Purana Qila – It Is One Of The Very Old Historical Place In India Which Has Three Gatways

PURANA QILA

AT

NEW DELHI

One of the oldest forts in India, the Pura Qila was constructed by the Afghan King, Sher Shah Suri on what was supposed to be Indraprastha, the capital of the Pandavas. The walls of the Old Fort rise to a height of 18 metres and are spread over 1.5 kilometres.

The fort has three main entrances, the Bada Darwaza which faces west and is used as the entrance to the fort even today. The South Gate is known as the Humayun Gate and the third gate is called the Talaqi Gate or the forbidden gate.

One does not have to go far to see the old fort or Purana Quila standing stoically amidst wild greenery.Built on the site of the most ancient of the numerous cities of Delhi, Indraprastha, Purana Quila is roughly rectangular in shape having a circuit of nearly two kilometers.

The thick ramparts crowned by merlons have three gateways provided with bastions on either side. It was surrounded by a wide moat, connected to river Yamuna, which used to flow on the east of the fort. The northern gate way, called the Talaqui darwaza or the forbidden gateway, combines the typically Islamic pointed arch with Hindu Chhatris and brackets; whereas the southern gateway called the Purana Quila

Humayun Darwaza also had a similar plan.

The massive gateway and walls of Purana Quila were built by Humayun and the foundation laid for the new capital, Dinpanah.

The work was carried forward by Sher Shah Suri,who displaced Humayun, Purana Quila is the venue for the spectacular sound and light show held every evening.

Mathura Rd, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, Delhi 110003