FACTS & FIGURES
Built In 16th century
Built By Humayun and Sher Shah Suri
Location Delhi
HUMAYUN'S DREAM
The fortified capital city of Dinpanah was the dream project of the second Mughal emperor, Humayun. Though Humayun started the construction of this fort (now known as the Purana Quila or the Old Fort), he could not enjoy the fruits of his labor for long. Sher Shah Suri, who displaced Humayun, made it his capital and carried out new constructions within it. Although Humayun regained control of the city he loved, he tragically died by falling from one of the buildings within the fort.
MILITARY ARCHITECTURE
The Purana Quila is a good example of medieval military architecture. Like its predecessor, the Tughlaqabad fort, it is a massive fort. Purana Quila is a monument of bold design, which is strong, straightforward and every inch a fortress. It is different from the well-planned, carefully decorated, and palatial forts of the later Mughal rulers. Purana Quila is also different from the later forts of the Mughals, as it does not have a complex of palaces, administrative and recreational buildings, as is generally found in the forts built later on. The main purpose of this now-dilapidated fort was its utility, with less emphasis on decoration.
PURANA QUILA
The Lodhi dynasty was the last dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate. The kingdom of Delhi finally ended in 1526 when the armies from a small Central Asian kingdom, led by Zahir-ud-din Babur defeated the last Lodhi ruler, Ibrahim Lodhi in the First battle of Panipat. After extinguishing the rule of the Delhi Sultanate, Babur did not return to Central Asia, but established the Mughal Empire, in India. Babur chose Agra as the capital of the Mughals, but his son Humayun decided in favor of Delhi.
The political life of the Mughal emperor Humayun was not stable. Humayun became the Mughal Emperor after the death of his father Babur in 1530 and established the capital at Dinpanah, which was the sixth fort city of Delhi. Within five years, massive gateways and lofty ramparts of this fort city were completed. However, Humayun could not rule there for long as Sher Shah Suri, an Afghan chieftain, drove him out from Delhi and India. Sher Shah destroyed much of Humayun's buildings in the fort. He called his city Shergarh. Two gateways of his city, Lal Darwaza and Khooni Darwaza, can still be seen in their original grandeur. Within the fort, Sher Shah Suri built a grand mosque (Qal'a-I-Kunha Masjid) and an octagonal tower called Sher Mandal. Meanwhile, Humayun spent a life of exile in the court of the Persian ruler of Iran. He returned to Delhi, after the death of Sher Shah Suri and regained his former capital. He hardly built any new structures within the fortifications of Dinpanah. However, Humayun did not live long and died unexpectedly when he fell from the Sher Mandal, which he used as a library, on January 24, 1556. Thus ended the story of a king who loved the city of Delhi and who could never rule from it in the true sense of the word. The city of Dinpanah or the Purana Quila (as it is now known) is thus the reflection of the tragic life of emperor Humayun. Humayun was succeeded by his son, Akbar, who went on to become the greatest Mughal ruler. However, the city of Dinpanah lost its importance as Akbar soon shifted the Mughal capital from Delhi to Agra.
At present, the Purana Quila is in a bad state due to neglect. However, one can still see the grandeur of this massive fort, which sprawls over an area of 3 km. It has three grand gateways. One can appreciate this simple and rugged edifice, which dominates its surroundings from far.
IMPORTANT MONUMENTS WITHIN THE FORT
Though not many buildings within the crumbling walls of the Purana Quila have survived, there are two monuments of architectural importance within it that have survived the ravages of time: the Qal'a-I-Kunha Masjid and the Sher Mandal. Both these monuments were built by Sher Shah Suri.
Qal'a-I-Kunha Masjid
The Qal'a-I-Kunha Masjid is a superb but austere building, with sparse, sophisticated ornamentation in sandstone and a little marble. This mosque belongs to the Indo-Islamic style of architecture. It has a single dome, which is not pronounced and lacks the grandeur of the bulbous onion-shaped domes generally seen on Islamic buildings.
Sher Mandal
To the south of the Qal'a-I-Kunha mosque is an octagonal two-storied structure called the Sher Mandal. It was built by Sher Shah Suri, probably as a pavilion, and has a tile and inlay work in red sandstone. The Sher Mandal is an intriguing structure and the purpose of building it is not clear. This monument also conforms to the Indo-Islamic style of architecture. The Sher Mandal has a touch of sadness attached to it, as it was here that the second Mughal emperor Humayun fell to his death.
HOW TO REACH
Delhi is well connected by air, rail, and road with important centers of India. Travelers can reach the fortified Purana Quila in many ways. The fort is located on the western banks of River Yamuna, near the Delhi Zoo. Travelers can either take local buses from various points within the city to reach this fort or they can hire auto-rickshaws and taxis for the purpose. One end of the fort is adjacent to the famous Pragati Maidan. One can take buses from important bus termini like Interstate Bus Terminal, Connaught Place, etc., to reach this monument.
Built By Humayun and Sher Shah Suri
Location Delhi
HUMAYUN'S DREAM
The fortified capital city of Dinpanah was the dream project of the second Mughal emperor, Humayun. Though Humayun started the construction of this fort (now known as the Purana Quila or the Old Fort), he could not enjoy the fruits of his labor for long. Sher Shah Suri, who displaced Humayun, made it his capital and carried out new constructions within it. Although Humayun regained control of the city he loved, he tragically died by falling from one of the buildings within the fort.
The Purana Quila is a good example of medieval military architecture. Like its predecessor, the Tughlaqabad fort, it is a massive fort. Purana Quila is a monument of bold design, which is strong, straightforward and every inch a fortress. It is different from the well-planned, carefully decorated, and palatial forts of the later Mughal rulers. Purana Quila is also different from the later forts of the Mughals, as it does not have a complex of palaces, administrative and recreational buildings, as is generally found in the forts built later on. The main purpose of this now-dilapidated fort was its utility, with less emphasis on decoration.
PURANA QUILA
The Lodhi dynasty was the last dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate. The kingdom of Delhi finally ended in 1526 when the armies from a small Central Asian kingdom, led by Zahir-ud-din Babur defeated the last Lodhi ruler, Ibrahim Lodhi in the First battle of Panipat. After extinguishing the rule of the Delhi Sultanate, Babur did not return to Central Asia, but established the Mughal Empire, in India. Babur chose Agra as the capital of the Mughals, but his son Humayun decided in favor of Delhi.
The political life of the Mughal emperor Humayun was not stable. Humayun became the Mughal Emperor after the death of his father Babur in 1530 and established the capital at Dinpanah, which was the sixth fort city of Delhi. Within five years, massive gateways and lofty ramparts of this fort city were completed. However, Humayun could not rule there for long as Sher Shah Suri, an Afghan chieftain, drove him out from Delhi and India. Sher Shah destroyed much of Humayun's buildings in the fort. He called his city Shergarh. Two gateways of his city, Lal Darwaza and Khooni Darwaza, can still be seen in their original grandeur. Within the fort, Sher Shah Suri built a grand mosque (Qal'a-I-Kunha Masjid) and an octagonal tower called Sher Mandal. Meanwhile, Humayun spent a life of exile in the court of the Persian ruler of Iran. He returned to Delhi, after the death of Sher Shah Suri and regained his former capital. He hardly built any new structures within the fortifications of Dinpanah. However, Humayun did not live long and died unexpectedly when he fell from the Sher Mandal, which he used as a library, on January 24, 1556. Thus ended the story of a king who loved the city of Delhi and who could never rule from it in the true sense of the word. The city of Dinpanah or the Purana Quila (as it is now known) is thus the reflection of the tragic life of emperor Humayun. Humayun was succeeded by his son, Akbar, who went on to become the greatest Mughal ruler. However, the city of Dinpanah lost its importance as Akbar soon shifted the Mughal capital from Delhi to Agra.
At present, the Purana Quila is in a bad state due to neglect. However, one can still see the grandeur of this massive fort, which sprawls over an area of 3 km. It has three grand gateways. One can appreciate this simple and rugged edifice, which dominates its surroundings from far.
IMPORTANT MONUMENTS WITHIN THE FORT
Though not many buildings within the crumbling walls of the Purana Quila have survived, there are two monuments of architectural importance within it that have survived the ravages of time: the Qal'a-I-Kunha Masjid and the Sher Mandal. Both these monuments were built by Sher Shah Suri.
Qal'a-I-Kunha Masjid
The Qal'a-I-Kunha Masjid is a superb but austere building, with sparse, sophisticated ornamentation in sandstone and a little marble. This mosque belongs to the Indo-Islamic style of architecture. It has a single dome, which is not pronounced and lacks the grandeur of the bulbous onion-shaped domes generally seen on Islamic buildings.
Sher Mandal
To the south of the Qal'a-I-Kunha mosque is an octagonal two-storied structure called the Sher Mandal. It was built by Sher Shah Suri, probably as a pavilion, and has a tile and inlay work in red sandstone. The Sher Mandal is an intriguing structure and the purpose of building it is not clear. This monument also conforms to the Indo-Islamic style of architecture. The Sher Mandal has a touch of sadness attached to it, as it was here that the second Mughal emperor Humayun fell to his death.
HOW TO REACH
Delhi is well connected by air, rail, and road with important centers of India. Travelers can reach the fortified Purana Quila in many ways. The fort is located on the western banks of River Yamuna, near the Delhi Zoo. Travelers can either take local buses from various points within the city to reach this fort or they can hire auto-rickshaws and taxis for the purpose. One end of the fort is adjacent to the famous Pragati Maidan. One can take buses from important bus termini like Interstate Bus Terminal, Connaught Place, etc., to reach this monument.
| Monuments | |
