Travel India

Activities and Attractions of Delhi

Tourist Attractions of Delhi

Purana Qila: Just south-east of India Gate and north of Humayun’s Tomb and the Nizam-uddin Railway Station is the old fort, Purana Qila. This is the supposed site of Indraprastha the original city of Delhi. The fort has massive walls and three large gateways. Sher Shah, who briefly interrupted the Moghul empire by defeating Humayun, built the fort during his period of rule from 1538 to 1545 before Humayun wrested control of India back. Entering from the south gate the small octagonal red sandstone tower, the Sher Manzil, was later used by Humayun as a library. It was in this tower that he slipped, fell and received injuries from which he died. Just beyond this is the Qila-i-Kuhran Mosque or Mosque of Sher Shah.

Humayun’s Tomb: Built in the mid-16th century by Haji Begum, wife of Humayun, the second Moghul emperor, this is an early example of Moghul architecture. The elements in-’tte design - a squat building, lightened by high arched entrances, topped by a bulbous dome and surrounded by formal gardens - were to be refined over the years to the magnificence of the Taj Mahal in Agra.

This e,arlier tomb is thus of great interest for its relation to the later Taj. Humayun’s wife is also buried in the red and white sandstone, black and yellow marble tomb. Other tombs in the garden include that of Humayun’s barber while to the right is the tomb of Isa Khan, a good example of Pathan (Afghan) architecture from the time of the Lodi dynasty. There’s a fine view over the surrounding country from the terrace of Humayun’s Tomb.

Zoo: The Delhi Zoo is on the south side of the fort and is open from 8 am to 6 pm in summer, 9 am to 5 pm in winter.

Hazrat Nizam-ud-din Aulia: Across the road from Humayun’s Tomb is the shrine of the Moslem saint Nizam-ud-din Chisti. He died in 1325 aged 92 and his shrine, with its large tank, is only one of a number of interesting tombs here. They include the later grave of Jahanara, the daughter of Shah Jahan who stayed with him during his imprisonment by Aurangzeb. Mirza Ghalib, a renowned Urdu poet, also has his tomb here as does Azam Khan, a favourite of Humayun and Akbar who was murdered by Adham Khan in Agra.

In turn Akbar had Adham Khan terminated and his grave is near the Qutab Minar. The construction of Nizam-ud-din’s tank caused a dispute between the saint and the constructor of Tughlaqabad further to the south of Delhi - see Tughlaqabad for details.

Lodi Tombs: About three km to the west and adjoining the Indian International Centre are the Lodi Gardens. In these well-kept gardens there are the tombs of the Sayyid and Lodi rulers. Muhammad Shah’s tomb (1450) is a prototype for the later Moghul style tomb of Humayun, a design which would eventually develop into the Taj Mahal. Other tombs include those of his predecessor Mubarak Shah (1433), Ibrahim Lodi (1526) and Sikander Lodi (1517). The Bara Gumbad Mosque is a fine example of its type of plaster decoration.

Safdarjang Tomb: Beside the smaller Safdarjang airport, where Indira Gandhi’s son was killed in a light plane accident in 1980, is the Safdarjang Tomb. It was built in 1753-54 by the Nawab of Oudh for his father Safdarjang and is one of the last examples of Moghul architecture before the final remnants of the great empire completely collapsed. The tomb stands on a high terrace in an extensive garden. There are good views from the roof of the tomb.

Moth ki Masjid: South again fronM the Safdarjang Tomb this mosque is said to be the finest mosque in the Lodi style. It was around this area that Timur defeated the forces of Muhammad Shah Tughlaq in 1398.

Hauz Khas: About midway between Safdarjang and the Qutab Minar this area was once the reservoir for the second city of Delhi, Siri, which lies slightly to the east. Interesting sights here include Feroz Shah’s Tomb (1398) and the remains of an ancient college.

Khirki Masjid and Jahanpanah: This interesting mosque with its four open courts dates from 1380. The nearby village of Khirki also takes its name from the mosque. Close to the mosque are the remains of the fourth city of Delhi, Jahanpanah, including the high Bijai Mandal platform and the Begumpur Mosque with its multiplicity of domes.

Tughlaqabad: The massively strong walls of Tughlaqabad, the third city of Delhi, are east of the Qutab Minar. The walled city and fort with its 13 gateways was built by Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq and its construction involved a lagendary quarrel with the saint Nizam-ud-din. When the Tughlaq ruler took the workers whom Nizam-ud-din wanted for work on his shrine the saint cursed the king with the warning that his city would be inhabited only by Gujars (shepherds). Today that is indeed the situation.

The dispute between king and saint did not end with curse and counter-curse. When the king prepared to take vengeance on the saint, Nizam-ud-din calmly told his followers, in a saying that is still current in India today, ‘Delhi is a long way off. Indeed it was for the king was murdered on his way from Delhi in 1325. The fort walls are constructed of massive blocks and outside the south wall of the city is an artificial lake with the king’s tomb in its centre. A long causeway connects the tomb to the fort, both of which have walls that slope inward.

Red Fort: The/red sandstone walls of Lai Qila, the ‘Red Fort, extend for two km and vary in height from 18 metres on the river side to 33 metres on the city side. Shah Jahan commenced construction of the massive fort in 1638 and it was completed in 1648. He never completely moved his capital from Agra to his new city of Shahjahanabad in Delhi because his son Aurangzeb deposed him and imprisoned him in Agra Fort. The Red Fort dates from the very peak of Moghul power.

When the emperors rode out on elephant back into the streets of old Delhi it was a display of pomp and power at its most magnificent. The Moghul period at the top was a short one, however. Aurangzeb was the first and last great Moghul Emperor to rule from here. Today the fort is typically Indian with would-be guides leaping forth to offer their services as soon as you enter. It’s still a calm haven of peace if you’ve just left the frantic streets of old Delhi. The city noise and confusion is light years away from the fort gardens and pavilions. If you look out over the fort wall towards the Yamuna River there will probably be assorted musicians, contortionists, rope climbers, magicians, dancing bears and rope climbers down below.