Purana Qila (Old Fort)

It is believed that the site of ‘Purana Qila’ or ‘old fort’ has been perpetually occupied from 1000 BC. Out of the several houses, barracks and palaces at this site, currently only Sher Shah’s mosque and Humayun’s library are extant. The Purana Qila occupies the ancient mound, which perhaps conceals the ruins of the city of Indraprastha of the Indian epic, the Mahabharata.

Humayun's Dream Fortress
The current entrance of the Purana Quila, is a grandiose red sandstone gate on the western wall. This is called as Bara Darwaza or the main gate. It has a double-storeyed façade that has chhatris (elevated dome shaped pavilions) and a steep ramp.
On the southern wall, there is Humayun’s gate. On this there is an inscription that bears Sher Shah’s name and the date 950 AH. On the northern side, there exists Taliqi Darwaza or Forbidden Gate where there are carved reliefs.
On the other side of the road, is the Lal Darwaza or Red gate that is made of red sandstone. The Qila-i-Kuna mosque is a good illustration of pre-Mughal design. It is single domed structure of two storeys. Towards the south of the mosque is the Sher Mandal.
This is an octagonal tower of red sandstone that is also of two storeys.
Purana Qila (Old Fort), is the inner citadel of the city of Dina-panah, founded by the second Mughal Emperor, Humayun in 1533 and completed five years later. Purana Qila and its environs flourished as the sixth city of Delhi.

Structure of the Fortress
The walls of the Fort rise to a height of 18 mtrs., and run on for about 1.5 km, and has three arched gateways, the Bara Darwaza (Big Gate) facing West, which is still used today, the south gate, the 'Humayun Gate' probably called so because it was constructed by Humayun or that Humayun's Tomb is visible from there, and lastly, the 'Talaqi Gate' or forbidden gate. All the gates are double-storeyed sandstone structures flanked by two huge semi-circular bastion towers, and decorated with white and coloured-marble inlays and blue tiles, and replete with detailing, like ornate overhanging balconies, jharokhas, pillared pavilions chhatris on top, reminiscent of Rajasthani architecture as seen in the North and South Gates, and which were amply seen in future Mughal architecture. Despite the grandeurs of the exterior, few of interior structures have survived except the Qila-i Kuhna Mosque and the Shermandal, both credited to Sher Shah.

A Military Architecture
The Purana Quila is a good example of medieval military architecture. Like its predecessor, the Tughlaqabad fort, it is a massive fort. Purana Quila is a monument of bold design, which is strong, straightforward and every inch a fortress. It is different from the well-planned, carefully decorated, and palatial forts of the later Mughal rulers. Purana Quila is also different from the later forts of the Mughals, as it does not have a complex of palaces, administrative and recreational buildings, as is generally found in the forts built later on. The main purpose of this now-dilapidated fort was its utility, with less emphasis on decoration.

An Unlucky Fort for Rulers
Fort was supposed to be unlucky for rulers, who operated from here. Humanyun, Sher Shah Suri and Hindu king "Hem Chandra Vikramaditya" also called (Hemu) had short tenures of their rule. Akbar did not rule from here and Shahjahan built a new fort in Delhi known as 'Lal Quila' or Red Fort.

Qila-i-Kuhna Mosque
The single-domed Qila-i-Kuna Mosque, built by Sher Shah in 1541 is an excellent example of a pre-Mughal design, and an early example of the extensive use of the pointed arch in the region as seen in its five doorways with the 'true' horseshoe-shaped arches. It was designed as a Jami Mosque, or Friday mosque for the Sultan and his courtiers. The prayer hall inside, the single-aisled mosque, measures 51.20m by 14.90m and has five elegant arched prayer niches or mihrabs set in its western wall. Marble in shades of red, white and slate is used for the calligraphic inscriptions on the central iwan, marks a transition from Lodhi to Mughal architecture. At one time, the courtyard had a shallow tank, with a fountain.
A second storey, accessed through staircases from the prayer hall, with a narrow passage running along the rectangular hall, provided space for female courtiers to pray, while the arched doorway on the left wall, framed by ornate jharokas, was reserved for members of the royal family. On a marble slab within mosque an inscription thus read, "As long as there are people on the earth, may this edifice be frequented and people be happy and cheerful in it". Today it is the best preserved building the Purana Qila.

Sher Mandal - Tragic Spot for Humayun
The Sher Mandal stands to the south of the mosque. This double-storeyed octagonal tower of red sandstone with steep stairs leading up to the roof. The structure was intended to be higher than its existing height but the work was stopped due to the untimely death of Sher Shah. It was built by Sher Shah and was used as a library by Humayun after he recaptured the fort. It is also one of the first observatories of Delhi.
The first being in Pir Gharib at Hindu Rao at Ridge built in 14th century by Firoz shah Tughlaq.The tower is topped by an octagonal chhatri supported by eight pillars and decorated with white marble. Inside there are remnants of the decorative plaster-work and traces of stone-shelving where, presumably, the emperor's books were placed. This was also the tragic spot where, on 24 January 1556 Humayun slipped while on his way to the evening namaz, fell headlong down the stairs and died of his injuries two days later.

Location

Location: On the eastern side of India Gate and north of Humayun's tomb on Mathura Road
Today, it is also the venue of daily sound and light shows after sunset, entailing history of seven cities of Delhi, from Indraprastha to New Delhi.
In the lake adjacent to the Qila, boating, shikara rides and water scooter rides are the tourist attractions.

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