Previous Post in Series: Old Fort a.k.a Purana Quila, Delhi

New Delhi’s monumental glory; The India gate

Getting there from Caravan New Delhi Homestay: Car ~30 minutes

The all India war memorial is also popularly known as the India Gate. It is a 42 meter high memorial arch that was designed by Sir Edward Lutyens. Its foundation was laid in 1921 by Duke of Connaught and took 10 long years to complete. This arch was inaugurated by Lady Irwin. Names of 85,000 indian soldiers, who died in 1^st world war in 1931 supporting the then ruling country Britain, are inscribed on its walls. In the center of the arch on the ground stands an inverted rifle and helmet on a raised platform surrounded by an eternal flame that was started by the Indian government in 1971. At night the view of floodlit India Gate becomes spectacular with nearby fountains. It has become a popular evening spot for Delhites and tourists alike.

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The  ruins of Old Fort still stand strong in Delhi

Getting there from Caravan Delhi BnB: Delhi Metro ~30 minutes

The Purana Qila occupies the ancient mound which conceals perhaps the ruins city of Indraprastha of Mahabharata story. Sher Shah Suri (1538-45) demolished the city of Dinpanah built by Humayun and on the same site raised this citadel. Purana Qila is irregularly oblong on plan, with bastions on the corners and along the western wall. Its ramparts cover a perimeter of nearly 2 km. It has three main gates on the north, south and west, the last one functioning as the entrance now.

Purana Qila originally lay on the bank of the Yamuna River. The general depressions on the northern and the western sides of the fortress suggest that a wide moat connected with the river existed on these sides, which were approached through a causeway connecting the fortress with the main land.

Old Fort is an fun day outing when combined with the Delhi Zoo (That is in the vicinity).

Next Post in Series: India Gate

Delhi, as William Darymple aptly puts it, is a city of djinns. It has a been established and then ruined eight times in recorded history, with each new city emerging from the ashes of the previous settlement. All this different generations of settlers have left thier mark on the city’s geography with thier own structures, palaces, forts and tombs. In the coming Days, I’ll be updating about the monuments and places to see in New Delhi. Pictures Courtesy our guests at Caravan Delhi Bed and Breakfast

First up: Old Fort (Purana Qila)