Prime
Destination India
Delhi Tourism
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.
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.
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.
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 AdhamKhan 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.
Places
to See India Gate Built as a memorial to commemorate
the 70,000 India soldiers killed in World War I, India Gate was designed by Sir
Edwin Lutyens and completed in 1931.
Rashtrapati BhawanFormely
the Viceregal Lodge, the building is the highlight of Lutyen's New Delhi and was
completed in 1929 at a cost of 12,53,000 pound sterling. Located in an area of
130 hectares, the palace has 340 rooms.
Red FortSo called because
of the red stone with which it is built, the Red Fort is one of the most magnificent
palaces in the world. India's history is also closely linked with this fort. It
was frorth here ht the British deposed the last Mughal ruler, Bhadur Shah Zafar,
marking the end of the three century long Mughal rule. It was also fromits ramparts
that the first prime. Minister of India, pandit Jawharlal Nehru, announced to
the nation that India was free form colonial rule.
Qutub Minar The
origins of Qutab Minar are shrouded in controversy. Some believe it was erected
as a tower of victory to signify the beginning of the Muslim rule in India. Others
say it served as a minaret to the muezzins to call the faithful to prayer. No
one can, however, dispute that the tower is not only one of the finest monuments
in India, but also in the world.
Purana Quila The fort is said
to be constructed on the historic site of indraprastha (900BC) by Humayun and
Sher Shah. Covering a circuit of about a mile, the walls of the fort have three
gates and are surrounded by a mat fed by the river Yamuna.
Jantar MantarAt
first sight, the Jantar Mantar appears like a gallery of modern art. It is, however,
an observatory. Sawai Jia Singh II of Jaipur (1699-1743), a keen astronomer and
a noble in the Mughal court, was dissatisfied by the errors of brass and metal
astronomical instruments.
How to Reach By
Air : Delhi is well connected with all the major cities of India and
the world. It has one domestic and one International airport.
By
Rail : The capital city of India is well connected with all the major
and small cities and towns of India by Rail. Delhi has two major and 4 small Railway
stations.
By Road : Delhi is very
well connected by roads to all the major cities and towns of the country. Various
state roadways buses ply between Delhi and other states of India.
