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| Delhi |
The capital city of India is a bustling
metropolis that successfully combines in its folds -
the ancient with the modern. Standing on the west-bank
of the Yamuna River at the narrowest point between the
Aravalli hills and the Himalayas, Delhi has commanded
the strategically vital route from the Northwest frontier
to the agriculturally rich Ganges plains. Its strategic
location was one of the prime reasons why successive
dynasties chose it as their seat of power.
Delhi has always been intrinsically identified with
power and imperial sway. The eternal Yamuna River
bears witness to the glorious and tumultuous 5,000-year-old
history, which begins
with the creation of Indraprastha by the Pandavas
of the Mahabharata. It is not surprising that what
constitutes Delhi today is really a conglomerate of
eight cities, created between the 11th and 17th centuries
around modern Delhi.
The
first four cities were towards the south around the
area where the Qutab Minar stands
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starting with Lalkot
or Qila Rai Pithora built by the Chauhan Rajputs in
mid 11th century. This city was followed by Siri,
built by Alauddin Khilji (near present day Hauz Khas)
in the 12th century. The third was Tughlaqabad, now
entirely in ruins, which stood 10km Southeast of the
Qutab Minar. The fourth city dates from the 14th century
and was known as Jahanpanah. It was also built by
the Tughlaqs and it also stood near the Qutab Minar. The fifth city was Ferozabad, built by Feroz Shah
Kotla. Some of its ruins are to found opposite the
Raj Ghat on the banks of the Yamuna River. The sixth
city Dinpanah was created by Sher Shah at Purana Qila
(Old Fort) that stands in New Delhi today. The Mughal
Emperor Shahjahan constructed the seventh city Shahjahanabad
in the 17th century, thus shifting the Mughal Capital
from Agra to Delhi. His city corresponds to the walled
Old Delhi, which is still largely preserved. Finally
the eighth city, New Delhi, which was constructed
by the British and was officially, inaugurated in
1931. After Independence in 1947, New Delhi became
the capital of India. |
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