HISTORICAL WALK IN DELHI

Delhi, now India’s capital and political hotspot, wasn’t always so. Its roots trace back to the Pandava Empire’s capital, Indraprastha, from the Mahabharata. But without much archaeological evidence, its precise whereabouts and reach remain unclear. Locals believe that Purana Qila‘s Kal Bhairav temple was established by Pandava Bhima.
Here, ancient, painted grey earthenware vessels present even more history. At least 2,000 years old, they indicate powerful economic day-to-day activities during Rig Veda‘s final formation. Changes shifted Delhi’s rule from the Maurya and Gupta empire over various centuries.

Around the 11th century, the Tomar family, Delhi’s early rulers, built the fortified city of Lal Kot—Delhi‘s precursor. The influence of the Chauhan dynasty, led by Prithviraj Chauhan, soon spread throughout the region until his defeat by Muhammad Ghori at the Second Battle of Tarain in 1192.

ERA OF SULTANATE IN DELHI

Post-defeat, Muhammad Ghori established the Ghuri dynasty and the Delhi Sultanate in 1206 under Qutb-ud-din Aibak, a former slave and general. This began Muslim rule in Delhi. Over time, Hindavi, Delhi’s local language, became the Deccani barracks language, later known as Urdu. The Delhi Sultanate’s reign extended across various dynasties—the Mamluks, Khiljis, Tughlaqs, Saids, and, finally, the Lodi dynasty. This period marked the birth of “Indo-Islamic” architecture with the iconic Qutub Minar and Siri Fort. The Tughlaqs also built multiple cities. Among them, Tughlaqabad, Jahapanah, and Firozabad.

Lodi Gardens, home to 15th-century Lodi Tombs, still buzzes with cultural activities. In 1398, Central Asian conqueror Timur wreaked havoc on Delhi in what is infamously called the “Sack of Delhi.”

VENTURE IN DELHI

Skipping forward, the 16th-century Mughals’ arrival marked Delhi’s revival. They ruled from Agra initially then shifted their capital to Delhi, establishing Shahjahanabad. After Persian ruler Nadir Shah brutally sacked Delhi and looted the Koh-i-Noor diamond, the British moved their capital from Kolkata to Delhi.

The plan was to build wide streets and colonial-style architecture, such as Rashtrapati Bhawan. This new city, designed by Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker, is today’s “Lutyens’s Delhi.”

Post-Partition, refugees flooded into Delhi, causing a dramatic demographic shift. This called for new public art that espoused democratic and republican ideas and replaced imperial art , manifested in Parliament’s 21st-century building featuring iconic animal symbols- features Gaja (elephant), Ashwa (horse), Sahdra (lion), Makar (dolphin), Hamsa (swan) and Garuda (eagle).

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