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