Last Updated on March 17, 2023 by admin
Purana Qila, Delhi literally meaning Old Fort is one of the iconic landmarks of the city. With the presence of architecturally rich buildings, gardens, stepwell and mosque, Purana Qila is a must visit in Delhi.
Purana Qila, is one of the oldest forts in the city of Delhi and has been witness to the timeless history that unfolded decade after decade. This is exactly why visiting Purana Qila is one of the best things to do in Delhi.
Excavations done by Archeological Survey of India suggests that Purana Qila was built on the remains of the old city of Indraprastha of the times of Pandavas. Even today, Purana Qila stands all by itself giving us the brief history of time.
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PURANA QILA HISTORY
Purana Qila built by Humayun, the second Mughal Emperor which led to the planning of the city of Dinpanah, as a part of its new project of the capital city. Later, it was renamed as ‘Shergarh’ by SherShah Suri who took over the reins after defeating Humayun in the year 1540. He added few architectural structures to the fort which led to it being known as the ‘Sixth City of Delhi’.
The history of Purana Qila rewinds to the time of Pandavas. It is said that the excavations were identified as the Painted Grey Ware Culture which was used during the times of Mahabharata.
Built on the banks of the river Yamuna, Purana Qila was one of the major places of the new city project of Humayun, named Dinpanah. During the reign of SherShah Suri, two forts were constructed by him which remained incomplete.
Later, during World War, Purana Qila served as a refugee camp for the Japanese soldiers and during the India-Pakistan partition days, it was a stopover point for people crossing over.
PURANA QILA ARCHITECTURE
The architecture of Purana Qila mainly depicts mediaeval style of Mughal Architecture with huge fortifications. It is mainly beautified with blue stone work.
There are three entrances to Purana Qila. The main entrance or the gate is Bada Darwaza which means a Big Gate and is in use in today’s time as well.
The Second Gate is named Humayun Gate as from this gate, Humayun’s Tomb is visible.
The third gate is Talaqi Gate or the gate which is no longer in use or an abandoned one. These forts remind me of Lohagad Fort and Kumbhalgarh Fort.
All the gates here are two stories and are decked up with marble and blue stone work. At the top of the gates are small jharokhas which resemble the architecture of the forts in Rajasthan.
PLACES TO SEE IN PURANA QILA, DELHI
Qila-i-Kuhna Mosque
Built by Sher Shah as a symbol of his royal aspirations, when he defeated Humayun, this mosque was meant for his personal use.
The architecture of this mosque is based on Indo-Islamic style and has a single dome with five gates or the openings, built mainly for the Friday prayers.
The walls of the mosque are done up beautifully with the red, black and white marble and depicts geometrical designs on them. The structure of the building resembles that of a Rajputana building owing to the mix of Indian and Islamic architecture. There are two octagonal turrets attached to the end of the wall at the end.
It is said that inside the mosque for the repairs during the ancient times, rice paste, jaggery, black lentils and lime were used. People in the ancient times were quite technologically advanced and also used eco-friendly products for use.
Sher Mandal
Sher Mandal was an octagonal, two-storied structure built from red sandstone and white marble, made especially for Sher Shah as his pleasure retreat; however after his passing away Humayun made it as his library who died here itself after having a fall from the stairs.
Sher Mandal has a small chhatri kind of a structure making it look like a cenotaph. Read more about the Cenotaphs of Orchha, Indore and Bhuj.
Khairul Manzil Mosque
Not in the Purana Qila complex but located just opposite to the entrance gate of Purana Qila is Khairul Mosque built for the wet nurse of Akbar whose name was Maham Anga. She was Adham Khan’s mother who was a General in Akbar’s army.
Its looks are quite simple as compared to the Qila-i-Kuhna mosque however it has beautiful ornamentation on the gates as it is also very large in size. It also houses a madrasa inside it.
Purana Qila Museum
Also known as the ASI Museum, it houses the excavations done in the general area of Delhi including that of Purana Qila.
The entrance door of the Museum looks like the doorways of the ancient Jain Temples located in the Mehrauli area of Delhi. Explore more about Jain Temples of Ranakpur and Mount Abu in Rajasthan.
The Museum also displays pottery from the various river beds of Yamuna gathered over the ages.
The museum is open on all days except Fridays and Public Holidays from morning 9 am to evening 5 pm.
Stepwell & Hammam
There are two small excavation sites within the Purana Qila complex. One of them is a stepwell. Though dry now, it gives us an idea about the prevailing water circulation systems during that time and the architecture used to construct them. It is a much smaller stepwell than the locally located Agrasen ki Baoli.
Located close by to the Step well in the Purana Qila complex is the Hammam or the Bath House of that time. It is a brick structure in a dilapidated state with three small rooms with the remains of terra cotta pipes. It had a unique provision of temperature controls for hot and cold water. It is interesting to note the system of flow of water depending upon the season. Click here to know more about such Hammams in the Fort of Mandu.
Kunti Devi Temple
One of the lesser known places to visit in Purana Qila is this temple which is understood to have connection with Kunti, mother of Pandavas. It is said that this temple dedicated to Shiva and Durga was built by her and hence the name. Other than the historical importance, this temple has nothing much to offer with regard to sightseeing.
Purana Qila Light & Sound Show
In the evening after the fort timings are over, the old fort comes alive with the light and sound show known as Ishq-e-Dilli. It is a beautiful multimedia extravaganza narrating the story of the yester years.
It starts from the times of Prithvi Raj Chauhan and ends at the times when the Delhi Metro was launched. It is a must watch show if you are a history buff. It is functional in both Hindi and English and starts with Hindi narration around 7:30 pm and continues till 8:30 pm. English one starts at 9 pm. However, as of today it is non-functional as it is being upgraded. The duration of this show is 60 minutes and no shows are played on Fridays.
Purana Qila Lake
Lake is located just outside of the Purana Qila which offers a beautiful and serene atmosphere in the chaos of the big city.
It has lovely fountains that are functional in the evening along with all lit up Purana Qila at the backdrop making it more beautiful and scenic.
Purana Qila boating offers a boat ride of 20 minutes at a charge of Rs. 100/-. This lake is quite deep and offers paddling boat options too. Purana Qila boating is an experience in itself.
PLACES TO VISIT AROUND PURANA QILA
National Zoological Park
Just adjacent to the Purana Qila complex, around 500 metres away is National Zoological Park. It was opened in the year 1959 and houses more than 130 species of animals like the giraffe, chimpanzees and zebras and some of the rare birds like peafowls. Many conservation programmes are being run here successfully making it a must visit place near the Purana Qila.
National Science Centre
Very closeby to the National Zoological Park and around 2 km from Purana Qila is National Science Centre which aims to promote scientific knowledge among the children. If you are a science lover too, it’s a must visit place. If Science interests you, know more about Science City in Ahmedabad.
Lodhi Garden
Located at a distance of around 3 km away, Lodhi Garden is a must visit as it offers the most clean, green and scenic area of the city of Delhi. Various seasonal flowers bloom in the garden enhancing the beauty of this place. Gardens are important for fresh air and create an environment for the flora and fauna of that place to thrive.
India Gate
Located around 3 kms from Purana Qila, stands tall another monument which has witnessed history for decades. India Gate was built in the memory of around 70,000 soldiers who were martyred in the First World War. Earlier the Amar Jawan Jyoti, the eternal flame was lit here which is now shifted to the National War Memorial in the memory of the martyred soldiers of 1971 war. The monument gives us a great sense of pride and patriotism.
National War Memorial
To commemorate the sacrifices of our martyred soldiers in War, National War Memorial has been built in the year 2019. The purpose of this memorial is to connect people to the stories of the war heroes and to invoke patriotic feelings in the generations to come.
HOW TO REACH PURANA QILA
Delhi, being the capital city of India, is very well connected through Air, Road and Rail within India. Delhi offers an amazing spread of Metro Network to take passengers from the farthest end to the nearest.
Nearest Metro Station to Purana Qila is Supreme Court Metro Station which was erstwhile Pragati Maidan Metro Station on the Blue Line. One can take an auto or a cab for Purana Qila or can walkdown as it is a short walk from the Metro Station to Purana Qila which takes 10-15 minutes.
BEST TIME TO VISIT PURANA QILA
Best time to visit Purana Qila is from October till March. During these times, the weather in Delhi is pleasant and later quite cold to enjoy the sightseeing. There are the best flowers blooming everywhere, food is awesome and the experience everywhere is enjoyable.
PURANA QILA TICKET PRICE
Entry Fee to Purana Qila is INR 30 for Indian residents and INR 300
For foreigners.
FAQs for PURANA QILA, DELHI
Is Purana Qila in Delhi worth visiting?
Yes. With interesting history, beautiful architecture and manicured gardens, Purana Qila is a must visit in Delhi.
How much time to spend at Purana Qila?
On an average visitors would spend 1.5- 2 hours to explore the entire complex of Purana Qila in Delhi.
What is special about Purana Qila?
Purana Qila is one of the oldest forts in Delhi.
SUSTAINABLE TIPS FOR VISITING PURANA QILA, DELHI
- Do not write on or distort the rocks of the fort. You are witnessing a portion of history so respect it.
- The monuments at Purana Qila have stood the test of time. It’s good to respect them by not writing names or scratching the surface.
- Do not dispose of trash in the garden or fort premises. Use trash bins located at various strategic locations.
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1 comment
As always a beautiful insight into a historical place. It’s really an art to take the reader on a travelogue journey with words and you seem to be an expert on it. Am sure other readers would also feel the same..best wishes and looking for more such wonderful pieces from ecokats💐