The Ruins Of Purana Qila Or Old Fort Of Delhi, 1909 Print

The Ruins Of Purana Qila Or Old Fort Of Delhi, 1909 Print

A 1909 print shows the ruins of Purana Qila or Old Fort of Delhi. This page is from the British newspaper The Graphic of May 15, 1909. It was once a spectacular structure during the Mughal rule. The construction of the Purana Qila began with Humayun in 1538 and was completed by Sher Shah Suri in 1545. Sher Shah Suri (Suri Dynasty) had defeated Humayun and took control of the Fort.

Many, believe it to be on the site of Indraprastha, which is mentioned in the Mahabharat. The Fort represents the emergence of a Mughal style of architecture. Typically with its, grandeur, balance, and splendour. The Fort’s estate includes a large mosque, a palace pavilion, a step-well, guardrooms, and a library. During the time of publishing this article the ruins of the Purana Qila was a hang-around place for goat and camel herders (see picture). It was also a nocturnal haunt for Jackals and other wild animals.

Did You Know- Edwin Lutyens who designed the new capital of British India, New Delhi, in the 1920s, had aligned the central vista (now Rajpath), with Purana Qila.

From the collection- Vintage Raja Ravi Varma “Shivaji” Oleograph Print.,  South Parade Road Bangalore – Old Photo 1880.,  Rare 1912 Postcard Of The Titanic.,  Bangalore Cantonment Railway Station – Vintage Postcard 1905