Purana Quila in Delhi, with its towering rubble wall and imposing entrance buildings, was erected on a tiny hill on the banks of the Yamuna. The building houses a mosque with a double-story octagonal tower. According to Hindu tradition, the fort commemorates the location of Indraprastha, the majestic capital of the Pandavas, albeit the building was carried out between 1538 and 1545 in the 3rd century by Afghan monarch Sher Shah Suri, who wrested the crown of Delhi from Mughal emperor Humayun. Humayun, the Mughal emperor, is claimed to have died by accident after falling from his tower.
History
When the second Mughal emperor Humayun intended to build his own city, he chose the location of the old city of Indraprastha. Humayun was a scholar with a keen understanding of such topics, therefore it is safe to assume that the location was picked with care. When Sher Shah Suri deposed him, he demolished much of Dinpanah (the faithful's sanctuary), as the city of Humayun was known, to make place for his own Dilli Sher Shahi or Shergarh. In fact, Humayun was possibly the only emperor in history who created a city in Delhi but did not name it after himself; this was indicative of Humayun's intellectual and dreamy personality.
According to certain Mughal historical texts, Humayun died as a consequence of injuries sustained after falling down the stairs of the Sher Mandal. There are rumours that following the death of Humayun, the Mughals abandoned the fort, believing it to be cursed. As a result, the Mughals were forced to build a new fort, known as Lal Quila (Red Fort), to protect Delhi against foreign invasions.
The excavations at Purana Qila have revealed information about the lifestyles of individuals who lived here hundreds of years ago. The first dwellings were built during the fourth century B.C. They were built with both sun-dried and kiln-baked bricks. Drains in houses conveyed wastewater to soak pits excavated into the earth. There were several clay figures of humans and animals discovered. So was a type of gleaming pottery known as Northern Black Polished Ware by archaeologists (NBP for short). People began to use copper coins to buy and trade goods. Traders used seals to identify their goods bundles.
Architecture and Site
The Old Fort, now simply known as Purana Qila by Delhiites, is irregularly orbital in design. The massive Qila towers down on the road that leads to Pragati Maidan from a height of 18m and runs for almost 2 kilometres. It has three major entrances: the Humayun darwaza, the Talaqi darwaza, and the Bara darwaza (which one uses to enter the fort today). The double-story gates are made of red sandstone and are fairly large. The northern gate, Talaqi (forbidden), was the only one that allowed entrance. Purana Quila's architect demonstrated talent by embellishing each component with moulding, bracketed apertures, marble inlay, carving, and other things. The little mosque was similarly built using a mix of materials. The entry arch is made of marble, the spandrels are made of red sandstone and are studded with marble bosses, and the columns and pilasters are made of black and white marble.
Sher Shah Suri and his successor were unable to build the city, and when Humayun conquered Sher Shah's son to reclaim his city, he did not deal with Dilli Sher Shahi in the same way that the latter had dealt with Dinpanah. In reality, the Mughal emperor finished the city quite elegantly and even used some of the buildings, such as the Sher Mandal, a really lovely two-story octagonal structure. Humayun utilised it as his library before falling to his death from its steps. The Qila-i-kuhna masjid is one of the most remarkable buildings in the Purana Qila, as well as one of the few that still exist. Sher Shah Suri erected it in 1541, and he clearly wanted to make a statement. The prayer hall at the mosque is 51.20m by 14.90m and contains five doors with 'genuine' horseshoe-shaped arches.
The original plan was to build the entire mosque out of marble, but supplies ran out and red sandstone had to be utilised instead. However, the builder made excellent use of the available materials, and the end product is truly beautiful. The red sandstone and marble contrast well, giving the mosque a unique appearance. Inside the mosque, the mihrabs (prayer areas) are lavishly adorned with concentric arches. Staircases go from the prayer hall to the second story, where a short hallway runs along the rectangular hall. The centre alcove is topped by a finely crafted dome. There was formerly a tiny tank with a fountain in the courtyard. 'As long as there are humans on this world, may this structure be frequented, and people be happy in it,' says an inscription on the mosque. The mosque, which was erected between 1541 and 1542, is a landmark in Indo Islamic architecture.
Several excavations have taken performed at the Purana Qila in an attempt to verify, or deny, whether or not it is the site of Indraprastha. Excavations turned up Painted Grey Ware pottery, which has been dated to 1000BC. Similar evidence has been discovered at other places related with the epic Mahabharata, which appear to firmly establish that this was the location where Indraprastha previously flourished. These digs have also uncovered items related with the Guptas during the 4-5th century AD, as well as post-Gupta years 700-800AD of Indian history.
The Sher Mandal, an octagonal edifice built of red sandstone, is another interesting structure inside the fort. The steep steps leading up to the roof of the two-story pavilion. After recapturing Delhi in 1555, Humayun converted the Sher Mandal into his library. Humayun died a year later in this location. The Old Fort was the fortress of Dinapanah (Refuge of the Faithful), which Humayun began in 1533 and finished five years later. When Afghan King Sher Shah Suri conquered Humayun, he renamed the fort Shergarh and built several more structures to the complex. Only one of Purana Qila's three gates, the Bara Darwaza, is still accessible today. The Purana Quila (Old Fort) now contains the Delhi Zoo, the city's largest zoological park, as well as a boat club. The Purana Qila's ancient structure has witnessed the restoration of Delhi, periods of chaos, and the rise and fall of empires.
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