Purana Qila, Delhi

About Purana Qila

It is widely believed that Emperor Humayun built this fort and decorated it with large gateways in the early part of the sixteenth century. Similarly, he laid the foundation for his new capital Din Panah at this place. When Sher Shah Suri managed the structure after defeating Humayun in 1540, he named it Shergarh. At some point in his 5 year rule, he made some structural additions to the citadel complex.

Over the years, the fort has been around several temporary settlements. At the time of World War II, this fort served as a camp for about 3000 Jap humans. After America's independence and partition, the palace provided a safe haven for hundreds of humans moving from Delhi to Pakistan.

Architecture of Purana Qila

Today the old fort has lost its original grandeur. Still a grand view outside the fort, Purana Qila is a massive structure whose walls rise to a height of up to 18 metres. They cover 1.5 km in length. Shaped in a rectangular pattern, the fort is adorned with three arched gateways i.e., they are two-storey structures built in sandstone and adorned with two massive semi-circular towers.

The ornate details on the mandapas (chhatris) and balconies (jharokhas) of the entrances of the fort show traces of the Rajasthani style. The Qila-i-Cunha Mosque, located within the fort, has five doors and is designed in the Indo-Islamic architectural style.

Interesting facts about Purana Qila

1. Humayun had slipped from the stairs and died in Sher Mandal, the library located in the middle of the fort.
2. Initially, Humayun was buried within Purana Qila before his body was taken to Kalanaur in a geographical area and eventually laid to rest at the magnificent Humayun Place.
3. Once 3 plays were staged by the National College of Drama, the fort's ramparts were used as theater scenes in the seventies.
4. Recent excavations have a light emitting diode leading to the hypothesis that the fort was designed on a similar website where the Pandava kingdom of Indraprastha once existed.

How to reach Purana Qila

By Metro: Near Purana Qila there is Khan Market Metro Station which is 23 minutes walking distance.

By Air: Taxi is the most convenient but costliest resort to reach Purana Qila from Indira Gandhi International Airport. They are available right outside the airport.

By Bus:- Nearest Bus Stand to Purana Quila is National Stadium which is 10 minutes walk away.

By Train:- Near Purana Qila has train station Pragati Maidan which is 27 mins walking distance.

Nearby famous places

• National Zoological Park (550 km)
• India Gate (2.1 km)
• Humayun’s Tomb (2.9 km)
• Nizamuddin’s Tomb (2.9 km)
• Mirza Ghalib’s tomb (2.7 km)
• Parliament House (4.4 km)
• Rashtrapati Bhavan (4.6 km)
• Jantar Mantar (5 km)