The present day Delhi area has had atleast 7 cities that previously existed in and around it.
1. Qila Rai Pithora built by Prithvi Raj Chauhan;
2. Siri, built by Alauddin Khilji in 1303;
3. Tughluqabad, built by Ghiyazudin Tughluq (1321-1325);
4. Jahanpanah, built by Muhammad bin Tughluq (1325-1351);
5. Kotla Firoz Shah, built by Firuz Shah Tughluq (1351-1388);
6. Purana Qila built by Sher Shah Suri and Dinpanah built by Humayun(1538-1545);
7. Shahjahanabad, built by Shah Jahan from 1638 to 1649, (Lal Qila and Chandni Chowk).
It is also believed that the ancient city of Indraprastha existed exactly where Delhi is today. It is believed to have been founded by the Pandavaas ca.1400 BC.
The city of Delhi, with so much history to it, is truely splendid. The designers of present day Delhi (the British) built it with such extravagance that any visitor to the capital would be dumb-struck seeing the sheer arrogance that is Delhi.
Though a southener, I was born in New Delhi and so have a special birth link to the place. So when I went on a month long vacation to India earlier this year, I made it a point to go visiting my place of birth.
A picture is worth a thousand words.
Instead of writing away on my visit, I have put up pictures. Pictures I snapped when I went round the place. So, if any of you have not visited the National Capital, there is no time to lose. For Delhi will pick you right off your feet and transport you to a totally new world.
Historic Pictures
The Delhi Durbar of 1903.
On New year's day 1903, Edward the VII was declared Emperor of India. The occasion was marked by a grand ceremony held at the Delhi Durbar - a spectacular and elaborate festival organised by the British government. The Durbar was intended to highlight the supposed glory of the monarchy and its Empire. The festivities involved an enormous procession which included a line of Indian princes riding on jewelled elephants.
The Invitation to the Coronation that was sent out looked like this.
Inaugaration of the Rashtrapathi Bhavan / Viceroy's Residence / Lutyens Buildings 1931The building gave the impression, in the words of a critique, the setting of a perpetual Durbar. The building and its surroundings were supposed to be 'an empire in stone', 'exercising imperial sway' and containing in it, "the abode of a disinterested elite whose rule was imposed from above". That 'empire in stone' and the perpetual Durbar was transformed to be the permanent institution of democracy on 26th January 1950.
Present Day Pictures
The historic Laal Khila (Red Fort)
The Indian Army at the Red Fort. The list of regiments that served out of the historic Red Fort.
Rashtrapathi Bhavan after the Beating the Retreat Ceremony
The supposed doors of the Somnath Temple. The British claimed that they had won back the famed Somnath Temple's doors to redeem Hindustan's lost honour. This was an apparent attempt to get the local populace on their side. It was later proved that this was not the door of the famed temple. This door lies in the Agra Fort.
The view of the Taj Mahal from the Agra Fort, with the dry yamuna in the foreground. This is the view that the Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan got of the Taj during his dying days. He was confined to the Agra Fort for the rest of his life when his son Aurangazeb deposed him as ruler.
View of the Red Fort from the Chandni Chowk's business area. The Chowk was built in 1650 AD as an accompaniment to the Red fort. It was designed by Jahanara, the Emperor Shah Jehan's favorite daughter. The story goes that on a moonlit night, the new complex and the pool lay shimmering; as a result, it acquired the name of Chandni Chowk- "the moonlit square".
The famous Delhi fog. The picture was taken enroute to Agra from Delhi.
The Qutb Minar. Seen here through the ruins that surround it, stands proud and stands tall. The guides there would tell every visitor, that the minar was initally the brain child of Prithvraj Chauhan, the then ruler of Delhi.
The Alai Minar, a gigantic structure of rubble to the north of the Qutb Minar is the 25.5 metre-high unfinished base of a mammoth tower. Alauddin Khilji had planned to build this tower as a rival to the Qutb Minar when he returned in triumph from his Deccan campaign. However, the Sultan died even before the first storey was finished and the project was abondoned. Seen here with the Qutb Minar peeping in from the side!
The seat of Mughal power. The seat of the last Mughal Emperor. The seat that started many a wars and changed the lives of millions of Indians. This was the place where the famous Peacock throne once resided !Courtesy : Online British Library, Rashtrapati Bhavan, Asian Art Resource, Wikipedia, Delhi Tourism
18 comments:
very Nice boss. During my school days, been to delhi about 4 to 5 times, my cousins lived in Hauzkhas area..near IIT. I clearly remember Palika bazzar the market under the ground. One summer I was on train [Tamilnadu express i think] that stopped near gwalior or Chambal [I think] for about 2hrs. ebba I felt what was real heat then. :)
as usual quality stuff from you eshwar.
Never been to Delhi may be next time.
Eshwar,
I thought you would detail more on the republic day parade. Maybe you are saving it for your next blog.
Southerner born in New Delhi... Hmm .. No comments ;-)
And BTW, you were half asleep when you wrote this blog? Given your relentless desire for perfection, I was surprised to see quite a few typo's from you. A picture is worth a thousand words, but does that mean that in the very next paragraph, you start losing focus on the words?
I hope you do not "snap" and let "loose" of your temper :-)) Just kidding dude ...
And oh yeah, given the pollution that is there, Delhi will definitely pick me right off my feet and put me in the TB ward ;-)
southerner born in delhi, huh ?! ;)
... I have put up pictures. Pictures I snaped when I went round the place...
I knew u were 'old', but not that old to be snapping pictures in Delhi from 1903 !!!
Jokes apart, this collection is good. You missed out photos on the Purana Kila. I loved the old charm it cast and they even have marked the steps from where Humayun supposedly fell down to his death. It is an awesome place, historical [or otherwise ;)]. Also the Bahai temple is another awesome place to visit at Delhi.
And in this process if you are cleaning up your digital camera with photos from 1903 now, will I have to wait for another century before I get to see the Indy trip photos ?
Sriks...looks like your another fellow delhi-ite.
Ganesh ... Thanks. And do plan to visit Delhi whenever possible
Raman...you are right. I was nodding away while blogging this one. So pls pardon my typos and the not so perfect blog. And yes I am saving the republic day / beating retreat event for another day.
Shiva...I wish I had pictures of the Purana Khila. When I drove past the old fort early in the morning, it was heavily foggy. So couldnt manage to click a few snaps. And yes, I do remember I owe you the Indy snaps. Will send it over asap.
Raman...I have corrected 'em.
looks like your another fellow delhi-ite.
- actually No, Just a vistor to the capitol city :))
Eswar,
People have commented on your 'southerner born in new delhi' statement.
They have also commented on the 'snaps' from 1903.
I will say, that if only i knew about your blog during childhood - i should have given up history class then :P
Keep it up dude !
Good Snaps and Description Esh... I am one of the unfortunate guys who have been to Capital of many countries but not my own motherland...what a shame... This blog definitely removes some of the guilt feel i have...
"Southerner born in delhi"??? Dude...I was not able to stop laughing...You are American born in India..
Arvind...thanks dude.
Rags...all I can say is, You can take a man out of India, but not India out of a man.
Eshwar:
Nice and informative post. But I have a small problem here.
I thought that the Qutub minar was the brainchild of qutubuddin Aibak. I am confused by your reference of prithvi Raj Chauhan. I thought that it was started by Aibak and finished by the first ruler of the Khilji Dynasty. I forgot that rulers name. Please clarify if I am wrong. I was wondering if our history writers are trying to attribute all major monuments to "hindu" rulers just like they tried to convert Taj Mahal to Teju Mahalya.
Eshwar:
I have also visited Fathehpur Sikhri and I thought that shah jahan had to look at the reflection of Taj Mahal through a mirror set in that anti room. It brought back golden memories of my visit to Delhi and Agra. I had the pleasure of viewind Delhi from the cockpit of a boeing 747, on a flight to Delhi. It was an unforgettable experience looking at the vast expanse of Delhi from the sky.
Eshwar:
I remember seeing an Iron Pillar next to the Qutub-Minar. I dont see it in this picture, I think that the Iron pillar was built by the guptas, if I remember right it is a symbol of Indian knowledge in Mettalurgy, composed of 98% wrought Iron.
Robbie...that was too many too quick. Let me answer...
#1 Our history text books tell us that it was built by Qutb of the Slave dynasty. But I have also heard that it was initially started by Chauhan but was actually implemented and completed by Qutb. Hence the name. So when I visited the place, the guide told me exactly this and I kind of vaguely remember seeing a stone write-up put up by the ASI near the monument.
#2 I have not heard about the mirror thing. If you could provide more info on it, it would be usefull. But again my chief source of info is the guide there and the ASI write-ups in the fort. Unfortunately I dont have pics of the write-ups.
#3 Yes, ofcourse the pillar is a marvel of science practiced in ancient India. And I do have a snap shot of it. But its kind of a long distance shot from the entrance of the ruins. I clicked one, with the pillar right in the center of the arch of the door way. Kind of to get a symmetrical look. But the pic has lot of people in it and hence is too noisy !!
Amazing post and amazing facts...!
Delhi and neighborhoods are truly historic. I've been there a few times and have been mesmerized at the history.
The neighborhoods of Agra sent chills in me. Humayuns Tomb, the palace where he fell down and died, Jehangir's palace...and the great Taj...speak for themselves.!
I didn't know that Indraprastha is Modern Delhi.! Any idea where the Mahabharatha war was fought.?
narayan,
The mahbharath was fought in a place called kurushetra in nearby haryana.
eashwar,
nice post dude.I was in delhi for 2 years.so i know and i have seen taj mahal a few times.once we went in feb and the raod was fogged exactly like in ur pic.The moment you go out of delhi and into the roads passing through the fields you get this thick fog.
regarding this prithviraj chauhan thing.I wont beleive what a guide says.30-40 % of what all these guides say are false.They spice up histprical info and present to us as a story.
have u been to the paratha wali gali near red fort??
Senthil...nope I have not been to the gali. So I guess have to make another visit now !!
About the Chauhan thing...I have heard it from others too and read it someplace too. The guides have only confirmed it. But again, lets wait for proof !!
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