Delhi Travel Guide
by Vinay Chaubey
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.
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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.
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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.
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About
the Author: Vinay Chaubey SEO Manager For more details on Places of
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