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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 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, intro duced
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 |
