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Read More on Purana Qila
History
In the early days, it was believed that the fort was constructed by the Mughal Emperor Humayun as a part of the city of Din Panah in 1533 CE. But then, Sher Shah captured the city and named it Shergarh; he then added some new structures to the fort complex, and the fort along with its environs called the “sixth city of Delhi”. When Sher Shah died the fort went back to Humayun. After being ruled by many rulers the fort eventually fell into the hands of the British.
Edward Lutyens aligned the Rajpath with Purana Qila when he was designing New Delhi in the 1920s. The fort also served as the refugee camp for the migrating Muslims during the Partition of India. In the 1970s, the National School of Drama first used the fort to theatre its plays- such as Sultan Razia, Tughlaq, and Andha Yug. With time, the fort became a popular venue to host cultural events and concerts.
Interestingly, the latest excavations done by the Archaeological Survey of India(ASI) in 2013-14 claims that the fort dates back to the 3rd Century BC at the time of the pre-Mauryan Empire.
Architecture
Purana Qila New Delhi boasts of medieval-style Mughal architecture, with the fortified walls being as high as 18m, embellished with the beautiful blue stonework. The cascade built on a raised piece of land has three large entrances- the west gate which is still in use, known as Bara Darwaza; the south gate is called Humayun’s Gate, maybe because Humayun got it constructed; the third gate is called the Talaqi Gate (forbidden gate).
These two-storeyed gates are perfectly lined with the huge semi-circular rampart towers and decorated with white marbles and beautiful bluestone inlay work.
Activities
Qila-i-Kuna Mosque, which is built by Sher Shah Suri should be visited.
Sher Mandal, which served as Humayun’s library and observatory, is an octagonal double-storied tower.
Purana Qila New Delhi Museum displays some of the ancient artworks related to this fort.
The three magnificent entrance gateways of the fort should not be missed.
Sher Shah Suri Gate (Lal Darwaza), is the southern entrance to Shergarh is also very beautiful.
Every evening, a fascinating light and sound show is hosted here at the Purana Qila. This show is among the best light and sound shows in India. The show is named ‘Ishq-e-Dilli’, which simply means Romancing Delhi.
Tips for visiting
- Alcohol is strictly prohibited inside the Purana Qila New Delhi complex.
- You should wear light-colored comfortable clothes if you are visiting in summer.
- As the place requires a lot of walking around, we advise you not to wear heels.
- Do not litter and use the dustbins to dispose of waste.
- Carry a water bottle during your visit.
Best time to visit
The best time to visit the Purana Qila New Delhi will be during the winter. Because if you are to travel in the summer season then most of your time will be wasted in struggling against the scorching heat.
Nearby Atractions
- India Gate
- Humayun’s Tomb
- Nizamuddin’s Tomb
- Mirza Ghalib’s tomb
- Parliament House
- Rashtrapati Bhavan
Nearby market/ shopping places
The Chandni Chowk Market is very close to the Purana Qila New Delhi. It is also considered Asia's largest market for electronics and electrical goods. You can also taste some of the amazing food items here.
Nearby Hotels
- Crowne Plaza Mayur Vihar
- Pride Plaza Hotel Aerocity New Delhi
- The Metropolitan Hotel and Spa
- The Lalit New Delhi
Interesting Facts About Purana Qila
- Sher Mandal is the library located within the fort, where Humayun had slipped from stairs and met his death.
- Humayun was buried inside Purana Qila before his body was taken to Kalanaur in Punjab.
- Recent excavations done at this fort gave the historians a strong reason to believe, that the fort was built on the same site where the Pandava kingdom of Indraprastha once ruled.
