Siri Fort, the 2nd city of medieval Delhi

Siri Fort was built during the rule of Ala-ud-Din Khalji of the Delhi Sultanate to defend the city from the onslaught of the Mongols.


It was the second of the seven cities of medieval Delhi built around 1303.


Siri has seven gates. Only the southeastern gate exists.


According to the legend of Ala-ud-din’s war exploits, the name Siri given to the Fort was because the foundation of the fort was built on the severed heads (‘Siri’ in Hindi means “head”) of about 8,000 Mongol soldiers killed in the war.


A water reservoir at Hauz Khas provided water to Siri,

The destruction of the Fort is attributed to the local rulers who removed the fort's stones, bricks and other artifacts for their own buildings. In particular, Sher Shah Suri took material from Siri to build his own city.

The battered walls of the fort had a wider base on the outside. A protected passage was provided within the battered walls (now seen in ruins as pictured)

Jantar Mantar

The Yantra Mantra (literally the instrument and formula) is often called the Jantar Mantar.

It consists of 13 architectural astronomy instruments, built by Maharaja Jai Singh II of Jaipur, from 1724 onwards.

It is one of five built by him.

Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah gave him the task of revising the calendar and astronomical tables. 

There was plaque fixed on one of the structures in the Jantar Mantar observatory in 1910 mistakenly dating the construction of the complex to the year 1710. 

Later research, though, suggests 1724 as the actual year of construction.

 

Baoli Hindu Rao House

Kushk-i-shikar or Firoz Shah Tughlaq’s hunting palace

inside the bara hindu rao hospital is Kushk-i-shikar or Firoz Shah Tughlaq’s hunting palace. This palace is also the place where Pir Ghaib which means 'Disappearing saint' used to stay.

hindu rao house in 1857

Photograph entitled, "Front of Hindu Rao's house [Delhi]" taken in 1858 by Major Robert Christopher Tytler and his wife, Harriet. During the rebellion, the house was taken over by the British and came under heavy gunfire.

(photo picked from wikipedia.org)

Hindu Rao House

Hindu Rao House  was built in the early 19th century   as the residence of a dynamic British officer, William Fraser.

In 1835 A.D., Shams-ud-Din Khan, Nawab of Ferozepore, murdered Fraser. 

The house was then bought by Hindu Rao, a Maratha nobleman and brother-in-law of Maharaja Daulat Rao Scindia of Gwalior.

Since then the building came to be known by the name of Hindu Rao, even though the owner of the house soon changed when a British family bought it after the death of Hindu Rao. 

Later, the house became the headquarters of British forces in 1857 during the First War of Indian Independence. 

In the early 20th century, the house was converted into a hospital for English nationals. It has continued to function as a hospital after India gained independence, and till date, it serves the needs of the people of Delhi.

It is now called the Bara Hindu Rao Hospital.

Lodi gardens

photos i clicked as of the garden.

it was an amazing feeling. one of the best maintained garden.

Directions to the garden

Lodhi Gardens

Lodhi Gardens is spread over 90 acres.

In the centuries, after the 15th century Sayyid and Lodhi dynasties, two villages grew around the monuments, but the villagers were relocated in 1936 in order to create the gardens. 

During the British rule the garden was landscaped by Lady Willingdon, wife of Governor-General of India, Marquess of Willingdon, and hence the park was named the 'Lady Willingdon Park' upon its inauguration on April 9, 1936.

In 1947 after India's Independence, it was renamed Lodhi Gardens.

In 1968 it was re-landscaped by J A Stein, who also designed the adjacent India International Centre, along with Garrett Eckbo 

The park contains, Mohammed Shah's Tomb, Sikander Lodhi's Tomb, Sheesh Gumbad and Bara Gumbad,architectural works of the 15th century Sayyid and Lodhis.

Reaching ahsoka pillar

reaching mutiny memorial,bara hindu rao hospital and the ashoka pillar

Ashoka Pillar near Bara Hindu Rao hospital

This Ashokan Pillar belongs to the 3rd century BC. 

It was brought by Feroz Shah Tughlaq from Meerut. 

The pillar was transported to Feroz Shah's hunting lodge in Delhi in 1356 A.D, after the sultan developed a liking for it. 

The pillar too has seven main inscriptions or edicts of Emperor Ashoka apart from some figures and many minor inscriptions. 

However, the pillar was damaged by a gunpowder explosion in 1713 and was broken into five pieces. 

In 1838, Hindu Rao took possession of these pieces and donated them to the Asiatic Society of Bengal, Calcutta (Kolkata). 

Those pieces were brought back from Kolkata and the pillar was re-erected at its previous location in Delhi, in 1867.

Tomb of Kale Khan

 Kale Khan was a courtier in the Lodi period during the reign of Bahlol Lodi.


This tomb is dated to 1481 AD as per an inscription on the Mihrab inside the tomb.


It is stated to be the earliest dated tomb of the Lodi period and is behind the south extension 1 market close to the vocational training college for women in south extension1.

Kharera Village, Aurobindo Marg

opposite the aurobindo market on aurobindo marg is the wall of kharera village.

Humayun's tomb

a video i made of the monument.

a pure treat for your eyes

Humayun's tomb

Nasir ud-din Muhammad Humayun was the second Mughal Emperor who ruled present day Afghanistan, Pakistan, and parts of northern India from 1530–1540 and again from 1555–1556.

He originally ascended the throne at the age of 22

He was also deeply superstitious, and fascinated by Astrology and the Occult.

Humayun's tomb is a complex of buildings built as the Mughal Emperor Humayun's tomb. It was commissioned by Humayun's wife Hamida Banu Begum in 1562 CE, and designed by Mirak Mirza Ghiyath, a Persian architect.

It was the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent, and is located in Nizamuddin East close to the Dina-panah citadel also known as Purana Qila, that Humayun founded in 1533. 

It was also the first structure to use red sandstone at such a scale.

The complex was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993, and since then has undergone extensive restoration work.

The complex encompasses the main tomb of the Emperor Humayun, which houses the graves of his wife, Hamida Begum, and also Dara Shikoh, son of the later Emperor Shah Jahan, as well as numerous other subsequent Mughals, including Emperor Jahandar Shah, Farrukhsiyar, Rafi Ul-Darjat, Rafi Ud-Daulat and Alamgir II.

The site was chosen on the banks of Yamuna river, due to its proximity to Nizamuddin Dargah, the mausoleum of the celebrated Sufi saint of Delhi, Nizamuddin Auliya, who was much revered by the rulers of Delhi, and whose residence, Chilla Nizamuddin Auliya lies just north-east of the tomb.

Agrasen ki Baoli

here is how one reaches the baoli

Reaching the baoli from C.P

Agrasen ki Baoli

a video i took of the baoli.

a visit to agrasen ki baoli