Delhi, Lost Monuments

LOST MONUMENTS OF DELHI

Delhi has been an epicenter of political powers since generations. It has seen the birth and fall of many rulers and hence the history of Delhi is so diverse. There are different versions of stories and facts about the history of Delhi. We don’t know which one is right. But one thing is sure and that is - Delhi has stood by the test of time. Like a Phoenix the city has risen from the ashes several times. Today it is one of the most developed cities of India. But in this course of development, there are lots of loss that city has seen. One of the losses is its lost monuments. There are some monuments that have been completely unknown to people. Lost amidst the hustle and bustle of this capital city, they are lying unnoticed.

      Old Fort

Let’s start with the Old Fort. Though Old Fort is not actually lost, I have included this fort in lost places as it is really underrated and unnoticed. Though located on Mathura Road, just next to National Zoological Park, which has huge influx of local people on weekends, the Old Fort is visited only by three kinds of people today. Firstly, couples who have made this place a dating spot (unfortunately), secondly by some locals who came here with their kids for an evening boating ride (in pond that is outside the fort) and thirdly people like me who loves to visit historical places. The saddest part of this fort is the couple visitors who have shamelessly made this beautiful historical place a dating spot. I wish government could do something about it. Anyways coming back to the beauty of this fort, it is spread over 2 kilometers and surrounded by green gardens. Build by Sher Shar Suri the fort houses- A lake, Stepped Well (Baoli), Qila-i-Kuhna Mosque and Humayun’s Library known as Sher Mandal. Though most of the structures are not maintained the green gardens are quite maintained. Most of the structures are closed and you cannot go inside, other than a small museum just beside the main gate. Thankfully every year, one or the other musical festival(s) are held here which invites decent number of visitors.

Khairul Manazil, a Mosque and later a Madarsa built by Maham Anga, stands opposite to the Old Fort. Lying unnoticed there, it is still surviving. It remains open for Friday prayers.

        Firoz Shah Kotla

Another beautiful ruin that has survived the course time is Firoz Shah Kotla monument. I know the world knows Firoz Shah Stadium, but only few have heard of this monument. But just beside this stadium lies the fortress built by Sultan Feroz ShahTughlaq. One can find the remains of the fifth city of Delhi, the Famous Ferozabad, at the Feroz shah Kotla near Bahadur shah Zafar Marg amidst New and Old Delhi. The Fort of Feroz Shah at Kotla was built by Feroz Shah Tuglaq in the year 1354. Like many other monuments of Delhi, it is lying there unnoticed.Unlike Old Fort it is visited by families. Originally it was a fortress built by Sultan FerozshahTughlaq to house his version of Delhi city called Ferozabad. A large enclosure of high walls, Feroz Shah Kotla was the grand and opulent royal citadel of the city. Many visitors like Timur and others have given splendid descriptions of this fortress. But unfortunately, most of its beauty is gone today.It houses Palaces, Pillared halls, a pigeon-tower and a Baoli (stepped well) some of which are still in good condition. But the two most interesting structure personally my favourite are The Jami Masjid and The Ashoka’s Pillar.

Beside these, the most interesting fact about this place is that people come here to light up diyas and incense sticks. It is considered as the abode of Djinns or spirits. I don’t know from where and when this belief has come into existence, but it’s very evident. Believers come here to ask for the completion of wishes.  Some people even leave written requests. The fixed stream of believers assures that wishes are being granted by the Djinns. This fort has also been mentioned in William Dalrymple’s books.

  

      Tughlaqabad Fort

Lying in isolation, this fort is in an extremely deplorable condition. It’s crumbling, yet massive ramparts standing a silent witness to a change its builders could never have thought. The Tughlaqabad Fort was built by Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq, the founder of the Tughlaq dynasty. The fort is spread over an extensive area and a piece of architectural genius. I saw the walls of the fort when I was passing through that area and then I decided that I have to visit this place. Its architectural beauty is very well defined in William Dalrymple’s book (the famous travel writer).

Legend says that this place is cursed. For completing this fort Ghiyas-ud-Din ordered that all the workers of Delhi to work for this fort. This drew the rage of the Sufi saint, Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, who found work on his baoli (well) interrupted. And hence he cursed this fort, saying, “May the fort remain unoccupied, or else may herdsmen live here.”

True to this, today fort is just a mere ruin. 

      Safdarjung Fort

The fort’s architecture resembles the structure of Humayun’s Tomb. First time I went there was because it used to house the office of Archaeological Survey of India and had to interview an officer there. Till that time even I had no idea about this fort. Known as the “The Last Flicker in the Lamp of Mughal Architecture”, this monument is not visited by many tourists today as most of us don’t know about it. I am sure it is not even listed in many websites that show places to visit in Delhi. This magnificent monument was completed in 1754 as a memorial of Mirza Muqim Abul Mansur Khan, popularly known as Safdarjung by his son Nawab Shuja-ud-Daulah of Awadh. Located in the in the western end of Lodhi road, it is lying unnoticed there.

      Jamali Kamali

The Jamali Kamali mosque and tomb is located on the Mehrauli road. The mosque was built in 1528-29 during the rule of Babur. Named after the famous Sufi saint Jamali and his not so know disciple Kamali, this place is quite isolated. Other than the localites who came here with their herds and a guard, I hardly found anyone there. The most surprising story about this place is that it is haunted. Though I did not experienced anything like that. I only felt one thing and that was how badly this place has been ignored. 

Popular Monuments of Delhi

MONUMENTS OF DELHI- A GLIMPSE INTO THE RICH HERITAGE OF INDIA

I don’t know since when, but I have always been fascinated towards monuments. The one obvious reason that I can think of is my love for History subject though most of the students hate this subject. I love to read about kings, queen, their reign and their era. When we (me and my family) were shifted to Delhi the only excitement was that I would be able to visit all the monuments about whom I have read in books. When I came here I realized that people generally prefer malls over monuments as visiting monuments are not considered very up market. Despite this some monuments have become a hangout place for collage goers, some have become couple spots, some are tourist’s spots and some are lying lost to be noticed by us. 

Literally meaning “A statue, building, or other structure erected to commemorate a famous or notable person or event” monument surely glorify about the past grandeur. The history of Delhi is dotted with the creation of several architectural masterpieces which are now an integral part of the heritage of this great metropolis. Delhi is a place, which serves, as a testament to India’s glorious past. I would like to quote the famous poet Mirza Ghalib who wrote, “The world is the body and Delhi is its soul”.  The richness of Delhi is well reflected in the grand historical monuments through its majestic architectures.

 Let’s start with the most visited monuments, the most visited places of Delhi-

Whenever we talk about monuments of Delhi, the first things that come to anyone’s mind is Red fort or Lal Qila– one of the most potent symbols of Delhi. It was the political center of the Mughal dynasty. Emperor Shahjahan built the Red Fort or Lal Qila in 1648. Ahmed Lahwari, the chief architect of the Taj Mahal, designed this massive Fort.

Republic Day parade on 26th January is the most colourful of the city's festivals events and also the biggest crowd-puller. Hundreds of thousands people line the route from Rajpath to the Red Fort to watch the pageant of solders, camel crops, armoured regiments, brass bands, folk dancers, school children, war veterans and elaborate floats representing the cultural diversity of India.

And if you enter this majestic fort through the Lahori Gate, it would take you to a vaulted arcade known as the Chatta Chowk which is now famous by the name of Meena Bazaar. A little inside, you can see the Indian War Memorial Museum. Red Fort comprises of some beautiful buildings inside its precincts such as the Diwan-i-Aam, Diwan-i-Khas, Rang Mahal and Moti Masjid, to name a few.

And just less than a mile to the west of Red Fort lies the largest mosque of India, The Jama Masjid. Completed in 1656 under the reign of Shahjahan, This magnificent mosque was designed by Ustad Khalil. It too is extremely popular with tourists. And I think the best time to visit it is during Eid and Ramadan when special prayers are held here.

Qutub Minar located in the southern part of the city is an exquisite example of Indo-Islamic architecture. 234 feet high, it was completed during the reign of Iltutmish in 1200 AD. Today, it has emerged as a center for number of cultural activities organized in the capital city. Iconic to Delhi’s rich and diverse past this monument serve as a perfect backdrop for these events.

To further add up to the beauty of these monuments many sound and light programs are being organized regularly in evenings that tells the stories of royal prince and princess of the royal times.

Every year Qutb Festival is organized in the month of November. And it is quite an experience to enjoy the music symphony with the backdrop of this amazing monument.

The tomb of Humayun who was the second Mughal Emperor of India is the earliest existing specimen of the Mughal architecture and exemplifies the formative stage of its structural style. It was built by his widow, Biga Beghum, 14 years after his death; it was a tribute by a wife to a husband. And a very few people know that it is considered to be the precursor of the 'Taj Mahal' as far as the architectural structure is concerned.

It is built in the area of Nizamuddin Auliya’s dargah and that is why it was considered lucky to be buried in its vicinity. It was later used for the burial of various members of the ruling family and contains some 150 graves. It has aptly been described as the necropolis of the Mughal dynasty. The serenity and calmness of the place further exemplifies its beauty. Built over acres of lush green land and surrounded by fountains this complex is home to a well-manicured garden, a beautiful mosque and several other tombs.

This post will be incomplete if I won’t write about Old Fort, one of Delhi’s most visited monuments. Built by Sher Shah Suri in 1541, it has survived the ravages of time. Old Fort at Delhi is a perfect example of Lodi style of architecture in Delhi.

Centuries have past and modern developments have given a complete new look to the city. With the passage of time few monuments are lying lost to be noticed by us. Read my next post to know about the lost monuments of Delhi.