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Seven Cities Of Delhi
Qila Rai Pithora
Although Delhi had been a thriving city for several centuries, the ' first
city ' of Delhi dating to 10th century gets its recognition due to the
availability of recorded historical facts. Qila Rai Pithora was created
by Prithviraj Chauhan, also known as Rai Pithora, the popular hero of
the stories of Hindu resistance against Muslim invaders. Prithvira j's
ancestors captured Delhi from the Tomar Rajputs who have been
credited with founding Delhi. Anangpal, a Tomar ruler possibly created
the first known regular defense - work in Delhi called Lal Kot - which
Prithviraj took over and extended for his city Qila Rai Pithora. The
ruins of the fort &nb sp;ramparts are still partly visible in the area around
Qutab Minar.
Mehrauli
Prithviraj Chauhan was defeated and killed in battle by Mohammed
Ghori in 1192, who left his slave Qutubuddin Aibak as his viceroy in
India. In 1193, Qutubuddin Aibak captured Delhi, which was still in the
hands of the Chauhans. After the death of Mohammed Ghori in 1206,
Qutubuddin enthroned himself as the first sultan of Delhi - Delhi thus
became the capital of Mamluk or the Slave dynasty, the first dynasty of
Muslim sultans to rule over northern India. From the date of its new
captors, Delhi felt the impact of their culture and faith and continued to
do so for the next six and a half centuries. Much of this was in
architecture, as Qutubuddin set about to create Mehrauli, by destroying
Hindu temples and building Islamic structures in their place. One of
these was the tower of victory - the 72.5 m tall Qutab Minar, finally
completed in 1220 AD, which still stands. Around Qutab Minar are
several ruins from the 11th and 12th c,including the mausoleum of Saint
Qutubuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki, Shamsi Talab, a mosque and tombs of
rulers. Qutubuddin's heirs reigned until 1290; Razia Sultan, his grand
daughter who ruled for a mere three years is a historic figure as the first
woman empress of India.
Siri
The 'Slave' dynasty of Qutubuddin was followed by the line of Khilji
rulers . Among the six rulers of the Khilji dynasty, Allauddin Khilji is
the most well - known -who extended his dominion down southern India
too, and created the third city of Delhi, Siri.The Saljuqian influences are
the most remarkable feature in the buildings from this period.This came
about as craftsmen from the Saljuqian dynasty in west Asia reeling
under Mongol invasions took refuge in the Delhi court and contributed
to its architecture. A large reservoir called Hauz Khas was another
accomplishment of city of Siri. A madrasa (college) was also created
here by later rulers. Hauz Khas today is a complex of chic boutiques
against the ruins &nb sp; of an ancient fort while Siri is represented by
stretches of thick stone walls.
Tughlakabad
In the 1320s Ghiasuddin Tughlak , a Turk governor who had his
strong hold in the western provinces invaded Delhi, and won it from
Nasiruddin Mohammed(a Pawar Rajput who had adopted Islam and had
gained kinghood by slaining the last Khilji ruler). Tughlak, known as a
headstrong tyrant, created the third city of Tughlakabad. He created a
fort here (the splendid ruins still remain ) with high battlements and his
descendant Mohammad Tughlak went on to capture much of India.
He also raised a city, Jahanpanah, which largely comprised a walled
enclosure between Qila Rai Pithora and Siri. This is sometimes called
the fourth city of Delhi. Tughlakabad, however, continued to be the main
city. There were eleven rulers from the Tughlak dynasty but only the
first three generations were interested in architecture-raising mosques,
caravansarais, madrasas and laying canals.
Firozabad
One of the Tughlak rulers,Firoze Tughlak created the fourth city of Delhi
, Firozabad or Kotla Firoze Shah next to the river Yamuna. This was a
large enclosure of high walls , containing palaces , pillared halls ,
mosques, a pigeon tower and a water tank. On the top of his palace,
Firoze planted an Ashokan pillar from 1500 years ago. He also built
several hunting lodges in and around Delhi, as well as mosques, some
of which still remain. Apart from raising new buildings, Firoze Shah also
repaired old ones,such as Sultan Ghori's tomb,Qutub Minar,Suraj Kund
and Hauz Khas. ( Firoze Shah's tomb, a lofty structure, lies in Hauz -
Khas. ) After Firoze Shah's death, the sultanate became politically
unstable and in 1398, the Turk ruler of Samarkand Taimur invaded India
- creating havoc in the cities of Delhi, looting, killing and plundering. He
captured Firozabad, prayed at the mosque and went back to Samar -
kand with the goodies.Today, Kotla Firoze Shah is famous for its sports
stadium - a common venue for cricket matches. The Sayyid and Lodhi
dynasties that followed the Tughlak dynasty were far more concerned
with restoring stability than patronisation of arts or architecture. Tombs
erected in the honour of the rulers are the only monuments of these
times (most famous: the tombs at the Lodhi Garden).Architectural glory
returned with the Mughals.
Shergarh
What is known as the Purana Qila today,was the creation of Sher Shah
when he wrested Delhi from Humayun in 1540,the second Mughal king.
It was originally being built by Humayun as his capital Dinpanah. Sher
Shah razed Dinpanah to the ground and started building his own capital
introducing ornate elements in architecture. Delhi was won back by
Humayun not very many years later in 1555 and he completed parts of
the Purana Qila left unfinished by Sher Shah.The ruins of Humayun
and Sher Shah's creations are today a big tourist attraction - a sound
and light show is held here in the evenings and the well-laid parks are a
delight to walk on.
Shahjehanabad
Humayun's son Akbar is known as one of the greatest Mughal
emperors . However, he concentrated his construction feats in Agra and
the later abandoned city Fatehpur Sikri. It was his grandson Shahjehan,
the man who gave the Taj Mahal to the world, who created the city
of Shahjehanabad, the seventh city of Delhi - in the area that is now
known as Old Delhi. The Jama Masjid and the Red Fort are two
excellent examples of the architectural splendour of the 17th c. The
intricate lanes of the 'walled city', its bazaars and way of living seem
to exist in a time warp. Indeed, the remains of Shahjehanabad are a
must-do for tourists.
Qila Rai Pithora
Although Delhi had been a thriving city for several centuries, the ' first
city ' of Delhi dating to 10th century gets its recognition due to the
availability of recorded historical facts. Qila Rai Pithora was created
by Prithviraj Chauhan, also known as Rai Pithora, the popular hero of
the stories of Hindu resistance against Muslim invaders. Prithvira j's
ancestors captured Delhi from the Tomar Rajputs who have been
credited with founding Delhi. Anangpal, a Tomar ruler possibly created
the first known regular defense - work in Delhi called Lal Kot - which
Prithviraj took over and extended for his city Qila Rai Pithora. The
ruins of the fort &nb sp;ramparts are still partly visible in the area around
Qutab Minar.
Mehrauli
Prithviraj Chauhan was defeated and killed in battle by Mohammed
Ghori in 1192, who left his slave Qutubuddin Aibak as his viceroy in
India. In 1193, Qutubuddin Aibak captured Delhi, which was still in the
hands of the Chauhans. After the death of Mohammed Ghori in 1206,
Qutubuddin enthroned himself as the first sultan of Delhi - Delhi thus
became the capital of Mamluk or the Slave dynasty, the first dynasty of
Muslim sultans to rule over northern India. From the date of its new
captors, Delhi felt the impact of their culture and faith and continued to
do so for the next six and a half centuries. Much of this was in
architecture, as Qutubuddin set about to create Mehrauli, by destroying
Hindu temples and building Islamic structures in their place. One of
these was the tower of victory - the 72.5 m tall Qutab Minar, finally
completed in 1220 AD, which still stands. Around Qutab Minar are
several ruins from the 11th and 12th c,including the mausoleum of Saint
Qutubuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki, Shamsi Talab, a mosque and tombs of
rulers. Qutubuddin's heirs reigned until 1290; Razia Sultan, his grand
daughter who ruled for a mere three years is a historic figure as the first
woman empress of India.
Siri
The 'Slave' dynasty of Qutubuddin was followed by the line of Khilji
rulers . Among the six rulers of the Khilji dynasty, Allauddin Khilji is
the most well - known -who extended his dominion down southern India
too, and created the third city of Delhi, Siri.The Saljuqian influences are
the most remarkable feature in the buildings from this period.This came
about as craftsmen from the Saljuqian dynasty in west Asia reeling
under Mongol invasions took refuge in the Delhi court and contributed
to its architecture. A large reservoir called Hauz Khas was another
accomplishment of city of Siri. A madrasa (college) was also created
here by later rulers. Hauz Khas today is a complex of chic boutiques
against the ruins &nb sp; of an ancient fort while Siri is represented by
stretches of thick stone walls.
Tughlakabad
In the 1320s Ghiasuddin Tughlak , a Turk governor who had his
strong hold in the western provinces invaded Delhi, and won it from
Nasiruddin Mohammed(a Pawar Rajput who had adopted Islam and had
gained kinghood by slaining the last Khilji ruler). Tughlak, known as a
headstrong tyrant, created the third city of Tughlakabad. He created a
fort here (the splendid ruins still remain ) with high battlements and his
descendant Mohammad Tughlak went on to capture much of India.
He also raised a city, Jahanpanah, which largely comprised a walled
enclosure between Qila Rai Pithora and Siri. This is sometimes called
the fourth city of Delhi. Tughlakabad, however, continued to be the main
city. There were eleven rulers from the Tughlak dynasty but only the
first three generations were interested in architecture-raising mosques,
caravansarais, madrasas and laying canals.
Firozabad
One of the Tughlak rulers,Firoze Tughlak created the fourth city of Delhi
, Firozabad or Kotla Firoze Shah next to the river Yamuna. This was a
large enclosure of high walls , containing palaces , pillared halls ,
mosques, a pigeon tower and a water tank. On the top of his palace,
Firoze planted an Ashokan pillar from 1500 years ago. He also built
several hunting lodges in and around Delhi, as well as mosques, some
of which still remain. Apart from raising new buildings, Firoze Shah also
repaired old ones,such as Sultan Ghori's tomb,Qutub Minar,Suraj Kund
and Hauz Khas. ( Firoze Shah's tomb, a lofty structure, lies in Hauz -
Khas. ) After Firoze Shah's death, the sultanate became politically
unstable and in 1398, the Turk ruler of Samarkand Taimur invaded India
- creating havoc in the cities of Delhi, looting, killing and plundering. He
captured Firozabad, prayed at the mosque and went back to Samar -
kand with the goodies.Today, Kotla Firoze Shah is famous for its sports
stadium - a common venue for cricket matches. The Sayyid and Lodhi
dynasties that followed the Tughlak dynasty were far more concerned
with restoring stability than patronisation of arts or architecture. Tombs
erected in the honour of the rulers are the only monuments of these
times (most famous: the tombs at the Lodhi Garden).Architectural glory
returned with the Mughals.
Shergarh
What is known as the Purana Qila today,was the creation of Sher Shah
when he wrested Delhi from Humayun in 1540,the second Mughal king.
It was originally being built by Humayun as his capital Dinpanah. Sher
Shah razed Dinpanah to the ground and started building his own capital
introducing ornate elements in architecture. Delhi was won back by
Humayun not very many years later in 1555 and he completed parts of
the Purana Qila left unfinished by Sher Shah.The ruins of Humayun
and Sher Shah's creations are today a big tourist attraction - a sound
and light show is held here in the evenings and the well-laid parks are a
delight to walk on.
Shahjehanabad
Humayun's son Akbar is known as one of the greatest Mughal
emperors . However, he concentrated his construction feats in Agra and
the later abandoned city Fatehpur Sikri. It was his grandson Shahjehan,
the man who gave the Taj Mahal to the world, who created the city
of Shahjehanabad, the seventh city of Delhi - in the area that is now
known as Old Delhi. The Jama Masjid and the Red Fort are two
excellent examples of the architectural splendour of the 17th c. The
intricate lanes of the 'walled city', its bazaars and way of living seem
to exist in a time warp. Indeed, the remains of Shahjehanabad are a
must-do for tourists.
Pati Patni Aur Panga
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
