Delhi Development Stages
The core of first 7 cities of Delhi was reated by Anangpal Tomar in the 12th century who is said to have built Lalkot which id the first known regular defence work in Delhi. The Chauhan Rajputs later captured Delhi from Tomars. At the beginning of the 12th century, the last Hindu kingdom of Delhi was ruled by the Tomara and Chauthan dynasties and was also near the Qutub Minar and Surajkund , now in Haryana. Prithviraj III, also known as Rai Pithora extended Lalkot, adding massive ramparts and gates and made Qila Rai Pithora the first city of Delhi. today, only the ramparts are visible near Qutub Minar though the city is known to have several Hindu And Jain temples.
In 1303, Alauddin established the second city of Delhi, called Siri of which nothing remains but only the embattlements. He also had dug a vast reservoir, Hauz Khaus to supply water to this city. Contemperory historians describe Delhi of that time as being the envy of Baghdad, the rival of Cairo and the equal of Constantinople.
The Khaljis 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. Tughlaq architecture is austere in comparison to the ornate structures raised by the Kahljis. Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq built the fortified town of Tughalaqabad, which lies 8 kms. east of the Qutub complex and stood 10 kms. southeast of the Qutub Minar. though partially in ruins, it is still worth a visit for the tomb of Ghiyasuddin - a fine example of Tughlaq architecture.
The fourth Delhi dates from 14th century and was also a creation of the Tughlaqs known as Jahanpanah, it also stood near Qutub Minar. Ghiyasuddin's successor Muhammad Bin Tughlag built the city. It largely comprised of a walled enclosure between Qila Rai Pithora and Siri. Nothing remains of it, and the Sultan is better remembered for his eccentris schemes, the most notorious of which was the transfer of capital from Delhi to Daulatabad in Deccan and back again to Delhi.
The fifth Delhi - Firozabad was at Firoz Shah Kotla in present day New Delhi. Firoz Shah Tughlaq, a man interested in history, hunting , architecture and irrigation created the fifth city of Delhi. Its ruins include an Ashoka pillar, moved from Ambala where Tamerlaine prayed during his attack on India. Delhi's growth remained stagnant during the reign of the Sayyids and Lodis. The only interesting architectural features added by them were tombs, the best of which may be seen at the Lodhi Gardens. In 1526 Zahir-ud-din Babur, the fouder of the great Mughal dynasty, defeated the last of Lodi Sultans - Ibrahim. Babur chose agra as his capital in 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 temperarily deposed Humayun.
In 1638, the fifth Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan decided to shift the Mughal capital from Agra to Delhi and on the 16th April 1639, the foundations were laid for the seventh city of Delhi - Shahjahanabad on the banks of river Yamuna further to the north of Firoz Shah Kotla. It took nine years to complete. Shahjahanabad roughly corresponds to old Delhi today and is largely preserved. The grand monument includes the Red Fort, the majestic Jama Masjid and Chandani Chowk.
Finally the eight Delhi - New Delhi was contructed by the British. The move from Kolkata was announced in 1911 but consturction was not completed and the city was officially inaugurated in 1931. In 1947, it became the capital of truncated India, with Hindu and sikh refugees pouring in from Pakistan. Many have invaded Delhi through the ages. Tamerlaine plundered it in the 14th century, the Afgan Babur occupied it in the 16th century and in 1739, the Persian emperor - Nadir Shah sacked the city and carted the Kohinoor diamond (now part of the British royal family's crown jewels) and the famous Peacock Throne of Iran. The British captured Delhi in 1803, but during the Indian uprising of 1857 it was a centre of resistance against the British. Prior to the partition, Delhi had a very large Muslim population and Urdu was the main language. Now Hindu Punjabis have repalced many of the Muslims and Hindi language predominates.
Thus, Delhi offers a meaningful introduction to a country as vast and culturally rich as India, bearing as it does the wealth of an ancient civilization and all the urgency of a country in the 21st century.
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