Delhi History

Delhi is known today as the capital of India, but this status has been bestowed upon the city quite recently as compared to the more than 3000 year old history that it has witnessed. Even though the journey was long and tough, with many overpowering empires and invaders plundering its wealth, Delhi has always played an important role in the scene of Indian history. Its importance was augmented by its geographic location which is ideally placed in the heart of the nation, on the route to Central Asia and the north-west frontiers. It was also a strategic point between the Patliputra-Taxila route, which was used by the Buddhist monks as well as the Mauryan armies.

The available history of Delhi dates back to 1450 BC, with the Indraprastha settlement that finds its mention in the famous Hindu epic Mahabharata. The city was somewhere near the Purana Quila region, according to the archaeological records.

At the commencement of the 12th century, the city was captured by the Rajput Tomaras that spread under the reigns of King Prithviraj Chauhan. The city around the Mehrauli complex was known as Quila Lal Pithora at that time. Only little remnants from that era is left today.
Entering into the fourteenth century, the city got its new incarnation as Siri, a kingdom built near the Hauz Khas are, by Alauddin Khilji of the Delhi Sultanate. It remained a major trade centre of that time, due to the trade reforms of the emperor. Alai Darwaza and south gate of Quwwat-ul-Islam are the evidences left of that chapter.

Following Siri, the new face of Delhi was called Tughlaqabad. It wsas around 1321 Ad, when Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq of the Tughlaq empire gave the city a new form with its buildings and other structures, the remains of which can be still found in the Qutub Complex area.

In the middle of fourteenth century, another stage in Delhi's history began taking shape as Jahanpanah. It was a creation of Muhommad-bin-Tughlaq from the Tughlaq dynasty, who was known for his excellent ideas that fell in its execution. The city was built near Qutub Minar area. This was followed by Firozabad, that sprung up in the Feroze Shah Kotla area, in the year 1354 AD. It was during the reigns of Feroze Tughlaq that Ferozabad became the capital of Tughlaq empire and it remained the same until Sikandar Lodi shifted his base to Agra. The iron Ashoka Pillar still stands near the Qutub Minar, showing the evidence of that era.
Following the phase of the Tughlaqs, Delhi was reinvented as Sher Shahi in mid 16th century as the second Mughal emperor Humayu started its construction but it was completed and named by Sher Shah Suri, who defeated the king. The area was located near the Purana Quila and some of the remnants of that era are still intact there like the Lal Darwaza and Sher Mandal. Flights and trains and buses run from Delhi all over north India, so it is always easy to reach the next destination. The government has also set up a separate Tourist Information Center cell at New Delhi to attract more and more tourists to India.

The next phase for Delhi was Shahjahanabad, which was created by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, who shifted his capital from Agra to Delhi in mid 17th century. The remnants of this era can't be called just remains but they are the jewels of Delhi. These include Red Fort, Jama Masjid and other structures of Old Delhi.

Finally, what came after years of revolts, struggles, battles and empire rule was the fresh and reinnovated New Delhi of today. This was created by the Britishers, who moved their capital from Kolkota (erstwhile Calcutta) to Delhi in 1931. After India won its independence, New Delhi became the capital of India.