What is the History of Old Delhi?

While walking the bylanes of old Delhi you realize every wall has a story to tell.

Old Delhi is a walled city shaped roughly like a quarter circle with the Red Fort as a focal point.

The old city was surrounded by a wall enclosing about 1500 acres with 14 gates.

Although the walls have largely disappeared, most of the gates are still present.

The Red Fort is named for its massive walls of red sandstone and its proximity to the Salimgarh Fort.

The Red Fort is named for its massive walls of red sandstone and its proximity to the Salimgarh Fort.

It was a political and ceremonial center for the Mughals. Constructed in 1648 by Shah Jahan,

the architecture reflects the fusion of Persian and Timurid traditions, along with a huge beautiful garden.

It was designated a UNESCO World heritage site in 2007. The Red Fort has an area of 254.67

area of 254.67 acres enclosed by 2.41 kilometers of defensive walls, punctuated by turrets

bastions varying in height from 18 meters on the river side to 33 meters on the city side.

The fort is octagonal, with the north-south axis longer than the east-west axis.

The marble, floral decorations and double domes in the fort’s buildings exemplify later Mughal architecture.

Located in Chandni Chowk, Jama Masjid is one of the largest mosques in India.

Built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan between 1644 and 1656 at a cost

one million rupees, it has three gates, four towers, and two 40m high minarets constructed of strips of red sandstone and white marble.

The mosque is built on a red sandstone porch which is about 30 feet from ground level.

The courtyard can accommodate 25,000 people. The Red Fort stands opposite to Jama Masjid.

The floor is covered with white and black ornamented marble to look like a Muslim prayer mat. Beside it, a thin black border is marked for worshippers.

The immense culture of Old Delhi never loses its charm, giving us a window to look into history.

INDIA SURVIVAL GUIDE BLOG

When you come to the capital, the rich and splendid capital, you might often hear the words Old Delhi and New Delhi.

History of Old Delhi

Delhi has been the capital of India for centuries, even though it was never officially declared so until just after Independence

Any other state could have been the capital, but Delhi had to be it. It has that majestic aura since the time of the Mahabharata.