The land where my feet float and eyes hover is the sixth city of Delhi, The “PURANA KILA” (The Old Fort).
Amidst the historical town, lies the oldest fort of Delhi. Ornamented with the holy river Yamuna, the fort bears a sweet sound of the river-water that makes every visitor register its presence along the fort! This serene beauty reflects tranquility; a sense of peace can be recognized within the walls of this age-old city. Perhaps, this is the only reason that despite the scorching heat of this peak summer, the huge mob and vivid groups of tourists are seen attracted towards the majestic fort. Standing at the wide entrance, I am now drifting you along with me inside this “kingdom of dreams”!
OLDEST OF ALL!
A history becomes unforgettable with its living remains! The “kunti mandir” inside the fort personifies the same. You are bound to connect with this “mandir” (temple) and dive back in those ancient times of Mahabharat, an era of the legendary Pandavas, around 5000 years ago. Actually, this temple is an evidence for the fort is the oldest of all!
A CITY LIVE IN THE PALACE!
The fort today glorifies itself in the lands of the city, Indraprastha. Any inquisitive past dweller would dive into a series of questions about the existence of this city! You would be astonished with the available evidences that reveal the fact that the city existed in reality in those ancient times.
CONFLUENCE OF CULTURES
ELITE ARCHITECTURE
ARCHITECTURE SPEAKING ARISTOCRACY
Entering into the main campus of the fort, with head up, neck bent, your eyes would keep floating in the huge-tall walls (as tall as 18m) and gigantic towers (as huge as 1.5 km) adjacent to them. And with this, suddenly you will feel very tiny in your existence! These walls are carved with three major entrance gates, viz., “BADA DARWAZA” in west, “Humayun Ka Darwaza” in south and that of Taluki Dwaar which is also known as the Prohibited Gate! Each of these three huge gates looks like a magnificent two storied building that is accompanied with a mandap equipped with pillars and airy balconies along with towers to both its sides. For its outstanding and unique carvings, the fort is known to be the perfect live example of the confluence of three old traditions, the Mughals, Hindus, and Afghans.
HUMAYUN’S LIBRARY
Inside the fort there is an eight-faced two-storied building built by Sher Shah which is called the Sher Mandal. Humayun’s library used to be in the same building. It was when while lifting the piles of books in this library, Humayun was stepping down to the stairs, and he then heard the Ajan’s call. According to his daily habit, he bowed down after listening to the prayer of Namaz without realizing that he could get disbalanced. As a result, his legs were stuck in his long gown and fell out of balance. He died in 1556 out of the physical damage due to the same accident.
A RENOWNED CURSE
Penetrating few more steps inside the fort, another question that will struck your mind is “why such beautiful and craft-fully designed fort remained a home to only a few including Humayun? If stories are to be believed, the palace is cursed! History registers that whoever intended to intrude, invade, capture and then reside here in the fort went into many mis-happs in their lives and ultimately met with death. Sher Shah Suri’s demise just 15 years after Humayun’s death and the fact that Akbar denied to make this fort as his capital and instead resided in another one which is today famed as “The Red Fort” build by Shahjahan, are all proof of that curse.
RESPLUNDANT REMAINS OF HISTORY
Roaming in the fort, the feet get automatically headed towards an attractive museum; as if the museum has a lot to say and still much to imbibe. Having a first glance inside the museum, many evidences can be seen that scream about the early existence of human habitations of a long era starting right from the Maurya period (300 years BC) to the early Mughal period. Special coins, bead, pottery, small patelets of pakti mitti (terracotta), preserved mudras (seal) etc. are gems of the museum of the fort.
TRAVELLERS GUIDE/ ATTRACTING BEAUTY
This fort is very special in terms of its history and architecture besides its beauty. Lured with its unforgettable charm, even today, hundreds of tourists visit the place and return with hypnotized eyes. If in Delhi, you should definitely visit the place as you will experience a kingdom still full of dreams!