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Historic Delhi
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Delhi
is often called the Historic Delhi because of its rich past.
Delhi has the honor of being the capital city for eight times
and several historic monuments dotted in the city are the
evidences of its glorious past. Come; let's traverse down
the memory lane as we pass through important historic monuments
of Delhi.
Qutub Minar is the one of the major landmarks of the
Historic Delhi. Qutub-ud-Din Aibak initiated the construction
of the Qutub Minar in 1199 AD but was completed by Iltutmish,
his successor and son-in-law. The 72.5 m high tapering building
has 379 steps from the bottom to the top. The Qutub Minar
has earned the recognition as the highest stone tower ever
raised in India. The Minar is made of red and buff sandstone.
Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque built by Qutub-ud-Din Aibak in AD 1198
is the earliest mosque built by the Delhi Sultans. It consists
of a rectangular courtyard enclosed by cloisters, erected
over the carved columns and architectural members of demolished
27 Hindu and Jain temples. With in the mosque complex is the
Iron Pillar dating back to 4th century AD. The pillar bears
an inscription stating that it was erected as a flagstaff
in honor of the Hindu god, Vishnu, and in the memory of the
Gupta King Chandragupta II (BC 375-413). The pillar is the
outstanding example of advancement of metallurgy in India;
it is made of 98 per cent wrought iron and has shown on signs
of rusting or decomposing even after standing in open for
almost 1,600 years. Alai Darwaza is the southern gateway of
the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque. Constructed in AD 1311 by Ala-ud-Din
Khalji, the gateway is remarkable for the use of horseshoe
arch and true dome for the first time in India.
Tomb of Ghiyas-ud-Din Tughlaq in the ruined city of
Tughlaqabad is the fine representation of Tughlaq architecture
of the Historic Delhi. The tomb once stood in the middle of
a reservoir and was approached by a fortified causeway from
the fort. Built like a pentagon in design, the mausoleum is
very simple made of sloping red sandstone walls. All the four
walls have arched gateways decorated with delicate latticework
and the dome is made entirely of white marble.
Humayun's Tomb is an outstanding example of Mughal
splendor in the Historic Delhi. Bega Begum or Haji Begum,
the Persian wife of Humayun, patronized the construction of
the last resting place for her husband from 1562 to 1572 AD.
Persian architect, Mirak Mirza Ghiyuath, designed the mausoleum,
which clearly reflects the Persian influence. The first garden
tomb of India, Humayun's Tomb stands in the middle of 36 equal
gardens divided by a grid of water channels and paths. The
octagonal tomb is placed over a square plinth with colonnades.
The central chamber has four offsets; double storeyed with
arcade on their facades and perforated screen openings. Three
arches with central one being the highest dominate each side.
The cenotaph of the emperor his queen Bega begum is in the
central room. The tomb is crowned by 42.5 m high colossal
double dome.
Red
Fort is the last marvelous Mughal fort in the Historic
Delhi. Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan laid the foundation of the
Red Fort in 1618 AD and it was completed in 1647 AD. Built
of largely of red sandstone, the fort is covered with shell
plaster polish to look like ivory. The important buildings
with the fort are the Chatta Chowk, Nawab Khana, Diwan-I-Aam,
Diwan-I-Khas, Rang Mahal, Pearl Mosque, Musamman Burj, Khwabgah
and Hammans.
Safdarjung's Tomb represents the last phase of the
Mughal style of architecture in the Historic Delhi. Nawab
Shauja-ud-Daula built the Safdarjang's Tomb in the memory
of his father who was a Minister in the Mughal court in 1753
AD. The simple yet graceful tomb stands in the middle of an
expansive garden. There is a mosque as well in the tomb.
Rashtrapati Bhawan is a symbol of British era in the
Historic Delhi. Built as the residence of the Viceroy of India,
it now houses the President of India. Built over the Raisina
Hill and designed by Lutyens, the Rashtrapati Bhawan is larger
than the Palace of Versailles. One should not miss to visit
the Mughal Gardens while visiting the Rashtrapati Bhawan.
Lady Harding had asked Lutyens to design a terraced garden
within the palace complex similar to the ones she had seen
in Kashmir. A series of ornamental fountains, waterfalls,
walls, paved pathways belvederes and screens combined with
scores of ornamental and fruit bearing trees, flowers and
shrubs fulfilled the desire of the Lady Harding. The Mughal
Gardens are open for public during the spring season when
the nature is in its best.
The India Gate, located in Rajpath, was the first gate
constructed by the British in the Historic Delhi. Built as
a War Memorial to commemorate the death of 90,000 India soldiers
killed in the North West Province during the First World War
and the Afghan Fiasco of 1919 AD, The India Gate was also
designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens. The Duke of Connaught laid
the foundation of this Memorial on 10th February 1921 and
the memorial was ready in 1931 AD. The gate is built of sandstone
with the names of the soldiers inscribed on the walls. An
eternal flame called Amar Jawan Jyoti is always kept burning
to honor the soldiers who were killed in the 1971 war with
Pakistan.
Connaught Place in central Delhi was designed as the
hub for business, shopping and entertainment in the Historic
Delhi. Named after the Duke of Connaught, it was designed
by Robert Tor Russell jointly with W H Nichols. The entire
place comprises of two huge concentric circles of columned
galleries made of plastered brick design painted in white.
Initially, the ground floors were the offices or shops for
all sorts of business activities and upper floors were used
as resident quarters.
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