One 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.
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.
Today, only the ramparts arevisible 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.
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.
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.
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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