History of PRC and Sanyo - Page 30

Purana Quila: With massive walls and three gateways, Purana Qila was the site of ancient Indraprastha. Just beyond the Sher Mahal, is the Qila-i-Kuhran Mosque, or Mosque of Sher Shah.

The legendary Prithviraj Chauhan ruled from here till he was defeated by Abdali in the battle of Panipat. There's a small archaeological museum just inside the main gate where admission is free. Also, there's a new light & sound show every evening.

Ajmer

Distance from: is 884.87 Kms.

Ajmer is situated at South west of Jaipur. Ajmer is an oasis wrapped in the green hills. The city was founded by Raja Ajay Pal Chauhan in the 7th Century A.D. and continued to be a major centre of the Chauhan power till 1193 A.D. When Prithviraj Chauhan lost it to Mohammed Gaure. Since then, Ajmer became home to many dynasties. Today, Ajmer is a popular pilgrimage centre for the Hindus as well as Muslims. Especially famous is the Dargah Sharif-tomb of the Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, which is equally revered by the Hindus and Muslims.



It is a centre of culture and education, the British chose Ajmer for its prestigious Mayo College a school exclusively for Indian nobility. Ajmer is also the base for visiting Pushkar (14 km.), the abode of Lord Brahma, lying to its west with a temple and a picturesque lake. The Pushkar Lake is a sacred spot for Hindus. During the month of Kartik (Oct./Nov.), devotees throng in large numbers here to take a dip in the sacred lake.



Ajmer is a travel delight, bustling with activity and noise, sights and sound, it is a place that's guaranteed to overwhelm the senses of any tourist.

Qutab Minar
It is believed to be tallest tower in the world which incidently is a matter of pride for India. This tower is 73 meter tall. According to a school of thought it was built by Prithvi Raj Chauhan who had it called ' Prithvi Laat ' , i.e. Prithvi Tower. But in AD 1200 when Qutubuddin Aibak successed in establishing Muslim rule in India the transformed Prithvi Tower into victory tower naming Qutab Minar after his name. He had incorporated in it beautiful Afghan architecture. Its first storeys are built with red-sand stone whie next 2 are built in marble.It's fist section was launched by Qutubuddin Aibak & the remaining section was completed after his death by his son-in-law & successor Sultan Altanush in AD 1236. The radius of this tower at its ground level is 14.32 meteres which tapers to 2.75 metres at its top. Beautiful decorations are inscribed with in this tower which surprise the on lookers. Even its situated 15 kms south of Delhi & is visible from afar.

NEEMRANA
Morning: Drive to Neemrana (120 kms/03 hrs) and on arrival check in at Neemrana Fort hotel. Rest of the day free to explore the fort. Overnight in Neemrana

Built since 1464 AD, Neemrana Fort Palace is India's oldest Heritage Resort. Situated at 122 kms on Delhi/Jaipur Highway, sited on a majestic plateau, concealed in a horseshoe formation of the Aravalli ranges, Neemrana became the third capital of descendants of Prithviraj Chauhan III, who was killed in battle by Mohammad Ghor in 1192 AD. The property covers 25 acres and the stepped palaces cut into the hillsides to sprawl over 3 acres and raise to 9 levels.

The eventful history Red Fort has been witness to is brought out as a sound and light show every evening on the ramparts of the Red Fort. For those desirous of delving into Delhi's glorious and tumultuous past, Delhi Tourism puts on a spectacular sound and light show at the Purana Qila bringing 5,000 years old history of the city come alive. Special effects combine with the unique ambience to make this show a hauntingly unforgettable experience. The eternal Jamuna bears witness to the glorious and tumultuous history of Delhi.

It throws light on a history, which begins with the creation of Indraprastha by the Pandavas and the transformation of this barren gift of the Kauravas into an idyllic haven. This show unfolds the history of Delhi. One is transported centuries back in time to witness Draupadi being reduced to a dasi of Hastinapur, the gallant Prithviraj Chauhan gallooping away with Samyogita, Sher Shah Suri being blown to bits by misfired cannon, the legendary Razia Sultan, Humanyun tragically tumbling down the steps of his library, Bahadur Shah Zafar surrendering to the British. This is the story of the city of cities - Delhi; where a great empire rose and fell before the dawn of history; citadels of emperors appeared and disappeared. But, combined and integrated into one, these new cities have always been called Delhi and Delhi has always been intrinsically identified with power and imperial sway.

These and many more such episodes out of Delhi's old saga can be relived during this evocative 62 minutes son et lumiere. Advanced technology has made it possible to add special effects, combining with the unique ambiance to make this show a hauntingly unforgettable experience. Shrouded in antiquity, the lofty walls of the Purana Quila, rise on the sire of the ancient city of Indraprastha. It is believed to be the site of the first city of Delhi. The high-rise walls and imposing entrances to the Quila are credited to emperor Sher Shah Suri. Purana Quila, now the site for the sound and light show, has seen centuries of history unfold before it. The show, inaugurated on 2nd October 1996, is perhaps the biggest of its kind in India. The show each in Hindi and English is held after sunset except on days when it rains. The shows, through skillful use of light and sound, bring to life bygone days of Delhi's history from the Mughal period.

Ranthambore History
In the 13th century A.D. Govinda, the grandson of Prithviraj Chauhan took over the reign of the land. Later his successor Vagabhatta, beautified the city and built a noteworthy temple at Jhain. In the middle of the 15th century A.D. Rana Kumbha captured the fort and gifted it to his son to be occupied later by the Hada Rajputs of Bundi and Mughal Emperors Akbar and Aurangazeb. Mughal Emperor Shah Alam gifted it to Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh I of Jaipur in 1754 and since then it was maintained as the hunting preserve of the Maharaja. Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh were part of the royal hunting who stayed here.

History of Delhi

Having a peak into the history of Delhi would give you an insight to the rich heritage of Indian culture and tradition. It also lets you know the lives and work style of various rulers who ruled Delhi in yester years. As the history books suggest, Delhi has been built and re-built more than 5 times at different sites in and around Delhi but the correct reference is found in the Mahabharatha as the city of Pandavas, also called Indraprastha, some 3000 years ago. The city has a historic importance of its own with every crumbling walls of the city has a story to tell. Delhi has witnessed a rise and fall of major power during 12th century. Until the influx of outsiders, Delhi was home to the Hindu rulers somewhere during the 12th century. Muslim rule in India was established in 12th century after Mohammed Gauri defeated Prithviraj Chauhan.

A Tale of Eight Cities
One of the oldest living cities in the world with Delhi's 20,000 ruins. Delhi is history, and Delhi's monuments are tablets on which the history is written. Every conqueror did his best to possess Delhi and make it his capital. Delhi is not a single city but a combination of eight cities that have been established here from as early as 900 BC to 1930 when the British completed the construction of New Delhi as the capital of imperial India. It is, therefore not surprising that the monuments of Delhi successfully mirror the development of the architectural styles in the country.

The earliest references to Delhi are in Buddhist and Jain scriptures but these sources cannot be precisely dated. In the great Indian epic Mahabharat composed around 900 BC, there is mention of the Indraprastha, a city founded by the Pandavas on the banks of the river Yamuna. The next mention of the city is during the rule of Raja Anangpal who build his fort in the Qutab area. In the 11th century AD, Raja Anangpal of Kanauj a Tomar king established Lal Kot as his capital city in the vicinity of the Qutab Minar. This was the first city of Delhi. Anangpal successors ruled from this fort for almost a century until Visal Deva, a Chauhan Rajput raja from Ajmer conquered Delhi.

Towards the end of the 12th century Mohammed Ghori invaded from Afghanistan, defeated Prithvi Raj, Visal Deva's grandson, and occupied Delhi. He however, returned to Afghanistan soon after leaving his new kingdom in the trusted hands of Alla-ud-din Khilji. The Lal Kot continued to be the capital till 1303 when Khilji defeated the invading Rajputs at Siri and constructed Delhi's second city in the area.

During the Tughlak rule (1320-1412) the third and fourth cities of Delhi were founded. Ghyas-ud-din Tughlak founded Tughlakabad which took four years to build but was deserted soon after due to a scarcity of water. Sultan Mohammad-bin-Tughlak constructed Delhi's fourth city called Jahanpanah close to the Qutab Minar to protect his people living in the open plains from attack by invaders.

Founded by Firoz Shah Tughlaq (1351-88) Delhi's fifth city was named Ferozabad and was located in the vicinity of the present Feroz Shah Kotla.

Constructed in an area said to be the ancient city of Indraprastha, Purana Quila was erected by the Mughal Emperor Humayun between 1533-34 and was forced to flee from Purana Quila by in the invading Afghan warrior Sher Shah Suri (1530 -39). Sher Shah Suri built a beautiful hall and mosque in the fort and ruled from her till 1555 when Humayun returned to power and recaptured the fort.

Shahjahanabad or old Delhi as it is now called was build by Emperor Shah Jahan as Delhi's seventh city between 1638 and 1649. This city comprises of the famous Red Fort, Jama Masjid and contains many fine examples of Mughal architecture.

Delhi eighth city now known as New Delhi was formally inaugurated in 1931. Following the British decision to shift the capital of imperial India from Calcutta to Delhi in 1911, two British architects, Sir Edwin Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker were commissioned by design a city in keeping with the grandeur of India. This new city is today the capital of modern India.