ughlaqarchitecture is austere in comparison to the ornate structures raised by the Khaljis. Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq built the fortified town of Tughlaqabad, which lies 8 km east of the Qutb complex. This imposing fort is partially in ruins. It was built as a defence against the recurring invasions of the Mongols. It is still worth a visit, and the perfectly preserved tomb of Ghiyasuddin which lies to the south of the fort, is a fine example Tughlaq architecture. It once lay within a vast reservoir, was connected to the fort by a causeway and known as the Dar-ul-Aman or Abode of Peace.

Ghiyasuddin's successor, Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq built Delhi's fourth city, Jahanpanah. It largely comprised of a walled enclouser between Qila Rai Pithora and Siri. Nothing remains of it, and the Sultan is better remembered for his eccentric schemes, the most notorious of which was the transfer of the capital from Delhi to Daulatabad in the Deccan and back again to Delhi. Firoz Shah Tughlaq, a man interested in history, hunting, architecture and irrigation, created Delhi's fifth city, Firozabad. Then situated on the banks of the Yamuna, it is known as Firoz Shah Kotla. It lies of the busy Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, Delhi's Fleet Street, and its few surviving buildings include a mosque where Timur prayed.

Of greater intererst is an Ashokan Pillar. Two inscribed Ashokan pillars at Ambala and Meerut excited the couriosity of the emperor, and contemporary historians record their transportations to Delhi. One pillar was placed in Firuzabad, and it was the inscription on this one which was first deciphered by James Princep in 1837, yielding the key to the Brahmi script.

The second pillar was placed in Pir Ghaib, the emperor's hunting lodge in the Ridge. Firuz Shah extensively renovated Hauz Khas, beside which the also established a college for religious instruction and a mosque. His tomb is also there, and the village beside the impressive monuments and reservoir is now the location of boutiques and cafes. The instability which followed Firuz Shah's death was accentuated by the invasion of Timur-I-Lang (known in the west as Tamerlaine) in 1398. He plundered and laid waste the city.

Delhi's growth remained stagnant during the reign of he Sayyids and Lodis. The only interesting architectural features added by them were tomb, the best of which may be seen at the Lodi Gardens. Lady Willingdon had the area around the tomb landscaped and it remains one of Delhi's most beautiful gardens. The tomb of Muhammad Shah, the Rara Gumbad and adjoining mosque, and the tomb of Sikandar Lodi are the main monuments. A beautifully proportioned stone bridge was later built here by the Mughals.

In 1526, the last of the Lodi Sultans, Ibrahim, was defeated by Zahir-ud-din Babur, the founder of the great Mughal dynasty. The first six emperors were all extraordinary men, and their rule witnessed a powerful efflorescenceof Indo-Islamic architecture and cultrure. Babur chose to make Agra his capital, and it remained the Mughal capital till 1639. However, Babur's son, the emperor Humayun, built Delhi's sixth city Purana Qila, which is off Mathura Road.

The citadel was also partly raised by the Afghan Sher Shah Sur, who temporarily deposed Humayun. Sher Shah, who made a major contribution to public works, built the Qila Kunha Mosque and the Sher Mandal within the citadel in 1541. The purpose of the latter is not quite clear though it is thought that Humayun housed his library there. He fell on its steep stairs while answering the call to prayer, and died as a result three days later. Delhi's Zoological Park is adjacent to the Purana Qila.

Humayun's Tomb was raised by his widow, Haji Begum, jist 2 km south of Purana Qila. The magnificent structure in red sandstone and white marble is one of the finest examples of the garden tomb, and a precursor to the Taj Mahal. Its proportionate space, double dome and refined elegance are characteristic of Mughal architecture. Designed by a Persian architect Misak Miraza Ghiyas, it was begun in 1564 and took nine years to complete. Humayun's wives and several later Mughals are also buried within. In 1857, the last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah took refuge here but was captured by Lt. Hodson and exiled by the British to Rangoon. Within the spacious gardens of the tomb are a few smaller tombs and a mosque. Just across the highway from Humayun's tomb is the shrine of revered Sufi saint Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya (d.1325). A settlement developed here during the saint's lifetime and the locality has since remained continuously inhabited. The shrine, or dargah, draws devotees from all over the Islamic world. Amir Khusrau, a poet and the saint's beloved disciple is also buried here. This locality, known as the Nizamuddin basti, is dotted with several monuments, most of which have been encroached upon. The area, however, remains a fascinating place to explore as it seems to belong altogether to another century.

In 1638, the fifth Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan decided to shift his capital to Delhi, even as he was having the Taj Mahal built in Agra. On 16th April 1639, the foundations were laid for Delhi's seventh's city on the banks of the Yamuna further north of Firoz Shah Kotla. Known as Shahjahanabad, it took nine years to complete. By 1857, this elegant capital city was all that remained of the legendary Mughal empire. Yet, despite its periodic reversals of fortune, Shahjahanabad was never deserted. Today, it is one of the most densely populated localities in the world. Its organic growth has given it a very special character, which ahs withstood the pressures of recent times.

Back To Delhi Historical Capital