Mystery of the lesser known Purana Qila

Delhi’s history is often spoken through various monuments and Purana Qila is among those. This 16th-century place is a good place to tell the story of urban development in Delhi. The site includes the mythology and medieval-era stories within it. The present citadel was built by the Mughal emperor Humayun. He decided to build a city that was called dinpanah that means the refuge of faith. It was soon captured by Sher Shah Suri of the Sur dynasty. In his reign, he also added some buildings to the fort. In today’s time, it has become one of the favourite places for activities and performances.

Key Attractions of Purana Qila

• Qila-e-Kunha Mosque

Built by Sher Shah Suri in 1541, the mosque is a perfect example of pre-Mughal design. It is a wide mosque which has a single dome and five doorways to enter. The Mosque had to look for information about ornamentation and constructions since it is richly decorated with colourful stones and sculptures on both exterior and internal surfaces.

• Sher Mandal

On the right side of the Talaqi Darwaza is the Sher Mandal which is an octagonal red stone tower. As his library, Humayun used this. This building was built to enjoy the weather and to enjoy a good view. Later when Humayun took over it, he converted it into a library. One day he slipped down the stairs of this tower and died due to the injuries he suffered.

• Gateways

The fort is surrounded by three gates. The Bara Darwaza is the main entrance to the fort on the west and is bordered by two wide bastions. Second is the Humayun Darwaza also called the southern door facing Humayun’s tomb. Ironically, Talaqi Darwaza is the third gate facing north and is permanently closed. All the gates are double-storeyed structures of sandstone flanked by two wide semi-circular bastion walls, adorned with inlays of white and coloured marble and blue tiles.

• Walls

The fort is surrounded by two walls, one inside, and the other outside. The walls are 20 meters high, and 4 meters thick. There was a water body in between the walls to prevent attacks. In one year the walls and gates were built.

• ASI Museum

Inside the complex, there is a museum which displays the artifacts and antiquities found by the ASI during their excavations. These excavations have defined Delhi’s history. Here you can see the ornate gates of ancient Jain temples. Along with potteries of different eras found from different layers of riverbed Yamuna.

These are the facts about Purana Qila. To know more, simply download the Audio Odigos App. Just choose the city and language you want, and discover famous sights, with secrets and verified stories; select the chapter read and listen. They are currently the best audio guide application.