Purana Qila, Delhi

Coordinates: 28°36′36″N 77°14′42″E / 28.610°N 77.245°E / 28.610; 77.245

Purana Qila ramparts, and lake outside it, Delhi

Purana Qila (Hindi: पुराना क़िला, Urdu: پُرانا قلعہ, translation: Old Fort), is the inner citadel of the city of Dina-panah, founded by the second Mughal Emperor, Humayun in 1533 and completed five years later.^[1] Purana Qila and its environs flourished as the sixth city of Delhi.

Sher Shah Suri defeated Humayun in 1540, and renamed the fort as Shergarh, and also added several more structures in the complex, during his reign that lasted for the next five years until his death in 1545.

Subsequently Islam Shah took over the reins of North India from this fort, but later shifted his capital to Gwalior, as it was supposed to be a safer capital in that period. After Islam Shah's death in 1553, Adil Shah took the charge of North India, and this fort remained neglected. Adil Shah shifted his capital to further east to Chunar in present day Uttar Pradesh. Humayun, who was based in Kabul got an opportunity to re-capture the citadel and the seat of Delhi in 1555, fifteen year after he had to leave it, though his reign didn't last long, he died only a year later in Jan. 1556, due to a tragic accident, within the fort complex at Sher Mandal.^[2]

Hearing about re-capture of Delhi by Humanyun, Hemu, the Hindu Prime Minister - cum - Chief of Army of Adil Shah Suri rushed towards Delhi from Bengal, where he had just quelled a rebellion, defeating and killing Muhhamad Shah, the ruler of Bengal. After capturing Agra, Itawah, Kanpur easily, the battle for Delhi took place in Tuglaqabad area on 6th Oct. 1556, and Hemu, who had won 22 battles spanning entire north India, defeated the forces of Akbar which were led by Tardi Beg Khan. Hemu had his 'Rajyabhishake' or Coronation at Purana Quila on 7th Oct. 1556, declared 'Hindu Raj' in North India, and was bestowed the title of Samrat Hem Chandra Vikramaditya. Hemu, who was slain and killed at the Second battle of Panipat in Nov. 1556 had his torso hung outside this fort to create terror among Hindus.

The walls of the Fort rise to a height of 18 metres, and run on for about 1.5 km, and has three arched gateways, the Bara Darwaza (Big Gate) facing West, which is still used today, the south gate, the 'Humayun Gate' probably called so because it was constructed by Humayun or that Humayun's Tomb is visible from there, and lastly, the 'Talaqi Gate' or forbidden gate. All the gates are double-storeyed sandstone structures flanked by two huge semi-circular bastion towers, and decorated with white and coloured-marble inlays and blue tiles, and replete with detailing, like ornate overhanging balconies, jharokhas, pillared pavilions chhatris on top, reminiscent of Rajasthani architecture as seen in the North and South Gates, and which were amply seen in future Mughal architecture. Despite the grandeurs of the exterior, few of interior structures have survived except the Qila-i Kuhna Mosque and the Shermandal, both credited to Sher Shah.^[3]

Today, it is also the venue of daily sound and light shows after sunset, entailing history of seven cities of Delhi, from Indraprastha to New Delhi.^[4]

Indraprastha

Humayun Gate (Southern Ramparts) from inside, Purana Qila, Delhi

Delhi is thought to be located at the site of the legendary city of Indraprastha founded by the Pandavas from Mahabharata period, which is consequently considered the 'First City of Delhi',^[5] In support of this, until 1913, a village called Indrapat existed within the fort walls,.^[6]

Excavations

Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) carried out excavations at Purana Qila in 1954-55 and again from 1969 to 1973 by B. B. Lal, and its findings and artefacts are exhibited at the Archaeological Museum, Purana Qila. This includes Painted Grey Ware, dating 1000 BC, and various objects and pottery signifying continuous habitation from Mauryan to Sunga, Kushana, Gupta, Rajput, Delhi Sultanate and Mughal periods.^[7][8]

History

Purana Qila ramparts

Lal Darwaza or Sher Shah Suri Gate, now stands opposite Purana Qila.

Purana Qila, situated on the banks of Yamuna, was constructed by the Mughal emperor Humayun. It is where Humayun's capital Din Panah was located. Later it was renovated and named Shergarh by first Afghan emperor of India, Sher Shah Suri. Samrat Hem Chandra Vikramaditya, often referred to as the last Hindu emperor of India, had his coronation in this fort after defeating Akbar's forces in Delhi on 7 October 1556. Fort was supposed to be unlucky for rulers, who operated from here. Humanyun, Sher Shah Suri and Hindu king "Hem Chandra Vikramaditya" also called (Hemu) had short tenures of their rule. Akbar did not rule from here and Shahjahan built a new fort in Delhi known as 'Lal Quila' or Red Fort.

When Edwin Lutyens designed the new capital of British India, New Delhi in 1920s, he aligned the central vista, now Rajpath, with Purana Qila.^[9] During the Partition of India, in August 1947 the Purana Qila along with the neighbouring Humayun's Tomb, became the site for refuge camps for Muslims migrating to newly founded Pakistan. This included over 12,000 government employees who had opted for service in Pakistan, and between 150,000-200,000 Muslim refugees,^[10] who swarmed inside Purana Qila by September 1947, when Indian government took over the management of the two camps. The Purana Qila camp remained functional till early 1948, as the trains to Pakistan waited till October 1947 to start.^[11]

In the 1970s the Purana Qila ramparts was first used as a backdrop for theatre, when three productions of National School of Drama were stage here, Tughlaq, Andha Yug and Sultan Razia, directed by Ebrahim Alkazi. In the coming decades it has been the venue of various important theatre productions, cultural events and concerts.^[12] Today, it is the venue of a daily sound and light shows after sunset, about history of seven cities of Delhi, from Indraprastha and right up to setting up of New Delhi.

Qila-i-Kuhna Mosque

Qila Kuhna Masjid inside Purana Qila, Delhi.

The single-domed Qila-i-Kuna Mosque, built by Sher Shah in 1541 is an excellent example of a pre-Mughal design, and an early example of the extensive use of the pointed arch in the region as seen in its five doorways with the 'true' horseshoe-shaped arches. It was designed as a Jami Mosque, or Friday mosque for the Sultan and his courtiers. The prayer hall inside, the single-aisled mosque, measures 51.20m by 14.90m and has five elegant arched prayer niches or mihrabs set in its western wall. Marble in shades of red, white and slate is used for the calligraphic inscriptions on the central iwan, marks a transition from Lodhi to Mughal architecture. At one time, the courtyard had a shallow tank, with a fountain.

A second storey, accessed through staircases from the prayer hall, with a narrow passage running along the rectangular hall, provided space for female courtiers to pray, while the arched doorway on the left wall, framed by ornate jharokas, was reserved for members of the royal family.^[13] On a marble slab within mosque an inscription thus read, "As long as there are people on the earth, may this edifice be frequented and people be happy and cheerful in it".^[6] Today it is the best preserved building the Purana Qila.^[14][15]

Sher Mandal

Sher Mandal built by Sher Shah Suri, Purana Qila.

The Sher Mandal stands to the south of the mosque. This double-storeyed octagonal tower of red sandstone with steep stairs leading up to the roof. The structure was intended to be higher than its existing height but the work was stopped due to the untimely death of Sher Shah. It was built by Sher Shah and was used as a personal observatory and library by Humayun after he recaptured the fort. It is also one of the first observatories of Delhi. The first being in Pir Gharib at Hindu Rao at Ridge built in 14th century by Firoz shah Tughlaq.The tower is topped by an octagonal chhatri supported by eight pillars and decorated with white marble. Inside there are remnants of the decorative plaster-work and traces of stone-shelving where, presumably, the emperor's books were placed. This was also the tragic spot where, on 24 January 1556 Humayun fell from the second floor to his death. He slipped while hasting to the evening prayers, following his hobby of astronomical star gazing at the top of this private observatory. He fell headlong down the stairs and died of his injuries two days later.

Outlying monuments

Several other monument also lie around the complex, like Kairul Manzil, mosque built by Maham Anga, Akbar's foster-mother, and which was later used as a madarsa. Sher Shah Suri Gate or Lal Darwaza, which was the South Gate to Shergarh, the city he founded, also lies opposite the Purana Qila complex, across Mathura Road, south-east of the Kairul Manzil.

Gallery

• 

  West Gate, 'Bara Darwaza', present main Entrance, with its bastion

• 

  Lake outside Purana Qila

• 

  Qila-i-Kuhna Mosque 'Peshtak' (Entrance Arch)

• 

  Qila-i-Kuhna back of mosque

• 

  North Gate, or Talaqi Darwaza

• 

  North Gate interior

• 

  South Gate, as seen from adjacent Delhi Zoo

• 

  Khairul Manazil, a mosque and later a madarsa built by Maham Anga, stands opposite Purana Qila.

Further reading

• The Seven Cities of Delhi, by Hearn, Gordon Risley. 2005. ISBN 81-7305-300-6.
• Invisible City—The Hidden Monuments of Delhi, by Rakhshanda Jalil, photographs by Prabhas Roy, Niyogi Books. 2008. ISBN 8189738143.

References

1. ^ Muqarnas: An Annual on Islamic Art and Architecture, by Oleg Grabar. Published by BRILL, 1988. ISBN 90-04-08155-0. Page 133.
2. ^ Delhi Forts: Old Fort Delhi
3. ^ Petersen, Andrew (1996). Dictionary of Islamic architecture. Routledge. p. 201. ISBN 0415060842. http://books.google.co.in/books?id=Kl2WlM-b_KcC&pg=PA201&dq=Purana+Qila,+Delhi#v=onepage&q=Purana%20Qila%2C%20Delhi&f=false. Retrieved August 11, 2009. 
4. ^ Sound and Light Show at Purana Quila by DTDC
5. ^ Delhi City The Imperial Gazetteer of India, 1909, v. 11, p. 236..
6. ^ ^{a b} Delhi city guide, by Eicher Goodearth Limited, Delhi Tourism. Published by Eicher Goodearth Limited, 1998. ISBN 81-900601-2-0. Page 162.
7. ^ Archaeological Museum, Purana Qila (New Delhi) Archaeological Survey of India website.
8. ^ Singh, Upinder (2006). Delhi: Ancient History. Berghahn Books. p. 53. ISBN 8187358297. http://books.google.co.in/books?id=KkpdLnZpm78C&pg=PA53&dq=Purana+Qila,+Delhi#v=onepage&q=Purana%20Qila%2C%20Delhi&f=false. Retrieved August 11, 2009. 
9. ^ Polk, Emily (1963). Delhi, old & new. Rand McNally. p. 76. 
10. ^ Kamra, Sukeshi (2002). Bearing Witness: Partition, Independence, End of the Raj. University of Calgary Press. p. 174. ISBN 1552380416. http://books.google.com/books?id=Td6TRRMBFVUC&pg=PA174&dq#v=onepage&q=&f=false. 
11. ^ Zamindar, Vazira Fazila-Yacoobali (2007). The long partition and the making of modern South Asia: refugees, boundaries, histories. Columbia University Press. p. 34. ISBN 023113846. http://books.google.co.in/books?id=EfhqQLr96VgC&pg=PA34&dq=Purana+Qila#v=onepage&q=Purana%20Qila&f=false. 
12. ^ "A little peek into history". The Hindu. May 02, 2008. http://www.hindu.com/fr/2008/05/02/stories/2008050250120300.htm. 
13. ^ Qila-i Kuhna Mosque archnet.org.
14. ^ Islamic architecture of the Indian Subcontinent, by Bianca Maria Alfieri. Laurence King Pub., 2000. ISBN 3-8238-5443-7. Page 193.
15. ^ "Delhi’s Belly: Unknown city, Glimpses of Delhi’s past through monuments that dot almost every neighbourhood". Live Mint. Apr 1 2011. http://www.livemint.com/2011/04/01205634/Delhi8217s-Belly--Unkown-c.html. 

• Purana Qila - Old Fort Delhi

External links

• Purana Qila at Indiasite.com
• Purana Qila at DiscoverIndia.com
• Set of Flickr images of Purana Qila complex
• 360° panoramic view of Old Fort
• More on old fort - Doors2India