Purana Qila

Purana Qila, as it can be derived from the name means the 'Old Fort', and how old this stunningly beautiful piece of architecture actually is can be guessed from the fact the fort was the site of Indraprastha, the city mentioned in the Mahabharata and believed to have belonged to the Pandavas.

Originally, the fort was under the rule of Humayun, who constructed the city of Shergarh/ Dinpanah. Sher Shah Suri, who wrested control of the fort for a brief period of time destroyed that city but completed the fort from 1538- 1545. He added the beautiful structures of Sher Mandal and Qila-I-Kuhran Mosque, which further enhanced the grandeur of the Old Fort.

The Old Fort is surrounded by immense walls that rise to a height of 18m. Even though the fort had three gates- the Humayun darwaza, Talaqi darwaza and Bara darwaz, only the latter remains in use today. All the gates are surmounted by chattris. Once inside Purana Qila, you can see the Sher Mandal, an octagonal tower made up of red sandstone, which later served as Humayun's personal library, after he had wrested back the control of the fort from Sher Shah.

You can also explore the Mosque, which is situated just behind the Sher Mandal. Built in 1541, it's prayer hall measures 51.20m by 14.90 m and has five openings fitted with horseshoe-shaped arches. Once inside the hall, witness the highly ornamented mihrabs and the oriel windows that are surmounted by a wonderful dome.

Today, when you visit the fort, do check out the tiny museum that showcases splendid objects excavated from the site. You can also enjoy boating in the tiny lake next to the fort in a serene environment. The Delhi zoo is also housed next to the Purana Qila.

Don't miss out on the Son Lumeire- the sound and the light show that makes this ancient monument come alive as you relive the historical moments flash by you amidst the haunting ambience of the Purana Qila.

• Red Fort
• Jama Masjid
• Humayun's Tomb
• Qutab Minar
• Purana Quila
• Jantar Mantar
• Safdarjang's Tomb
• Lakshmi Narayan Mandir
• Rajghat
• Rashtrapati Bhavan
• India Gate
• National Museum
• Hazrat Nizamuddin's Tomb
• Bahai Temple
• Akshardham Temple

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