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After the death of Babur, Humayun became the Emperor of India, and in 1534 he founded the city, Dinpannah, the citadel of which is the Purana Qila. In 1540, Shershah Suri captured the city and renamed it Shergarh or Delhi Shershahi. In 1555, the city was re-captured by Humayun who lived in the Purana Qila until his death.
Special Attractions in and around Purana Qila
It is believed that Purana Qila is built on the remnants of the historic city, Indraprastha, which was the capital of Pandavas. In fact, the Archaeological Survey of India has excavated several pieces of pottery and relics that dates back to 1000 B.C. The fort is an excellent example of medieval military architecture. In simple words, the fort doesn’t have opulent palaces, elaborate administrative areas and majestic recreational spaces.
The fort has three large gates viz. Humayun Darwaza, Talaqi Darwaza and Bara Darwaza. All the gates are made of red sandstone with chhatris surmounting them. Within the Purana Qila is the Qila-i-Kuhna Mosque, which was built by Shershah Suri in 1541 and Sher Mandal, the double-storeyed octagonal tower, which Humayun transformed into his library. Humayun died in 1556 after falling from Sher Mandal.
Timings
Purana Qila remains open on all days of the week from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The timings for boating in the lake adjacent to the qila are 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM during summers and 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM during winters.
Location of Purana Qila
State: Delhi
Tourist Attractions near Purana Qila
Located in close proximity of Purana Qila is the Humayun’s Tomb. The mausoleum is a fine example of Indo-Persian architecture. The Humayun’s Tomb complex houses several prominent structures as Barber’s Tomb, Afsarwala Mosque, Afsarwala Tomb, Arab Sarai, Garden of Bu-Halima and Tomb and Mosque of Isa Khan. Outside the Humayun’s Tomb enclosure is the Nila Gumbad, which is believed to be the memorial of Fahim Khan, who was the attendant of Abdur Rahim Khan, and Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia’s shrine, which also houses the tomb of Amir Khusrau, the eminent poet and saint’s disciple. India Gate, Ashokan Rock Edict, National Zoological Park, National Science Centre Museum, Crafts Museum and National Museum of Natural History are some other major tourist attractions near Purana Qila.
This article was contributed by Anubha Shyam
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