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History of
Delhi |
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O ne
of the most fascinating aspects of Delhi is the "visibility" of its
historic past. Were it not for the demands of urbanization, large
portions of the city could well be earmarked as archaeological
parks. This is because the rulers of successive dynasties between
the 13th and the 17th centuries established seven cities in
different parts of Delhi. A chronological review of these cities
fortunately also serves as a suitable itinerary for tourists and
highlights the important monuments amongst the 1300 officially
listed.
Delhi's history goes much further back in time than the 13th
century. In 1955, excavations at the Purana Qila revealed that the
site was inhabited 3000 years ago. Ware pottery known as Painted
Gray Ware and dated to 1000 BC confirmed this as being yet another
site associated with the epic Mahabharata. The excavations also cut
through houses and streets of the Sultanate, Rajput, post-Gupta,
Gupta, Saka-Kushan and Sunga periods, reaching down to the Mauryan
era (300 BC), thus revealing almost continuous habitaion. The
association of Emperor Ashoka (273-36 BC) with Delhi has come to
light with the discovery of a Minor Rock Edict in the locality known
as Srinivaspuri |
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A clearer
picture of the city emerges from the end of the 10th century, when
the Tomar Rajputs established themselves in the in the Aravalli
hills south of Delhi. The isolated, rocky outcrop facilitated the
defence of the royal resort which the Rajputs called Dhilli or
Dhillika. The core of the first of the seven cities was created by
Anangpal Tomar who is said to have built Lal Kot, which is the first
known regular defence work in Delhi. The Chauhan Rajputs later
captured Delhi from the Tomars . Prithviraj III, also known as Rai
Pithora, extended Lal Kot, adding massive ramparts and gates, and
made Qila Rai Pithora the first city of Delhi |
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T oday,
only the ramparts are visible near the Qutub Minar , though the city
is known to have had several Hindu and Jain temples. Prithviraj was
ruling Delhi when Muhammad of Ghur invaded India, and died fighting
the invader at the Second Battle of Tarain in 1192. Ghur returned,
but left as his viceroy, his slave Qutbuddin Aibak.
In 1206, Qutbuddin crowned himself as the Sultan of the Slave or
Mamluk dynasty, and became the first Muslim ruler of Delhi.
Qutbuddin, had however, commenced his architectural career even
before he chose to become the sultan. The mosque was essential to
the Islamic emphasis on congregational prayer, while the burial of
the dead, as opposed to cremation, introduced the tomb to India.
The earliest of these Islamic structures are to be seen in the Qutub
complex and the incorporation of many Hindu elements is due to the
ready availability of building material and the use of local
craftsmen. Qutbuddin raised the Quwwat-ul-Islam (might of
Islam) mosque, which is the earliest extant mosque in India. Within
its spacious courtyard he retained the 4th century Iron Pillar,
probably the standard of an ancient Vishnu temple. The pillar has
puzzled scientists, as its iron has not rusted in all these
centuries |
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In 1199,
Qutbuddin raised the Qutub Minar either as a victory tower or
as a minaret to the adjacent mosque. From a base of 14.32 mtrs it
tapers to 2.75 mtrs at a height of 72.5 mtrs. It is still the
highest stone tower in India, one of the finest tower Islamic
structures ever raised and Delhi's recognized landmark. It was
completed by the Sultan's successor and son-in-low, Iltutmish.
The tomb of Iltutmish, which he himself built in 1235, is
nearby. Its interiors are profusely decorated with calligraphy,
thought the dome has collapsed |
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The Khalji
rulers displaced the Slave dynasty in 1290, and when Alauddin Khali
ordered renovations of the mosque in 1311, he also raised the
impressive Alai Darwaza, the southern entrance to the mosque. It is
the first example of a building employing wholly Islamic principles
of construction, including the true arch. In 1303, Alauddin,
established the second city of Delhi, called Siri, of which nothing
remains but the embattlements. He also had dug a vast reservoir,
Hauz Khas, to sypply water to his city |
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Contemporary
historians describe the Delhi of that time as being the "envy of
Baghdad, the rival of Cairo and the equal of Constantinople". (for
the sake of convenience, tourists visiting the Qutb complex could
also see the Tomb of AdhamKhan and Zafar Mahal in Mehrauli, and the
Tomb of Jamai-Kamali behind the Qutb Minar. These, however, belong
to a later date.) The Khalhjis were replaced by the Tughlaq dynasty
in 1321. of its eleven rulers, only the first three were interested
in architecture and each of them established a new city |
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