History of Delhi
¤ An Introduction
It's hard to think of Delhi as anything but the capital of India but
for a surprisingly long time Delhi was not the hot seat of power.
Having said that, however, it's also true that Delhi was never exactly
a sidekick on the scene of Indian history. All through its long
innings, the present capital of India has been an important player.
Reasons for this might be found in its geographical location. Delhi
has always been a convenient link between Central Asia, the northwest
frontiers and the rest of the country. An inscription dating from the
time of Asoka, the famous Mauryan king, tells us that Delhi was on the
great northern highway of the Mauryas and linked their capital
Patliputta (near modern Patna, Bihar) with Taxila (Takshashila), now
in Pakistan. This was apparently the route that Buddhist monks took on
their way to Taxila, the intellectual hotbed in those days, and
Central Asia. What one can read between the lines is that it was also
the route that the Mauryan armies took enroute to quelling the
frequent rebellions and foreign insurgencies in Taxila and other such
border trouble spots. So, this gave Delhi considerable strategic
importance.
 The
story of Delhi unfolds
far back in the dark mists of history.
City :- Indraprastha
Date :-1450 BC (approx.)
Site :- In Purana Qila
Remains :- Archeological finds now support the view that this
was indeed Delhi's earliest city. This has not surprised anyone in
Delhi, for popular opinion had never doubted the existence of
Indra-prashtha. Reasons for its decline are not known.
City :- Lal Kot or Qila Rai Pithora
Date :- 1060 AD; built by Rajput Tomaras. 12th century;
captured and enlarged by the Rajput king Prithviraj Chauhan.
Site :- QutubMinar-Mehraulicomplex.
Remains :- Very little remains of the original Lal Kot. of the
13 gates of Rai Pithora fort, now only three remain.
City :- Siri
Date :-1304 AD; built by Alauddin Khilji of the Delhi
Sultanate. Alauddin Khilji was well-known for his trade reforms, so
it's not surprising that Siri was a major trading throughout the
centre the Hauz-i-Alai, 14th century.
Site :- Near Hauz Khas and Gulmohar Park.
Remains :- Some portions and walls remain. Alauddin Khilji
also built other things around Siri. Like, the beautiful Alai Darwaza,
the south gate of the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque and reservoir in
present-day Hauz Khas.
City :- Tughlaqabad
Date :- 1321-23 AD. Built by Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq.
Site :- 8km from the Qutub complex.
Remains:- Walls and some ruined buildings.
City :-Jahanpanah
Date :- Mid-14th century. Built by Mohammad- bin-Tughlaq, the
so-called lunatic king. Actually he had some brilliant ideas but
fumbled badly in their execution.
Site :- Between Siri and Qutub Minar.
Remains:-A few remnants of defensive ramparts.
City :-Ferozabad
Date :- 1354 AD; by Feroze Tughlaq. It remained the capital
until Sikander Lodi moved to Agra.
Site:- Kotla Feroze Shah.
Remains:- Only the Asoka Pillar rising from the ruins remains. There
is stadium for cricket which is called Feroze Shah Kotla grounds. It
is also a regular bus stop.
City :- Dilli Sher Shahi (Shergarh)
Date :- 1534; This Delhi was actually started by Humayun, the
second Mughal emperor. After he was defeated and forced into exile,
his far more able overthrower Sher Shah
Suri completed it.
Site :- Opposite the zoo. Around Purana Qila.
Remains:- High gates,walls,mosque and a great baoli(well). Kabuli and
Lal Darwaza gates and the Sher Mandal.
City :- Shajahanabad
Date :- Mid-17th century. Shah Jahan, the fifth Mughal emperor
moved his capital from Agra to here.
Site :- The existing Old Delhi.
Remains :- The Red Fort, Jama Masjid, main streets of Old
Delhi (like Chandini Chowk), long sections of walls and several city
gates. Old Delhi might be congested, but it still retains its medieval
charm. The people are very warm and welcoming, even though riots
between Hindus and Muslims are quite common.
City :- New Delhi
Date :- 1920s. The formal announcement to move the seat of
power from Calcutta to Delhi was made during the famous Delhi Durbar
in 1911. Contractors and workers working from the designs of Edward
Lutyens completed the main buildings 20 years later. Since then Delhi
has remained the capital of India.
Site :- Connaught Place and Rajpath.
Remains:- All the main British buildings, which include the spacious
bungalows of the now elite New Delhi area, the President's House, the
Parliament and Supreme Court.
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