The Old Fort at Delhi is one of the oldest and secular structures of the country, also known as the Purana Qila. History buffs and inquisitive minds can find something of their interest here at this place. The walls of the fort, whose foundation was laid by the great Mughal emperor Humayun, tell a tale that dates back to the 14th century. Let’s us know more about this grand structure in the national capital.
According to several historians, the Purana Quila was considered as ‘the refuge for the faithful’ or Dinpanah. Though the inner walls of the fort was rebuilt by the ruler of the Sur Dynasty, Sher Shah Suri several historians believe that the capital of the Pandavas i.e. Indraprastha was situated exactly at the same site where the fort is located now. The Archaeological Survey of India found few parts of the walls colored in grey dye which were used in the households dating back to 1000 BC, thus making the total history of this site almost 5000 years old. There’s a myth or rather a curse which circulated during the medieval days, according to which that whosoever inhibits the fort would die a tragic death and surprisingly all the major rulers, be it Humayun, Sher Shah Suri or Hemu had tragic reigns. If you’re planning to explore this magnificent structure, consult your travel operator to find a Chennai, Kolkata or Bangalore to Delhi cheap flight offers to reach the destination.
Then came the era of British Raj and the planner and architect of Delhi Edwin Lutyens aligned Rajpath or the central Vista with the Old fort of Delhi. After the Independence when India got divided into Pakistan and India the refugees migrating to Pakistan took refuge here at the Purana Qila and the Humayun’s Tomb, as the trains to Pakistan started by October 1947. Later in 1970, this fort was for the first time utilized as a backdrop for theatre by National School of Drama for showcasing three plays namely: Tughlaq, Andha Yug, Sultan Razia. Many more plays, cultural events and concerts have been organized in the past here at the Old Fort and nowadays it is known for the sound and light show based on the history of seven cities of Delhi starting from Indraprastha to present day Delhi.
This fort has many gateways like the Bara Darwaza towards west (west gate is also the main gate), Humayun’s Gate facing south towards Humayun’s tomb and the Talaqi gate which is often referred as the forbidden gate. All the gateways are bordered by semi-circular bastion towers and are made of sandstones decorated with marble and blue tiles. Jharokhas and chhatris give a Rajasthani appeal to the architecture making it secular in character. Purana Quila is surrounded by a wide moat which is further connected to river Yamuna.
Other notable structures that the fort consists are the Sher Mandal and the Qila-i-Kuhna Mosque built by Sher Shah in 1541; to visit this mosque one doesn’t have to belong to a particular religion as persons from all religions are welcome here. The Sher Mandal happens to be the first observatory tower of Delhi and it was later converted into a library by Humayun; unfortunately, it was this place where Humayun fell from the second floor and died a tragic death. The library building though attached to such a heartbreaking tale, is one of the finest preserved structures in the fort. Apart from the mosque and the library Bali happens to be another important construction found inside the fort, it is 22 meters deep and has 89 steps with an appropriate covering which are a cumbersome task even by present day standards.
Anjali is a travel enthusiast currently associated with an online travel search engine. She writes about best things to do in new delhi. Hope the information helps you to plan your trip.