDelhitellingthis
NadayanabeingsituatedtothewestofIndraprastha.AbulFazlmentionedinAiniAkbarithatHumayun
repairedthisKauravPandavkaQilaandrenameditasDinpanah.Also,therewasavillagenamed
"Indrapat"locatedinsidethewallsofOldForttilltheendof19thcentury.ExcavationsofOldForthave
broughtouttheNorthernBlackPolishWare(NBPW)of7th6thcenturyBC.to1stcenturyBC.The
excavationalsoshowthatpeoplelivedinbothmudbrickandkilnfiredbricktypehouses.TerraCota
figurinesbelongingtothisperiodhavealsobeenrecovered.

Dhillika/Dilli/Daidala/Dhillipura/Yoginipura
ClaudiusPtomely,theGrecoRomanwriterofAlexandriamentionsaboutthecityofDaidalainthevicinity
ofIndraprastha.FarishtacreditsDelu,alsowrittenasDiluorRajaDhillu,thekingofKannaujasfounderof
thisDilli.Thelocationhasbeencorrectlyidentifiedasapprox10KmsouthofIndraprastha,theareanow
knownasMehrauli.Adatecalculatedis57BC.In40thyearofreign,RajaDhilluwasattackedandtaken
prisoner.SomeotherhistoriansnameSamratDilipofMahabhartafametobethefounderofDilli.The
painfulpartisthatverylessisknownofthisperiodandnooneevercaredtodigdeeperintothesechapters
ofhistory.B.R.Maniinhisbook'Delhi:ThresholdoftheOrient'byAryanBooksInternational(1997)
writesthat"thislegendofDaliporDhilludonotcontainanyfactanditseemsmorepossiblethat
IndraprasthaoftheearlyhistoricalperiodlostitsgrandeursometimearoundtheGuptaPeriod."Itissaid
thatafterSamratVikramaditya,Dilliwasdesertedforlittlelessthan8centuriestillTomarKingAnangpalI
tookover.ItissaidthatPandavasbuiltthefamousYogmayatempleinthisvillage,whichstandstilldate
(thoughrebuiltseveraltimes).ThistempleissaidtohavegivethisvillagethenameofYoginipura.
TheBaoliinPalamVillageofDelhi,whichwasbuiltin1274ADduringBalban'stime(SlaveDynasty)has
followinginscription:"ThelandofHariyanakawasfirstenjoyedbytheTomarasandthenbythe
Chauhanas.ItisnowruledbytheSakaKings".ItshouldbenotedthatSlaveDynastyKingswerelocally
knownasSakaKingsatthattime.NameofthiscityismentionedasDhillipuraandYoginipurainthe
inscriptionwhichalsocontainsthelistofallrulersofSlaveDynastyuptoBalban.Similardescriptionisalso
foundintheSarbanStoneinscriptionofAD1327ofthetimeofMuhammadbinTughlaqatvillageSarban,
whichwaslocatedabout5milessouthofthecityofDelhiahundredyearsagonearRaisina.Itdifferentiates
betweenDhillikaandIndraprastha.TheformerhasbeencalledthecityofHariyana.Itquotes"Desho:sti
Hariyanakhyoprithvyaanswargsanibhh|DhillikaakhyapuritatrTomarairastinirmitaa||"

LalKot
AfterthefallofGuptaEmpire,MagadhalostitsgloryofbeingthemostimportantcityinIndiafor1000
years.KannaujtookoverbutgotweakwiththedeathofKingHarshWardhanin647AD.Thatiswhen
RajaMihirBhojofGurjarPratiharDynastytookoverGujaratandoneofhisdescendantsAnangplaTomar
(akaBilandevTomar)tookoverDelhiandrenamedthecitytoMihirawali,meanspathofMihirBhoj(ref:
JatsandGujarsbyRahulKharipg22).RajaSurajpalfromhisdynastybuiltSurajkund,thesuntemple,
whichnowfallsinFaridabad(Haryana)nearBadarpurBorderofDelhiHaryana.RajaAnangpalIIlater
builttheFortofLalKot(whichstillexistsintheSanjayVanspreadbetweenJawaharlalNehruUniversity

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andMehrauli.LalKotwasbuiltin11thcenturyandwasagreatfortpalaceofanirregular,oblongshape
and2.25Kmsincircumfrence.Therampartswere2830feetthickand60feethighfromthebottomofthe
ditch.Somelargebastionsof60100feetindiameterandsomesmallerinsize(45feet)diameter
interspersedthefortwallatirregularbutstrategicpositions.Wallswereabout15feetthick.Itseemsthat
therewerefourgateways,outofwhich,thewesternonewascalled'RanjitGate'.Latermuslimhistorians
startedcallingit'GhazniGate'.
TheIronPillarstandinginQutbComplexbearsaninscriptionmentioningthenameofAnangpala,who
establishedthecityofDilli.AmirKhusro,inhisbookNuhSipirmentionsthenameofKingAnangpal,who
ruled600yearsago.AbuFazlhaswritteninhisAineAkbarithatTomarKingAnangpalfoundedthiscity
ofDilli.SeveralinscriptionsrecentlyfoundinRajasthan,PalamBaoliofDelhi,SonepatinHaryana,
RaisinaRoadandNarayanaofDelhialsocorroboratethenameoftheFounderofDilli.

QilaiRaiPithora
RaiPithoraakaRanaPrithiorPrithviRajChauhanwasgiftedthethroneofDilli(LalKot)byhismaternal
grandfather(Nana)AnangpalTomarIII.HeextendedthewallsofLalKotandhisnewfortgothisname
'QilaRaiPithora',commonlyknownamongstthemusliminvadersasQilaiRaiPithora.Thewallsofhis
fortstillexistinLadoSaraiareaofDelhi.AlexenderCunninghamhasdescribedbothLalKotandQilaRai
PithoraandhisdescriptiontallieswiththeonegivenbyIbnBatuta.Asperthem,thisconstructiontook
placeonwarfootings,fearingtheattackfromGhori,asitwassensedfromintelligencereports.Thisfortof
RaiPithorasurroundsLalKotfromthreesides.Thecircuitis6.9Kms(threetimesbiggerthanLalKot).
ThewallsarehalftheheightofLalKotandbastionsareputatalongerintervals.Ifthestartofthewallmay
betakenfromtheFatehBurj,thenorthbastionofLalKot,andwhiletakingcourseof1.2Kmsinthenorth
eastdirection,ittakessoutheastfor2.4kmstotheDamdamaBurj.Fromherethelayoutfollows1.6Kms
southwestandthennorthwestorientationtothesouthendofthehillwhichiscurrentlysituatedatMehrauli
BadarpurandMehrauliGurgaonintersection(alsohasAzimKhan'sTombandAhinsaSthal).Thewall
takesofffromhereandconnectstothesoutheastcornerofLalKotnearDilkhusha(QuliKhan'sTombin
MehrauliArchaeologicalPark).ThefortwassupposedtohaveninegatesbesidestheGhazniGateexisting
fromthetimesofLalkot.ThreegatesonthewestsideofwhichtwobelongedtothecitadelofLalKot,five
ontheNorthsidetowards(now)Jahanpanah,oneontheeastside,mentionedasBadaonorBadayuniGate.
HauzRanigatewasanother.RanjitGateonthenorthernrampartwasmostimpressiveamongstallgates
andtheweakesttoo.Onegatewasonthesouth,closetoMetcalfe'sHouse.Thiscityhad27beautifulHindu
andJainTemples,whichweredestroyedbyQutbudDinAibakandusedforconstructingJamiMasjid,
whichwaslaterconvertedtoQuwwatulIslamMosque.IltutmishusedthismaterialtoconstructhisQutb
Minar.

KilluGharhi(Kilokri)
MuizuddinKaiqabad,ateenageremperorofDelhiwascrownedbythepwerfulEmirsandMaliksofthe
court.Asaprince,hewasneverallowedtoseetheoutsideworld.Hebuiltapalaceofmirrorsonthebanks
ofYamunawithanattachedgarden,whereheoftenretiredwithinthecompanyofslender,silverbodied
damselsofdelightfordrinks,dancesandmerrymaking.Hisnoblesoftenvisitedhimandthisresultedin
increasingtrafficinadjoiningvillages,likeGhiaspur(nowcalledNizamuddinBasti).ThismadeKhwaja
NizamuddinAuliya(r.a.)veryuncomfortableandwhichiscomplainedmultipletimes.Thentheplanned
murderofKaiKhusrau(rightfulsuccessorofBalbanasperlatter'swill)tookplace,whichignitedaspark

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withinsomenoblesandpowerfulKhiljichiefAmirJalaluddinFirozroseindisgustandtoreKingKaiqabad
intopieceswithinhisownglasspalaceofKilluGhari.
AfterkillingKaiqabadandthrowinghisbodypiecesintoYamuna,theKhiljiAmirdeclaredhimselfthe
KingofDelhiandstartedrulingfromKilluGhari.HemadeKushkiLal(LalMahal)hispalace.ThisLal
MahalstandsinNizamuddinBastinexttoTablighiJamaatMarkazandisinbadshape.Itiscurrentlyunder
thecontroloflocals.
Today,notracesoftheglasspalaceofKilluGhariareleft.ButtheareaexistsbetweenAshramand
MaharaniBagh,nexttoNizamuddin.

Siri
AlauddinKhilji,thethirdrulerofKhiljidynastywantedtoleaveamarkinDelhi,withwhichthe
forthcominggenerationsofHindoostanwouldrememberhim.Hebuiltanovalshapedcityrightbetween
theexistingestablishmentsofQilaRaiPithora,KilluGhariandIndrapatta.ThisnewDarulKhilafat
(capital)ofKhiljiwasapieceofartandwasequippedtofulfillalltheneedsofanycitizen.Healsobuilta
hugewaterreservoirin70acresofland,whichhecalledHauziAlai(nowcalledHauzKhas).Several
mosqueswerebuiltandfewofthemstillexist.HealsobuiltanEidgahandaChorMinarnexttoitright
outsidethewalledcity.Thischorminarwasusedtohangheadsofthievesandcriminals.
Therearemanystoriesbehindthenamingofthiscity.ThemostpopularoneisthatSirigotit'sname
becauseheadsof8000Mongolsoldierswereburiedinitsfoundation(InHindi,'Siri'meanshead).
However,historicwritersandtravellershavenotmentionedofthisstory.Currently,asmallportionofwall
remainsnearAsiadVillageandSiriFortsportsComplex.MonumentslikeMuhammadiwaliMosque,
TohfewalaGumbad,ThanewalaGumbadandBaghiAlamkaGumbadstillexistinvicinity.

Tughlaqabad
LegendspeaksthatSultanQutbuddinMubarakShahKhiljitauntedhisslaveGhaziMaliktobuildafort
whenhebecomesaKingafterhecounseledKhijiforbuildingoneonthehillhockbetweenSiriand
Yamuna.WhileGhaziMalikwasawayonanexpedition,KhusrowKhan,aHinduDalitwhohadconverted
toIslamandjoinedKhiljiforcestorevengetheattackonGujaratTemplesassasinatedtheKhiljiKingand
assumedthenameofSultanNasiruddin.GhaziMalikreturneduponhearingthisnewsandkilledNasiruddin
inabattle.GhaziMalikwasthentakenintothecitybynoblesandcrownedasthenextkingofDelhi.He
assumedthename"SultanGhiasuddinTughlaq"andstartedbuildinghismajesticfortifiedcityonthe
hilhockhementionedtohismaster.Theconstructionstartedin1321andwascompletedin1323.Itwas
spreadinaperimeterof12.5Kms.with4.8Kmsinlengthand4.8Kmsinwidth.Theforthadacitadel,
locallyknownasBijaiMandal(nottobeconfusedwiththeBijaiMandalmonumentinSarvpriyaVihar)
andanotherportionforthecity.Ithad61slopingbastions,13gatesandwithmassivewallsmadeofbig
sized,irregularshapedredstoneshavingopeningstoshootarrows.Thecitadelhadthreegates,large
audiencehall,undergroundchambersandapassagewayconnectingtheoldcityofDelhi.Thecityalsohad
largesizedgranariesandamarketplacewithtwostoriedbuildingsfortraders.Guardhouseswere
establishedoneachgateandthecityhadmultiplewaterstoragetanks.Twosuchtanksstillexist.
AnotherinterestinglegendassociatedwiththiscityisthatKhwajaNizamuddinAuliya(r.a.)wasbuilding
hisbaoliwhenthiscitywascomingup.Sinceallthelabourwasdivertedtothisconstructionsite,Khwaja's
baoliworkstalled.Atthis,Khwajarequestedthelabourtoworkforhiminnight.Whenoneoftheforemen
atTughlaqabadfoundamasonsleepingduringhisdayshift,thisepisodeofnightworkatNizamuddin's

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Baoliwasrevealed.NewsreachedTughlaq'scourtandtheangryemperorbannedthesaleofoilinthetown.
Afterthis,thetownwenttodarknessaslampscouldnotbelit.Noworkwaspossibleduringnightand
entiretownsufferedduetothis'TughlaqiFarmaan'.KhwajaNizamuddingotangryonthisandcursed
Tughlaqabadsayingthatthiscity&fortwillbedesertedandonlynomadswouldlivehere."Yaraheujjar,
yabasegujjar".
AwaterbarragewasconstructednearbyandalakewascreatedoutsidethisFort.Onasmallislandbetween
thislake,TughlaqbuilthisDarulAman(abodeofpeace),whichalsobecametheburialplaceofhimand
fewmembersofhisfamily.ThisDarulAmancanberecognizedastheRedTomboppositethemodern
entrygateofTughlaqabad.ThefortissituatednearBadarpurborderofDelhiFaridabad.

Jahanpanah
SultanMuhammadbinTughlaq,sonandsuccessorofSultanGhiasuddinTughlaqwantedtoconnectthe
existingcitiesofDelhi.Hewasavisionaryemperorandknewthattobecomemoremighty,hemustusethe
existingestablishmentsinsteadofreinventingthewheel.HethereforeconnectedtheexistingwallsofQila
RaiPithora,SiriandTughlaqabad.AportionofthewallofJahanpanahcanstillbeseeninsidetheQilaRai
PithoraCulturalComplexatLadoSarai.FewofthestandingstructresfromthiscityincludetheTombof
HazratKhwajaNizamuddinAuliya(r.a.),SatpulaandtheTombofGhiasuddinTughluqopposite
TughlaqabadFort,whichlaterbecameMuhammadBinTughlaq'sfinalrestingplacetoo.Besidesthese
monuments,wehavetwosmallfortressesfromthisperiod.OnebeingtheAdilabadFort(opposite
Tughlaqabadfort)andtheotherNaiKaKot(behindAdilabad).ThefamoustravellerIbnBatutacameto
thiscityduringhistraveltoIndiaandwasestablishedastheQaziofDelhiwhileTughlaqwasaway.
LaterMuhammadbinTughlaqdecidedtomovethiscitytoDeogiriinSouth,whichherenamedto
Daultabad.Butduetosomereasons,hehadtobringthecapitalbacktoJahanpanah.Duringthistransition,
manyDelhiiteslosttheirlivesandmostofthemwereleftwithnolivelihood.Itissaidthathewasagreat
visionarybutlackedpracticalsense.Verylessofhiscreationsstandtilldatetosupportthisstatementor
viceversa.

Ferozabad
TheNoblesandEmirsofTughlaq'scourtreachedFirozShahafterthedeathofMuhammadBinTughlaq.
FirstFirozShahrefusedsayingthatheisleadingalifeofaDerweshandthereforehasnointerestofinthe
Kingship.Aftermuchpersuasion,FirozShahTughlaqwascrownedon25thMarch1351AD.Withinthree
yearsofhiscoronation,hestartedshapingupthecityofFirozabad.Hemarkedapieceofland8kilometers
northofIndraprastha.Properroadsandcanalsystemwasdesignedtosupportthisnewcity.Around30old
gardensofAlauddin'stimewererenovatedand200newwereestablishedinthevicinityofthisnewcity.
FirozShahTughlaqalsoemployedthesonoftheLegendaryPrimeMinisterofhispredecessor.Thisson,
namedMaqboolJunanShahTilanganiwasgiventhesameofficeofPrimeMinisterashisfatherandwas
madeinchargeofconstruction.FerozShahhadkeeninterestinheritageandantiquities.HerepairedQutb
Minar,HauzKhasandmanyotheroldstructures.Withhissupport,JunanShahTilanganibuiltseven
beautifulmosquesinDelhinamelyKhirkiMasjid,BegumpurMasjid,KaluSaraikiMasjid,KalanMasjid
(TurkmanGate),KalanMasjid(NizamuddinBasti),JamiMasjid(FerozShahKotla)andMasjidWaqya
(ChausathKhambaMasjid).AcitadelwasmadeforTughlaqononeendofthecity.Thiscitadelstillexists
andisknownasFerozShahKotla.ItcontainsthefamousJamiMasjid(largestofthattime),aroundshaped
baoliandapyramidialstructure,onwhichreststheAshokanPillarwhichTughlaqbroughtfromTopranear

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Ambala.TheotherpillarthathebroughtfromMeerutisinKushkiFeroz(HinduRaoHospital).Originally,
thiscitadelhadthreepalaces,pillaredhalls,pigeontowerandbastionsbesidesthemosque,pyramidand
baoli.ItissaidthatwhenTaimur(Tamerlane)invadedDelhi,heofferedprayersinthisJamiMasjidof
FerozShahKotlaandwassoimpressedthathetookmasonsfromIndiatoconstructasimilarmosque
(calledBibiKhanumMosque)forhiminhishomelandSamarkand.Till1813,thehallofaudiencewasin
goodcondition.Healsobuiltmanyhuntinglodgesandmanyofthemarestillwellpreserved.Someofhis
famoushuntinglodgesare:BhooliBhatiyari(Jhandewalan),MalchaMahal(DelhiRidge),KushkMahal
(TeenMurtiHouse)andPirGhaib(HinduRaoHospital).TughlaqalsobuiltthedargahofHazratChirag
Dehlvi(r.a.)andtheQadmSharifinpaharganjarea.TheKalanMasjidofTurkmanGatewasthemain
mosqueforpublicintheFerozabadcity.ItlaterfellintotheboundsofShahjahanabad.Tughlaq,while
revivingtheHauziAlai(HauzKhas)alsobuiltaMadrasaonit'sonecornerandappointedhislearnedchief
MaulanaJalaluddinRumiinit.TheHauzKhasMadrasaandMosquestillexists.Tughlaq'smausoleumis
alsointhatcomplex.

Khizrabad
KhizrKhan,thefounderofSayyidDynastyofDelhicametopowerinMay1414AD.Hebuilthisnewcity
withinthefirst4yearsofhisrule.ThisnewcityofKhizrabadwasestablishedalongRiverYamuna.
Remnantruinsarestillvisiblewhichfixesitsorientationabout3Kms.southeastofHumayun'sTomb.As
BahlolLodi,thegovernorofLahoreforcedthesayyidkingsoutofDelhiin1447,thebeautifulcityof
KhizrabadfelltothemercyofLodhiDynasty.Buttheyaddedalottoitandmadeitevenmorebeautiful.
By1450,theyshiftedtoDelhiandassumedthethroneofficially.Hugetombsandmosqueswere
constructedonbarrenland,wherelaterthevillageofKhairpurcameup.ThisvillagewasremovedbyLady
WillingdonduringtheBritishRuletobuildthefamousLadyWillingdonPark(nowcalledLodhiGarden).
SultanSikanderLodiwentoutofKhizrabadandfoundedthecityofSikandra/Agra.Aftermostofthe
buildingsweredestroyedinSikandra/Agraduringamassiveearthquake,theemperorhadtomovebackto
Delhi.Whenhedied,histombwasbuiltnearthiscityandwhichnowfallswithintheLodhiGarden.An
importantmosqueofthetimeis'MothkiMasjid',whichstillstandsinSouthDelhinearAnsalPlaza.The
nextruler,IbrahimLodicontinuedtorulefromKhizrabadbutwithhisegoandarrogance,mademanyof
hisloyalafghanchiefshismortalenemy.Twosuchchiefs,DaulatKhanandDilawarKhan(father&son)
fromPunjabweresopissedoff,thattheyinvitedBaburtheMughalkingofKabultoinvadeDelhi.Babur
lovedHindostansomuchthathedecidednottogobackandhencetheSultanateperiodendedinHindostan,
thusstartingtheMughalDynasty.

Mubarakabad
ThiswasasmalltownspreadaroundtheareanowknownasKotlaMubarakpur,whichwasahugewalled
tombcomplexofMubarakShahSayyid.Thiscomplexwaspopulatedwithrefugeesduring1947.They
werelaterallowedtosetuphouseswithinthishugecomplexandtodaythecongestedghettoofKotlahas
eatenupalltheoriginalbeautyoftheTombComplex.However,theremainsofBaoliandGatescanstillbe
seen.TheMosqueandTombisrelativelyinabettershape.TherewasawaterstreamrunningfromMothki
MasjidtoMubarakabadfallingintoanotherstream,whichranthroughtheKhairpur(LodiGarden).The
famous'Athpula'bridge,orthe'KhairpurkaPul'wasbuiltonit,whichstillstandsoppositeSikanderLodi's
TombinLodiGarden.

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Dinpanah
SomehistoriansbelievethatBaburdidnotlikeDelhiandhencemovedtoAgraandstartedlivinginthe
palacebuiltbyLodis.ButhissonHumayunpreferredDelhiandmarkedtheareabetweenKhizrabadand
Indraprasthaforhisnewcitytobenamed'Dinpanah'(Abodeofworld).Butbeforehecouldexecutehis
plans,hewasoverthrownbyhisfather'sgeneralSherShahSuri.Suritookoverthelandmarkedfor
DinpanahandbuilthiscitytitledDilliSherShahi.LaterHumayunreturnedandwonbackthislandfrom
Surirulers.Aswritteninhistorictexts,itissaidthatHumayunstartedwithrepairingthe'KauravPandavka
Qila',whichisbelievedtobethepalavethatPandavasbuiltinIndraprastha.Herebuiltthegatesand
repairedrampartsandfortification.HealsorenovatedtheresthousecalledNiliChhatrinearNigambodh
GhatonbanksofYamuna.
Asshershahtookoverthisfort,hestartedcallingitShergarh.HebuilttheShermandal,wherepandavasand
latertomarkingsusedtoworshipsun.HealsobuilttheQilaiKohnamosquenexttoit.ThisShermandal
wasanoctagonalthreestoreyedstructure,fromwherelaterHumayunfellanddiedonstairs.IsaKhan
Niazi'skotlawasbuiltnearthisfortandtheoctagonaltombofIsaKhanNiaziwaserectedinmiddleofit.It
isknowtobetheoldestGardenTombofIndia.ThistombisnowpartoftheHumayun'sTombComplex.
WhileHumayunhadbigplanstomakethisDinpanahabeautifulcity,hisplanswereshatteredbecauseof
hissuddendeathandthedreamofdinpanahwasleftasadream.

DilliSherShahi
SherShahSuri,whodroveHumayunoutofHindostantookoverthismarkedlandofDinpanahand
establishedhisownDilliSherShahi.Shergarh(nowknownasOldFort)becamethecitadelofthiscity.
SherShahwasagreatruler,whoreformedhisempireandalsoestablishedabettercurrencycalled
"Rupaiyya".HealsomadearoadfromKabultoSasram,whichwaslaterextendedtoChittagongconnecting
thecapitalsoffourmoderncountries.Thecitywhichhestarted(andlatercompletedbyhissonIslamShah)
had14.4KmperimeterandwaslocatedbetweenthepresentHumayun'sTombandtheShahjahanabad.The
northgatewascalledKabuliDarwazaandanotheronewascalledLalDarwaza.Boththesegatesstillexist.
Thewestsideofthecitywasalongthebankofatorrentbedforabout1.6Kmsoronemileandwhichused
torunsouthfromAjmeriGateofShahjahanabadandparelleltotheoldcourseofYamuna.TheKhooni
DarwazaoppositeFerozShahKotlawasoneofthegatesofthecity.

Shahjahanabad
AkbarfollowedthefootstepsofhisgrandfatherandpickedAgraashiscapital.Duringthatperiod,Delhi
wasdeclaredaSuba.AkbarlaterplannedthecityofFatehpurSikri.However,manynoblesandfamily
memberswereburiedinDelhiduringthisperiodandtheirtombswerebuiltinvicinityoftheshrinesof
SufisofChistiorder.Forexample,wecanseeTombsofAtagahKhan,AzizKokaltash(chausathkhamba)
andKhaniKhananearKhwajaNizamuddin'sdargahwhileQuliKhan,MahamangaandAdamKhanwere
buriedneartheKhwajaQutb'sDargah.
GrandsonofAkbar,princeKhurramassumedthethronein1627ADunderthetitleofEmperorShahjahan.
HestartedmassiveconstructionprojectsinDelhiandAgra,includingthefamousTajMahal.Projectof
ShahjahanabadSheharwasstartedin1638ADandby1648AD,theroyaldecreewasissuedtoshiftthe
capitalfromAgratoShahjahanabad.ThecityofDelhiregainedherpastgloryduringthenext30yearsof
theruleofShahjahan.QilaiMubarak(RedFort)wasbuiltfortheroyalfamily.Sitechosenforthiscitywas

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nexttotheexistingFortofSalimgarhandcoveringamajorportionofDilliSherShahiandFerozabad.The
newcitywasspreadin1500acresandwaswellfortifiedwithwallorSheharpanah.Sevenlargegates
providedtheentryandexitpoints.ThecitywasplannedinaccordancewithancientIndianVastuShastra
andtheIslamicprinciples.ThesemiellipticalKarmukaorbowplanforsitefrontingtheriverwasselected.
ThebowstringwasnorthsouthroadconnectingAkbarabadi(Delhi)andKashmiriGatesthatincludedFaiz
Bazar(nowAnsariRoadofDaryaganj).ThestreetsrunningsouthtoeastconnectingTurkmanigateand
AjmerigatewithLahorigaterepresentedfirstpartofthecurvedshaftofthebow.Thesecondpartofthe
curvedshaftconsistedofstreetsrunningnortheastandconnectingMoriandLahorigatealongtheouterwall
ofthecity.ChandniChowk,whichstretchedfromtheLahorigateofForttotheLahoriGateofcity.This
chandnichowkwasabeautifulcanalrunninginfrontofthepalaceandwasconvertedtoastreetbythe
Britishlater.Thewallsofcitywerefirstbuiltwithmudmortarandstoneandentirecitywasfinishedwithin
acostof1.5lakhrupees.Butduringthefirstrain,themudwaswashedawayandthecitywallsbecame
weak.Realizinghismistake,Shahjahanrebuiltthewallswithlimemortarandstone,whichtook7yearsto
completeatacostofRs.4lakhs.The8.2mhighand3.7mwiderampartwallsofShahjahanabadstretched
6091minperimeter.27towers,eachof9mheightwerespreadallalongthewalls.Thewalldidnothave
provisionofmountingthecanons.Later,BritishaddedMartellotowersandlargebastionsthatwereusedby
theMutineerstotheiradvantagein1857.GatesandBastionswereaddedovertimeandthewallknownas
Sheharpanahhad14gates.ThesegateswereDelhi,Rajghat,Khidri,Calcutta,Nigambodh,Kelaghat,Lal,
Kashmiri,Badarroo,Kabuli,PatharGhati,Lahori,AjmeriandTurkman.

NewDelhi(Lutyen'sDelhi)
TheBritishstartedbuildinghousesandotherstructuresbeforethemutinyof1857.Prominentbuildingsare
Fraser'shouse(LaterbecameBarahinduRao),Metcalf'sHouse(nowunderMinistryofDefence,Govt.of
India),BankHouse(BhagirathPalace)andotherindividualhouses.AfterexilingBahadurShahZafar,the
lastMughalemperorofIndiatoRangoon,theBritishheldthreeDelhiDurbars(coronationceremonies)to
showtheirmighttothepeopleofIndia.Thethirddurbar,whichwasheldon12thDecember,1911where
KingGeorgeVdeclaredNewDelhitobethenewcapitalofBritishIndia.Thecapitalwastomovefrom
Calcuttaandsettledinanewcity,forwhichthesiteofRaisinawaschosen.Threedayslater,on15th
December1911,theKingandQueenconsortlaidthefoundationofnewcityintheKingswayCamp.An
obliquestillstandstherenearBurarivillagemarkingthesite.Withinoneyear,theStateSecretariatBuilding
wasconstructedinShahjahanabadandwhichisinusetillnow.Itissaidthatonenight,someoneremoved
thefoundationstonefromitsoriginallocationandplaceditatopRaisinaHill.LordHardingepersonally
surveyedtheRaisinaHillsandlikedtheviewofDelhifromthetopofit.Soon,SirEdwinLutyenswas
giventhechargetodesignthisnewcityandhehiredhisbestfriendSirHerberttBakerstoassisthim.This
landwaspartofMansabdarilandofMaharajaofJaipursinceMughaltimes.ApalaceofMaharajaalso
existednearbyalongwiththeastronomyobservatorycalledJantarMantarinadjoiningvillageJaisinghpura.
Thepalace/bunglowofMaharajaJaiSinghwaslaterconvertedintoGurudwaraBanglaSahib(situatednear
ConnoughtPlace).
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