If you want to explore the fascinating history of Delhi, then head out on a rediscovering tour! Explore these historical places for a glimpse at one of the world’s oldest civilizations.
Delhi, an ancient city of three rival kingdoms, can be called the heart of India. Delhi has grown over the centuries to become one of India’s major religious centres, as well as a government centre. Here are some historical places in Delhi that are worth visiting for all you history buffs. Delhi has several other sites that are worth visiting for their historical significance, but you will have to do some research on these places before heading there.
Mughal architecture, which originated in India during the 16th century, can be seen throughout old Delhi. This beautiful style is characterized by elaborate and intricate designs.
Red Fort
Red Fort has played an important part in Indian history as we can find out from its extensive walls and several towers that spread over an area of 11 acres (45,000 m²). Built by the Emperors of the Mughal dynasty, it is today a well-preserved monument and houses a well-furnished museum.
The Fort was built by Emperor Shah Jahan between 1638 and 1648. It has two main gates: the Delhi Gate and the Lahori Gate. One of the popular tourist attractions in Delhi, it can be visited any time of day or night, but during the mornings and evenings, you may encounter long queues as well as security checks.
The Humayun’s Tomb
It is an impressive mausoleum built by Emperor Humayun’s wife, Hamida Begum. It was built in 1562 and is considered a precursor to the Taj Mahal as well as to other Mughal architectural masterpieces. The tomb is separated from the main town which was a very popular style during those days.
It reflects strong Turkish influence and was built entirely of red sandstone. It has four iwans (square halls) and the cenotaphs (empty tombs) of both Humayun and Hamida Begum. Though one of the most important historic monuments, it also houses a small museum containing articles dating back to the 16th century.
Also Visit: Famous Temples In Delhi
National Museum
It is one of the largest of its type in India. It has a large collection of statues, paintings, and jewellery that date back to ancient times.
The museum was originally built by the British in 1879 and housed their collections from the 18th century. The museum is located near Connaught Place and can be visited any time of day. There is no entrance fee but you may have to pay for the tickets to visit some exhibits inside it.
The Qutub Complex
The complex houses three important monuments: Qutb Minar, Alai Minar and Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque. These monuments represent Indo-Islamic Architecture at its best, both in terms of design and ornamentation.
Qutub Minar is the best-known monument of this group. It was built in 1311 during the reign of Sultan Qutbul-ud-din Aybak. The 56 meters high minar is semi-octagonal in shape and it has three storeys with three rows of arches on each face. It is also known as the Tower of Victory or The Victory Tower.
The Alai Minar was built at the beginning of the 15 century during the rule of Sultan Alauddin Khalji. It is now among the oldest monuments in India and it has a height of 24 meters. It is a double-domed structure and its design is inspired by the famous mosques of Damascus, Syria.
The Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque is the largest in Delhi and was built between 1344 and 1348. It has a unique feature in the architectural style of the time, with a dome attached to a hexagonal drum with a five-sided central courtyard. It also has two minarets – one at each end of the courtyard, with an impressive sight from its ground level.
Alhambra Pavilion
The pavilion is one of the main tourist attractions in Delhi. It was built by the British in 1874 in the Mughal style but was inspired by the Alhambra of Granada in Spain. It is very popular for its beautiful arches, fountains and stunning architecture.
The pavilion has a large dome supported on 12 columns made of red sandstone. Many fountains are built around the pavilion which is lit up during both evenings and nights. The pavilion is located in a large park with rose gardens and many peacocks are roaming around it. This place makes for a great picnic spot.
The Purana Qila
Though not as big as the Red Fort, has an interesting history attached to it. The fort is said to have been built by Rajput King Prithvi Raj Chauhan, who used it as his palace and fortress.
The Qila was converted into a fortress by Sher Shah Suri and remained so till the Mughal period. It eventually fell into disuse and was converted again into a park by the British. The park has beautiful gardens spread across an area of 11 acres (45,000 m²), which is one of the largest in India. The gardens are open all day except during festivals and other public holidays, where they close earlier. For those weekend visitors to Delhi, this place makes for a perfect picnic spot.
Hauz Khaz Fort
This Fort was built by Firoz Shah Tughlaq in the 14th century. It is located on the south side of the Yamuna River, just opposite Mehrauli. The fort was rebuilt in stone by Sikandar Lodhi in 1493. The original structure which had mud bricks were blown up by Hosamuddin, who also added two massive double-storeyed gates on each side of the main gate.
The Hauz Khaz Fort still houses several rooms built during the early 16th century, but most of them are now used as brothels. The area inside the fort is open to visitors any time of day or night and two restaurants inside it serve good food at reasonable prices.
Jantar Mantar
Jantar Mantar is a large collection of large stone astronomical instruments built in the early 18th century. It is supposed to be a very accurate method of calculating time and astronomy. Its design was influenced by the famous observatories of the time in Pune (India), Paris (France) and Vienna (Austria).
The main instruments include the SamratYantra, BhaskaraYantra, Roop Yantra, Jai Singh’s Sextant and Jai Singh’s Sundial. The entire complex is spread across 20 acres (81,000 m²).
Agrasen ki Baoli
It is a 3-minute walk from the Jantar Mantar and was built in the 16th century by Raja Agrasen. The baoli is a flight of stairs down to a huge public bathing pool which was used as the water source for the neighbourhood around that time. It now serves as a picnic spot as well as an open-air theatre.
Although it has lost much of its former glory, Delhi still offers many sites of interest to those who love its history and architecture. It is considered one of the famous Historical places in Delhi.
Jama Masjid
This Masjid is an excellent example of Mughal architecture. It was built between 1644 and 1656 during the time of Shah Jehan. The mosque is an important landmark in Delhi and its design has been copied by other monuments built later.
The other mosques in Delhi are all smaller but have just as much beauty as Jama Masjid. They are also equally crowded at all times of the day. The Mosque of Wazir Khan is the most famous out of these monuments. It was built in 1634 by Mohammed Zai Khan who used it for his family’s place of worship until the end of his life. Although it has lost much of its former glory, Delhi still offers many sites of interest to those who love its history and architecture. It is considered one of the famous Historical places in Delhi.
