Qutub Minar

Delhi Heritage Trail : 16

      Qutub Minar

     Qutub Minar the tallest stone tower in the  Indian subcontinent.  It is situated on the  southern suburb of  Delhi near  Mehrauli.  The  construction of the tower was started in the year 1192 by Qutbuddin  Aibak the founder  of  Slave dynasty near Quwwat ul Islam Mosque.  During his lifetime only the  first storey of the  tower was completed made of red sandstone.

       The  second,  third and fourth storey were constructed by his successor Iltumish(1211-36). It was struck by a major lightening in the  year 1368 during the period of Firuz Shah Tughlaq and the  fourth storey was damaged . It was replaced by him along with an additional  fifth  storey. Later in 1503 Sikandar Lodhi  of the  Lodhi  dynasty renovated the top stories  with  marble stones.

        The  total height of the Minar is 238 feet and there are 329 revolving steps  inside it to go to the top.  The  angular  and circular fluttings on the  lower storeys, projecting balconies and decorative inscriptions on the  walls add to its beauty.  It is said artisans  from  Samarkand and Bukhara in the  middle east Asia were brought to do the decorations.

       Another major  earthquake struck the Minar in 1803 and the  top Cupola was damaged.  The  East India  Company  Governor General  authorised Major  Robert  Smith  Garrison  Engineer stationed at Delhi to do the repair.  He replaced the top with  a Hindu style Cupola and work was completed by 1828. But it was  not  in tune with the Islamic  architecture of the Minar  and ultimately  in 1848 Lord Hardinge ordered the  removal of it and it now lies in the corner of the ground.  It used to be called Smiths folly.

      Our people are enamoured by the modern day  skyscrapers of the western hemisphere without appreciating the one in our backyard constructed 800 years back.

Fatehpuri Masjid

Delhi  Heritage  Trail   : 15

              Fatehpuri  Masjid

        This  17th  century  Masjid is situated at the  far end of  Chandni  Chowk leading from  Red Fort. It was built  in the year 1650 by Fatehpuri  Begum one of the 14 wives of Shahjahan.  It was the oldest Masjid in the  city of  Shahjahanabad which was started around 1640  by Shahjahan. The  design and structure of the Masjid is similar to  Juma Masjid  with an  almost similar  square yard with entrances on three sides and a cupola near the main entrance and minars in the  Corners.

       After the  Mutiny of 1857 the  Britishers badly treated the Masjid and sold it to  Lala  Chunna Mal a leading Banker of 19th century  Delhi.  It was restored to Muslims in 1877 for  regular  worship. The  antipathy against the  Muslims after  Mutiny helped the Hindus and Chunna Mal became an important  figure in local  Government. His 150 year old Haveli is also situated near by.

          The  area around  Fatehpuri  Masjid consists of a network of tiny lanes with a lot of wholesale and retail shops selling Spices and Dry fruits with  head loaders, hand carts and cycle rickshaws  zipping around. The  aroma of the  spices and dry fruits is inviting and you are taken back to an era of more than hundred years and old world charm which can only be experienced

Kashmere Gate

Delhi Heritage  Trail : 14

          Kashmere  Gate

       This is one of the 14 gates of Shajahanabad built by Moghul emperor  Shahjahan  in 17th century. It was named so because it was leading the road to  Kashmir from  Delhi.  The  gate was close to the river  and the  place around it was used by the Nobles and Courtiers in the  Moghul  court to build their country  houses.  Dara Sukoh the  brother of  Aurangazeb  had his Mango Grove  nearby.

       During the Moghul  period there was a Custom house near the  gate to collect taxes on trade running through the gate. When the  mutineers captured Delhi  in 1857 they heavily  fortified the  gate.  The  British  troops under Brigadier  John Nicholson  heavily bombarded the bastions, walls and gates around the  Kashmere gate.  Even now the dent made by the cannon balls can be seen.  The  siege continued for  4 months and ultimately the  gate was breached on 14th September  1857 by Nicholson and his troops. He died in the  battle and was buried in the nearby Nicholson Cemetery.

       The  gate is now an ASI  protected monument. The gate is just outside Kashmere Gate metro station.