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India Tourism Guide >> Delhi Travel Guide
Delhi Travel Guide
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 Bhawan
Formely 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 Fort
So 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 Mantar
At 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.
Delhi Travel Guide
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