Purana Qila its history and significance

this ppt is about purana qila also known as pandavon ka qila which has immense importance in indian history.

1. HISTORY – GE ASSIGNMENT ( DELHI THROUGH THE AGES ) semester: 1 Topic - Purana Qila

2. CONTENTS PURANA QILA: THE GRAND OLD FORT OF DELHI EXCAVATIONS AND FINDINGS STYLE OF ARCHITECTURE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE PURANA QILA DURING BRITISH RULE PURANA QILA IN PRESENT

3. Purana Qila: The Grand Old Fort of Delhi Location and History The fort is located near the expansive Pragati Maidan exhibition ground and is separated from the Dhyanchand Stadium by the Mathura Road, Delhi. It is about 2 km from India Gate , one of the must visit site in Delhi. Purana Quila is one of the oldest forts in Delhi, India.  It was built by the Mughal emperor Humayun between 1538 and 1545 . The fort originally lay on the bank of the river Yamuna before the river changed its course.  The fort was built by Humayun in an attempt to build a city of his own that is Dinpanah “refuge of faithful”. The construction of the fort was started by Humayun. While the construction of fort was going on, Humayun fought two back to back battles with Sher Shah Suri, the founder of Suri dynasty, in the year 1539 and 1540 in Chausa and Kannauj respectively and lost in both the battles as a result he flew from Delhi to save his life and remain in exile for almost 15 years. From here on the construction of fort was continued during the reign of Sher Shah Suri. It is believed that the construction was not completed during the reign of Suri. Humayun when returns to India with Persian aid, defeated Sikandar Shah Suri in 1555 and restored the Mughal empire finished the construction of this fort. Its rich historical and mythological associations make it a captivating archaeological site . The fort has immense significance in Indian mythology, with many believing it to be the legendary city of Indraprastha mentioned in the Mahabharat, which is belived to be the capital of Pandavas . But this belief seems to be just a legend as there is no archaeological evidences of this site being the capital city of mighty Pandavas . The major attractions inside the fort are the Qila- i - kuhna mosque of Sher Shah Suri, Sher Mandal ( a tower which is traditionally associated with the death of Humayun), a Stepwell and the remains of extensive rampart, which has three gates. There is an inscription in the mosque which says, ` As long as there are people on this earth , may this edifice be frequented, and people will be happy in it.`

4. Purana Qila Excavations and findings The Archaeological Survey of India carried out several excavations at this site in the years 1854-55 and again from 1969-73 by B.B. Lal, andin 2013-14 and 2017-18 by Vasant Kumar Swarnkar . The excavations revealed the artifacts which belongs to something around more than 2500 years, which means that these are from pre- Mauryan period when there was PGW culture in practice. These excavations provided the hierarchy or chronology of various historical periods through there artifacts. This chronology is as follows:- PGW( painted grey ware culture) NBPW( Northern Black Polished Ware Culture) Mauryan period Sunga period Kusana period Gupta period Rajputs Sultanate period Mughals

5. As per the carbon dating the artifacts found here belongs to something around 1200 BCE which shows that the PGW culture exists during the time period which somehow coincides with the later Harrapan culture. As there are three excavations done at Purana Qila over the past 40 years large number of antiquities are found. The artifacts found here are as follows:- Terracotta beads and toys ram figurine and some bowls that has stamp impressions showing signs of from the Mauryan period and a Mauryan period ringwell was also discovered, terracotta Yakshi figurines of the Sunga era, terracotta votive tanks and copper coins of the Kushan period, seals and coins of the Gupta period different types coral beads, crystal and carnelian, glazed plates and coins of the Sultanate eras and Chinese porcelain, glass wine bottles and a gold earring of the Mughal years were unearthed. Most of items which were discovered are basically the items of everyday routine life from different periods ranging from 300 BCE TO 5 TH century CE. There were some Shards found in Purana Qila in 1960s that showing evidence of PGW culture. Many experts correlate PGW culture with the Mahabharata period. And since Purana Qila is known as the site of Indraprastha, ASI officials argued that stratigraphic findings of PGW would establish the relation of the site with the epic. SOME ARCHEOLOGICAL FINDINGS AT PURANA QILLA

6. Style of Architecture The fort has medieval style Mughal architecture with the fortification as high as 18 metres , embellished with blue stone work and the circumference of the fort is about 1.5 km. It was surrounded by a wide moat that was linked to the river Yamuna- the waters of which once lapped against the eastern walls of the fort. It is believed that only a few monuments have survived out of the original structure. Some of these standing structures are believed to be Humayun’s work while others are attributed to Sher Shah. The fort has three gates :- Bara D arwaza Humayun Darwaza Talaqi Dar waza The first and main gate is called Bara Darwaza it is in the west of the fort and is used in the present time also for the entrance. It is a triple  structure and the gate is 20 meters high. The walls have some holes for arrows and guns.    Humayun Darwaza   was named so because Humayun’s tomb is visible from here. Another view of the historians says that the gate was constructed by Humayun that’s why it is named so. An inscription in ink on the gate refers to Sher Shah with the date as 950 A.H. (1543–44).  Talaqi Darwaza   or  forbidden gate  is the third gate of the fort. The northern gate, built in 1543–44, is called the Talaqi-Darwaza for reasons unknown. On this gate, in the front, carved marble leogryphs in combat with a man are seen above the  oriel windows . Built in random rubble masonry with dressed stone facing, the gate has a tall arch enclosed by two smaller arched openings. Two  bastions  adorn the gate with high  ceiling  rooms. On the second floor of the gate, there are two openings. Exterior surface of the gate had coloured tiles and the inner rooms were covered with incised plaster work All three gates bear a similar feature – that is, they are double-storied structures built in sandstone and adorned with two gigantic semi-circular towers. The ornate detailing on the pavilions ( chhatris ) and balconies ( jharokhas ) of the fort gateways display traces of Rajasthani style.  Each gate also has two bastion towers made up of marble.

7. Humayun Darwaza , left; and Bara Darwaza , right

8. Qila- i - kuhna Mosque Sher Shah Suri built this mosque in 1541. Five doorways are there having pointed arch in each. In this mosque the king and his courtiers used to offer prayers. The measurement of the prayer hall is approximately 51.20m x 14.90m. There are five mihrabs in the hall that face west direction. The mosque is a two- storey building where the second storey was used by the women courtiers for prayers. There was a doorway which led to the room where the royal women used to pray. This mosque is an aesthetic structure that reflects a transitional stage between the architecture of the Lodhis and the Mughals. The architectural features encountered here appear in more pronounced forms in the monuments built by Emperor Akbar later on. The Qila-e- Kuhna is a rectangular domed structure built in grey quartzite with profuse use of red and yellow sandstone. The façade of the structure contains five arches. The central one or the Iwan is beautifully embellished with bands of calligraphy of verses from the Quran inscribed on it. The architectural and symbolic focal point of the mosque are the Mihrabs that face west and indicate the direction of prayer. The main Mihrab is an exquisite structure that contains intricate carved and inlay work in white and grey marble. Apart from the Mihrabs, the ceilings of the Qila-e- Kuhna are also worthy of attention. The ceiling of the central dome represents a fine example of the brilliant craftsmanship involved in covering a rectangular space with a circular dome. The four corners are filled by what are known as squinches that are exquisitely carved. Throughout the mosque one can witness a harmonious blend- of Islamic architecture, that originated in west and central Asia, and indigenous Hindu stylistic motifs such as the kalash and the lotus. This points to the syncretic outlook of its builders which resulted in the evolution of a composite culture .

9. Some other structures inside the fort The archaeological structures like Sher Manadal , stepwell, Lal Darwaza , Khairul manazil are the prominent parts of the fort which adds more to it`s glory and historisiy . Sher Mandal is situated within the Old Fort Complex. It was created by Sher Shah Suri Later it was converted into Library and Observatory by Humayun. This was also the spot where on 24th January 1554 Humayun fell from the second floor to his death. It is an octagonal structure with Islamic dome at the top. And this is basically based on the the architecture style of the Safavids ( safavids were the ruling dynasty of Iran who fought against Timurunds to hold the control in central Asia).

10. Historical Significance of Purana Qila The Purana Qila is of immense significance in the history of Delhi. It gives the information about the time period of one of the world`s earliest civilisation which is indus valley civilisation`s later period, through the potteries of PGW culture which are found here and various other artifacts. It also provides information about various dynasties ( like Mauryan, Gupta, Kushana , sunga etc), through the coins and inscriptions which are found here and embeded in the chronological layers of different times of different dynasties. And it is also believed as the fort of pandavas as prescribed in the holy epic of the Mahabharata and to be built on the city of Indraprastha. As Coins from different dynasties are found here which shows that this place was an important trade centre from ancient times. The fort has also witnessed several historical events and has seen the rise and fall of several dynasties, including the Mughals, British rule, Lodhis and Suris . It also depicts the beautiful architectural styles based on which this fort is constructed . The fort was also the site of the battle of Delhi between the British and Indian forces during the Indian Rebellion of 1857. The fort also houses several museums, including the Archaeological Museum, which showcases artifacts from the Mauryan to the Mughal era.

11. Purana Qila during Bitish The fate of the modern city of Delhi is not only historically and metaphorically, but also literally and physically aligned with the Purana Qila. Sir Edwin Lutyens, who built the modern imperial capital of Delhi (1912-1930) for the British, is said to have aligned the central vista, now called the Rajpath, with the Humayun Darwaza of the Purana Qila. During the second World War, the premises of the fort also served as an internment camp for Japanese civilians of British India. During the Partition of India in 1947, hundreds of refugees are said to have camped at the Purana Qila for several months. Purana Qila in present time Beyond its historical significance, Purana Qila offers a serene escape from the bustling city. Stroll through its lush gardens, where fragrant flowers and sprawling lawns create a tranquil atmosphere. The lake within the fort complex adds to the charm, offering picturesque views and a peaceful ambiance. Within the expansive grounds of Purana Qila, you’ll find a plethora of attractions that transport you back in time. Marvel at the architectural grandeur of Qila- i - Kuhna Mosque, adorned with intricate designs and elegant domes. Explore the remnants of the ancient city walls and gateways that guarded the fort. Don’t miss the insightful archaeological museum, which houses a vast collection of artifacts dating back centuries. Purana Qila serves as a cultural hub, hosting various events that celebrate Delhi’s vibrant heritage. From music concerts to theater performances, the fort’s open-air auditorium comes alive with artistic expressions. The annual “Qutub Festival” attracts renowned artists from around the country, enchanting audiences with captivating performances against the backdrop of this historical marvel. OVER XV