One of the chief historical monuments in Delhi is the ‘Purana Qila’ (old fort). Popularly known as the ‘Dinpanah’ among the Indians, this towering construction was an architectural marvel. Founded by the second Mughal emperor Humayun in the year 1533, it was completed by him almost five years later. The time in between too has a history to tell. It was usurped by Sher Shah Suri in 1540 and was designed by him with several changes in the original fort, while destroying the main design. These, however, were retained by Humayun when he won the fort back from Sher Shah Suri.
Almost rectangular in its periphery, the entire fort stretches covers an area of 2 kilometers. Located in the ancient site of Indraprastha, the Fort is located close to the road that leads to Pragati Maidan in Delhi. The walls of red sandstone display a magnificent picture and reveal the architectural expertise in those days. The fort has three gates-the Humayun darwaza, the Talaqi darwaza and the Bara darwaza. Of all the gates, entry from the Talaqi darwaza was prohibited, for some unknown reason. The two-storied gates to the fort are beautifully embellished and take you back to the royal entourage that began at these gates, giving you a feel of the yonder years.
Things to know
Little do people know that several excavations have been done at this site to prove the fact that it really was the site where the great Mahabharata city of Indraprastha flourished. The result of these expeditions were spell binding when painted grey-ware pottery dating back to 1000 BC were found here. This site is also host to objects that date back to the Gupta and the post-Gupta period.
Do you know the secret behind the contrasting white marble and red sandstone appeal of the Qila-i-kuhna masjid? Initially planned by Sher Shah Suri to be built completely in white marble, the construction was put to a grinding halt due to the lack of availability of marble. The artisans put their skills at work and the master craftsman made a deliberate attempt to contrast the colors well, which is why the mosque today has a distinctiveness of its own.
The prayer hall is huge and has five doorways with horseshoe shape arches. In fact, the concentric arches within the mosque provide an insight into the designing apprentice and skills in art and engineering in those days. Beautifully decorated the arches stand out in the historical ruins of the Purana Qila. The dome adorns the central alcove with beautiful designs. The courtyard was once embellished with a shallow tank and fountain.
One of the most beautiful sites in India, the Pura Qila in New Delhi is not just a historical site in India; it is a site where history rests in its stupendous splendor.
