| |
GENERAL
INFORMATION
Area
|
1,483
sq.kms. |
|
Altitude |
216
metres |
|
Climate |
Mean Max |
Mean Min |
|
Summer |
45.0oC |
35.0oC |
|
Winter |
20.0oC |
5.0oC |
|
Best
Season |
October
to March |
|
Languages |
Hindi,
Urdu, Punjabi, English |
Delhi the third largest city, the
busiest entrance and exit point, the most convenient starting point
for the tourists in country, is the heart of India and the seat of
Government. It is also the center of culture, a city of yesterday,
today and tomorrow. Its chequered history goes back to the legendary
past. Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai were merely trading towns of mud
flats five centuries ago, but Delhi could boast to be the royal
capital since long.
The river Yamuna, identified with Tami, the twin sister of Yama, the
death god, which flows by has been a silent witness to the rise and
fall of many dynasties and empires here. The river at this point has
to travel a long distance before it joins the Ganges at Allahabad.
The present Delhi is actually made up of three cities-the Mughal
Shahjahanbad, the British built New Delhi, and the modern
post-British spacious and sprawling Delhi. History tells us that
more than eight cites have been built on this site, not layer upon
layer but on adjoining sites. Its history, more than a millennium
old, is recorded in its ruins, monuments and stones scattered all
over the city. Not many cities in India, and also in the world can
compare with Delhi in Historical legacy, cultural heritage and
political significance.
ANCIENT
DELHI
Traditionally Delhi’s history is traced back to the Mahabharata, an
epic war fought nearly 5,000 years ago, between the Kauravas and the
Pandavas, the two sons of Dhritrashtra and Pandu, descendents of
Bharata. The Pandava capital Indraprastha was built on the ruins of
Khandavaprastha, the earliest and the original Delhi, from where
Pururavas, Nahusha and Yayati, the ancestors of the Pandavas and the
Kauravas ruled the kingdom for centuries. Thus Khandavaprastha can
be said the original Delhi. The Pandavas rebuilt and renamed it as
Indraprastha. It was situated near the present day Purana Qila.
Archaeologically it was the Hindu Tomar King Anangpal, who first
founded Delhi in 1060, and was known as Lal Kot.
THE
MEDIEVAL DELHI
A new era dawned with the capture of Delhi by Qutb-ud-Din Aibak, a
slave-turned Sultan. Aibak occupied the Qila, completed the mosque
Quwwat-ul-Islam in 1198, and then laid the foundations of Qutab
Minar in the following year.
With the coming of Feroz Shah, a Turk of Khilji Tribe, on the throne
of Delhi, the rule of Khilji dynasty began. The third Khilji king
Alauuddin succeded the throne in 1296. He is well-known both for his
political conquests and architectural ambition. He founded the
second city of Delhi called Siri in 1303. Some ruins of the city
Siri have survived the devastations of all consuming time, and can
be found near the present day Hauz Khas.
THE MUGHAL DELHI
In 1526 Babar the Mughal, defeated the Lodis at Panipat, and became
the king of Delhi, but died soon after in 1530, without
consolidating his kingdom. His son Humayun succeeded him and founded
another Delhi and baptized it as Dinpanah. It was near the present
day India Gate and the National Stadium at the site of Purana Qila.
In 1540 Sher Shah Suri, an Afghan ruler and adventurer captured
Dinpanah and forced Humayun to flee from India, however, he regained
Delhi in 1555 by defeating Sher Shah’s weak successor.
Humayun was succeeded, after his death, by his child son Akbar, who
chose Agra as the seat of his government. His son Jahangir’s son
Shah Jahan continued to rule from Agra for 11 years but then he felt
Agra to be too hot and stifling and decided for Delhi in 1639.
Ironically enough, Sikander Lodi had shifted to Agra from Delhi, as
he found Delhi oppressive and hot.
THE IMPERIAL
DELHI
The popular uprising and upheaval of 1857 has erroneously been
called a mutiny. As a matter of fact, it was not confined to the
ranks of army. It was a national movement for freedom, the first of
its kind in India, The revolt of 1857 made the British realize the
strategic importance of Delhi. The rebelling Indians declared the
last Mughal king, Bahadur Shah Zafar, as their leader. But before
long the rebellion was totally crushed and Bahadur Shah was exiled
to Rangoon, in Burma and his sons butchered.
Finally, in 1911 the British shifted their capital to Delhi from
Kolkata. The same year the foundation stones of New Delhi were laid
by King George V to the north of Old Delhi, the eighth city. But it
was found to be a bad site, and the stones were exhumed and brought
to the new place. The Chief British architect Sir Edwin Landseer
Lutyens and the Viceroy Lord Hardinge, finally compromised between
European Renaissance and Oriental styles and a grandiose capital was
built. It was inaugurated in 1931, but by that time the sun of
British rule in India was about to set. Just 16 years after this
inauguration, India got independence, and the new capital city was
handed over to the Indian representatives.
THE RED FORT
The Red Fort or Lal Qila, an emperor’s dream realized in red
sandstone, as stated earlier was completed in nine years in 1648.
Its octagonal ramparts are 60 feet high and 1.5 miles or 2.41
kilometres around. It is a typical Indian fort symbolizing the
Mughal power and splendour. It has two imposing gateways-Lahori Gate
on the western side facing towards Lahore, and Delhi Gate on the
eastern side. The main entrance is through Lahori Gate. In
Shahjahan’s time this citadel was called Urdu-i-Mualla, but later on
it came to be called Qilla-i-Mualla or the Fort of Exalted Dignity.
The Qila was very well-planned and was then executed with almost
perfection. It has a complex of palaces amidst well laid out gardens
and boulevards, halls of private and public audience, prayer rooms,
royal baths, fountains, stables, music gallery, quarters for staff
and servants and a shopping arcade.
DIWAN-I-AM (HALL OF PUBLIC AUDIENCE)
This the chamber where the emperor would hold his court and hear
public complaints. The hall open to three sides, has a big marble
paneled niche where the emperor would sit on his throne. The royal
alcove was once inlaid with precious stones, and the hall was
ornamented with gilded stucoo. The precious stones of the royal
recess were looted by the British soldiers following the
unsuccessful first War of Independence of 1857.
DIWAN-I-KHAS (HALL OF PRIVATE AUDIENCE)
This was the most luxurious of chambers, where the emperor gave
private and personal audience to the favoured ones. On the marble
pedestal in the centre of the hall, once stood the famous Peacock
Throne, said to be worth 12 million pounds sterling at that time.
The Peacock throne of solid gold, was inlaid with many precious
stones, had figures of peacocks standing behind it. Between them
stood a parrot of single emerald. In 1793 Nadir Shah seized the
Peacock Throne along with nine other thrones and carted these off to
Iran. The total value of the treasure, from the royal sources alone,
was then estimated to be Rs. 70 crores. Nadir Shah also took away
the famous Koh-I-Noor diamond. On the walls of this chamber, a
Persian couplet is inscribed that reads:If on earth be paradise, It is this! It is this! It is this!
THE MOTI MASJID (PEARL MOSQUE)
This was got constructed by Aurangzeb in 1659 for his personal
prayer and the use of royal ladies. It is made of white marble. Then
there are the Rang Mahal or the Palace of Colours, the Khas Mahal
and Royal Hamams (baths). The Rang Mahal has a marble basin in form
of a big and beautiful lotus through which flows a water channel.
The Khas Mahal contains the king’s retiring, prayer and living
rooms.
SHAH BURJ (ROYAL TOWER)
This is place from where the channel of water ran through the palace
complex. The Mumtaz Mahal now contains a small archaeological
museum. The Delhi Gate, south of the complex, leads to the Jama
Masjid.
SON-ET-LUMIERE (SOUND AND LIGHT SPECTACLE)
This is used each evening to re-enact the history of the Red Fort.
It is alternately in Hindi and English. The show is thrilling and
exact in telescoping the past centuries of its history.
JAMA MASJID
This great mosque, the largest in India, lying opposite the Red
Fort, was built by Shah Jahan between 1650 and 1656, as a part of
his new city Shahjahanabad. Five thousand workmen are said to have
laboured for six years to construct it, and it cost 10 lakhs of
rupees then. The pulpit here has been carved out of a single block
of marble. The prayer hall with its three great domes of white
marble with strips of in-laid black marble, and surmounted by golden
spires is superb. Its sandstone with vertical white marble strips
rise to height of 130 feet. One hundred and thirty spiral steps lead
to the top. In one corner of the hall is installed the footprints of
Prophet Hazrat Muhammad. The mosque can accommodate a congregation
of 20,000 men. Its three gates are reached by flights of steps.
FEROZ SHAH KOTLA
Feroz Shah Tughlak had shifted his capital here and built a new city
called Ferozabad in 1354. Once it stood on the banks of the river
Yamuna. The ruins of the city have a mosque and an Ashokan Pillar of
3rd century B.C. standing on the top of three storeyed
structure. It bears an inscription in Brahmi script.
KHOONI DARWAZA
Just west of Ferozshah Kotla ruins, in front of the Maulana Azad
Medical College, stands the Khooni Darwaza or the Bloody Gate.
Originally it was an entrance Gate to Old Delhi. During Jahangir’s
reign the sons of Abdul Rahim Khan-i-Khana were beheaded here. Here
again, the head of Dara Shikoh, after his defeat in war of
succession, was chopped off. Again in 1857 the three sons of Bahadur
Shah Zafar were shot dead here by Captain Hudson.
RAJ GHAT AND
SHANTIVAN
North-east to Ferozshah Kotla, on the banks of the river Yamuna lies
Raj Ghat, a simple square platform of black marble, the place where
Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation, popularly known as Bapu,
was cremated on January 31, 1948 following his assassination. The
Samadhi is set amidst sprawling lawns. Adjacent to Raj Ghat is
Shanti Van or the Grove of Peace, a secluded and wooded place, where
Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India was
cremated his daughter and the third Indian Prime Minister Mrs.
Indira Gandhi. The site of her Samadhi is known as Shakti-sthal or
the Place of Power. This whole area is a beautiful green stretch
full of trees, flowering plants and shrubs.
PURANA QILA
On Mathura Road, about 3 kilometres south of Ferozshah Kotla and
just south-east of India Gate, is Purana Qila. This spectacular
monument built on a small hill with massive stonewalls and imposing
gateways, was built by Sher Shah Suri, the Afghan ruler and
adventurer during 1540-44. Traditionally it is supposed to be the
site of ancient Khandavaprastha and Indraprastha, the original
cities of Delhi. Inside the Qila is the Sher Manzil and a mosque.
This Manzil was later used by Humayun as his kutubkhana or library.
Humayun died here following a fall and injuries in 1556, after he
had once again captured Delhi from Sher Shah’s weak successor.
HUMAYUN’s TOMB
Not far from Purana Qila, on Mathura Road, near Nizamuddin Aulia’s
Dargah, is a grand mausoleum, a grand example of Mughal architecture
built in 1574 by Humayun’s widow Begum. Humayun lies buried here. It
marks the beginning of e new architectural era of Mughal
master-pieces in Agra and Delhi. This tomb is a fine example of the
synthesis of Indian and Persian architectural styles. It lies in the
midst of extensive gardens on a huge terrace, and is a forerunner of
the Taj Mahal. Its octagonal base is crowned with a double dome.
Built in red sandstone and white and black marble, with high arches,
it has been a burial ground for many nobles of the Mughal dynasty.
The last king of Delhi Bahadur Shah Zafar was captured here in 1857
by the British troops. Mirak Mirza Ghiyath, a Persian architect, was
its builder.
DARGAH NIZAMUDDIN
AULIA
Opposite the mausoleum lies the shrine of Nizamuddin Chisti, a
fourth in the line of Chisti saints. It is a place of Muslim
pilgrimage. The original shrine built by Alauddin Khilji, has been
added to by many royal personages and devotees since the death of
the saint in 1325. The place has been a cherished burial ground for
the Muslim nobility. There are many royal graves and tombs including
those of Amir Khusro and Mirza Ghalib, the great poets and that of
Begum Jahanara, daughter of Shahjahan. During the Urs festival,
celebrated twice each year to mark the death anniversaries of saint
Nizamuddin and Amir Khusro, pilgrims from all over the Muslim world
congregate here.
PRAGATI MAIDAN
Adjoining Purana Qila is the Pragati Maidan, a vast exhibition
complex, where International Trade Fairs and National Exhibitions
are held every year. Its auditoria, cinema halls, shopping arcades,
Appu Ghar, snack bars and skating rink make it a very popular
leisure time resort for individuals and groups.
SAFDARJUNG TOMB
Beside the Safdarjung airport on Sri Aurobindo Marg opposite to Jor
Bagh, is the Safdarjung Tomb. This huge mausoleum was built by
Shuja-ud-daula, the Subedar of Oudh in 1753-54 on the pattern of
Humayun’s Tomb, as a tribute to his father Safdarjung. It has been
rightly called as “the last flicker of the lamp of Mughal
architecture in Delhi”. The mausoleum stands on a high structure in
a sprawling garden. The marble and red sandstone for the mausoleum
were removed from the tomb of Abdur-Rahim Khan-i-Khana, the famous
Hindi poet and courtier of Akbar’s time.
THE QUTAB MINAR
The same road, that is, Sri Aurobindo Marg, leads on to Qutab Minar
complex, a fine example of early Muslim architecture. The Qutab
Minar complex, the tallest freestanding stone tower of victory in
the world, is 234 feet high. Qutb-ud-din Aibak the first Slave
Sultan, laid its foundation in 1199 and got only the first storey
built and died. It was completed by his successor Iltutmish. It is
made of red sandstone and marble. Its five storeys have projecting
balconies. It was originally attached to the QUWWAT-UL-ISLAM (The
Might of Islam) Mosque for the use of the muezzin to call the
faithful to prayer. The muezzin had to climb 376 steps every time.
This mosque, at the foot of the tower, is the earliest extant mosque
in India. Aibak began building it in 1192 and completed in 1198 by
using the stones of the Hindu and Jain temples demolished there. The
famous ALAI DARWAZA was added to in 1300 by Ala-ud-din.
By the side of Qutab stands another unfurnished and uncouth
structure, 87 feet high ALAI MINAR. It is said that this structure
would have been double the height of Qutab Minar, but its builder
Ala-ud-din died and it was left incomplete. In the courtyard of this
mosque stands a wonderful solid iron shafflt, 24 feet high. It has
been standing rust-free for more than 15 centuries in rains, winds
and the sun. The Pillar’s Brahmi inscription tells us that it was
erected by the Hindu King Chandra to commemorate his victories over
enemy hordes of Vahliks. Some people erroneously ascribe it to the
Tomar King Anangpal. Perhaps it was brought by Anangpal here.
There are a number of other places of tourists interest around the
Qutab complex. They include the tomb of Balban and Adam Khan,
Jogmaya Temple, a terraced garden, and the Jahaz Mahal in Samshi
Talab, dating back to Lodi times.
HAUZ KHAS
Midway between Safdarjung Tomb and the Qutab Minar, on Sri Aurobindo
Marg is Hauz Khas, named after a reservoir built in 1305 by
Allauddin Khilji for the use of his subjects. The second city of
Delhi, Siri was built here. The tomb of Feroz Shah Tughlak is
situated here.
MOTH-KI-MASJID
South of the Safdarjung Tomb, near All India Institute of Medical
Sciences lies this mosque, the finest example of Lodi architecture,
built by a minister of Sikandar Lodi in 1480-1517.
LODI TOMBS
Lodi Tombs amidst extensive lush green parks and gardens is a
delightful place. It is situated on Lodi Road, which connects the
Safdarjung Tomb with Humayan’s Tomb. These gardens were laid by the
Sayyids and Lodis. The tombs of Muhammad Shah and Sikander Lodi lie
here.
INDIA GATE
At the eastern end of Rajpath, near National Stadium, stands a great
modern monument called India Gate, a 42 metre high stone arch. It
has the names of 90,000 Indian Soldiers inscribed, who died in the
First World War. Below in the center of the arch way burns the Amar
Jawan Jyoti, in the memory of unknown Indian soldiers, who died in
various battles.
RASHTRAPATI
BHAWAN
Opposite the India Gate, at the other end of the Raj Path, stands
the magnificent Residence of the President of India on Raisina Hill.
The palace-like spacious building was designed by Edward Lutyens and
Herbert Baker in 1929.
PARLIAMENT HOUSE
Parliament House or the Sansad Bhawan stands nearby. It’s a circular
colonnaded edifice, which was completed in 1927. Rajya Sabha (the
Upper House) and Lok Sabha (the House of the People) sit here.
JANTAR MANTAR
This elaborate observatory was built in 1725 by the Maharaja Sawai
Jai Singh of Jaipur, a noted scholar of mathematics and astronomy
himself. It stands near Connaught Place, on Sansad Marg or
Parliament Street, which originates from the Parliament House and
goes straight to Ajmeri Gate through the center of Connaught Place.
The huge structures and various yantras of the observatory are a
sure sign of its builder’s great astronomical achievements in those
days.
LAKSHMI NARAIN
TEMPLE
It is a modern Hindu temple constructed by the Birlas in 1938. The
temple houses the life size images of Narain and his consort Lakshmi,
the goddess of wealth. There are images of other gods and goddesses
as well. It is situated west of Connaught Place on Mandir Marg.
SHOPPING CENTRES
Delhi is a
shopping paradise. The most famous bazaars, shopping arcades,
emporia and bargain centers, brass and copper ware, jems and
jewellery, brocades and silk, leather goods, carpets, blue pottery,
antiques, block printed textiles, perfumes, paintings, sandalwood
carvings, etc., include Connaught Place, Palika Bazaar, Janpath,
Central Cottage Industries Emporium, State Emporia Complex on Baba
Kharak Singh Marg, Chandni Chowk, Dariba Kala, Kinari Bazaar, Ajmal
Khan Market and Sunder Nagar Market
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