Delhi
Travel Guide by Vinay Chaubey
Hotels
in New Delhi
One of the most fascinating
aspects of Delhi is the "visibility" of its historic past. Were it not
for the demands of urbanization, large portions of the city could well
be earmarked as archaeological parks. This is because the rulers of successive
dynasties between the 13th and the 17th centuries established seven cities
in different parts of Delhi. A chronological review of these cities fortunately
also serves as a suitable itinerary for tourists and highlights the important
monuments amongst the 1300 officially listed.
| History:
Delhi's history goes much
further back in time than the 13th century. In 1955, excavations at the
Purana Qila revealed that the site was inhabited 3000 years ago. Ware pottery
known as Painted Gray Ware and dated to 1000 BC confirmed this as being
yet another site associated with the epic Mahabharata. The excavations
also cut through houses and streets of the Sultanate, Rajput, post-Gupta,
Gupta, Saka-Kushan and Sunga periods, reaching down to the Mauryan era
(300 BC), thus revealing almost continuous habitaion. The association of
Emperor Ashoka (273-36 BC) with Delhi has come to light with the discovery
of a Minor Rock Edict in the locality known as Srinivaspuri. |
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A clearer picture of the
city emerges from the end of the 10th century, when the Tomar Rajputs established
themselves in the in the Aravalli hills south of Delhi. The isolated, rocky
outcrop facilitated the defence of the royal resort which the Rajputs called
Dhilli or Dhillika. The core of the first of the seven cities was created
by Anangpal Tomar who is said to have built Lal Kot, which is the first
known regular defence work in Delhi. The Chauhan Rajputs later captured
Delhi from the Tomars. Prithviraj III, also known as Rai Pithora, extended
Lal Kot, adding massive ramparts and gates, and made Qila Rai Pithora the
first city of Delhi.
Today, only the ramparts
are visible near the Qutub Minar , though the city is known to have had
several Hindu and Jain temples. Prithviraj was ruling Delhi when Muhammad
of Ghur invaded India, and died fighting the invader at the Second Battle
of Tarain in 1192. Ghur returned, but left as his viceroy, his slave Qutbuddin
Aibak.
In 1206, Qutbuddin crowned
himself as the Sultan of the Slave or Mamluk dynasty, and became the first
Muslim ruler of Delhi. Qutbuddin, had however, commenced his architectural
career even before he chose to become the sultan. The mosque was essential
to the Islamic emphasis on congregational prayer, while the burial of the
dead, as opposed to cremation, introduced the tomb to India.
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The earliest of these Islamic
structures are to be seen in the Qutub complex and the incorporation of
many Hindu elements is due to the ready availability of building material
and the use of local craftsmen. Qutbuddin raised the Quwwat-ul-Islam (might
of Islam) mosque, which is the earliest extant mosque in India. Within
its spacious courtyard he retained the 4th century Iron Pillar, probably
the standard of an ancient Vishnu temple. The pillar has puzzled scientists,
as its iron has not rusted in all these centuries.
In 1199, Qutbuddin raised
the Qutub Minar either as a victory tower or as a minaret to the adjacent
mosque. From a base of 14.32 mtrs it tapers to 2.75 mtrs at a height of
72.5 mtrs. |
It is still the highest
stone tower in India, one of the finest tower Islamic structures ever raised
and Delhi's recognized landmark. It was completed by the Sultan's successor
and son-in-low, Iltutmish. The tomb of Iltutmish, which he himself built
in 1235, is nearby. Its interiors are profusely decorated with calligraphy,
thought the dome has collapsed.
The Khalji rulers displaced
the Slave dynasty in 1290, and when Alauddin Khali ordered renovations
of the mosque in 1311, he also raised the impressive Alai Darwaza, the
southern entrance to the mosque. It is the first example of a building
employing wholly Islamic principles of construction, including the true
arch. In 1303, Alauddin, established the second city of Delhi, called Siri,
of which nothing remains but the embattlements. He also had dug a vast
reservoir, Hauz Khas, to sypply water to his city.
Contemporary historians describe
the Delhi of that time as being the "envy of Baghdad, the rival of Cairo
and the equal of Constantinople". (for the sake of convenience, tourists
visiting the Qutb complex could also see the Tomb of Adham Khan and Zafar
Mahal in Mehrauli, and the Tomb of Jamai-Kamali behind the Qutb Minar.
These, however, belong to a later date.) The Khalhjis were replaced by
the Tughlaq dynasty in 1321. Of its eleven rulers, only the first three
were interested in architecture and each of them established a new city.
Hotels
in New Delhi
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About the Author: Vinay Chaubey
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