Delhi is home to many historic places that illustrate India’s long and rich history, some dating back to Mauryan and Mughal dynasties.
The Qutub Minar is one of the world’s most revered landmarks. A remarkable structure, this Unesco World Heritage Site should not be missed!
Humayun’s Tomb
Humayun’s Tomb is an exquisite complex of red-sandstone buildings. Commonly referred to as ‘Dormitory of the Mughals,’ due to so many family members being interred here, and considered one of the earliest examples of garden tomb architecture worldwide, its beauty will awe you.
Haji Begum, Humayun’s wife, commissioned his tomb and engaged Persian architect Mirak Mirza Ghiyas for its construction. Ghiyas passed away before finishing this task but his son continued working on it after him.
The complex also contains Isa Khan’s tomb, another noble in Sher Shah Suri’s court. Like its counterpart, its design echoes Lodhi style before Sher Shah Suri; it features blue-glazed chhatris (roof ornaments). Haji Begum and Hamida Bano Begum – two wives of Humayun’s who died before him – may also be found buried within subsidiary chambers within this main tomb.
Purana Qila
Purana Qila is a majestic fortress with a history dating back centuries of Indian history. It features high battlemented walls and three grand gateways-Bara Darwaza, Humayun Gate and Talaqi Gate–which span its main architectural elements. Furthermore, Purana Qila houses both Qila-i-Kuhna Mosque as well as Sher Mandal Tower – its primary religious facilities and cultural landmarks.
Fort Kalyani was constructed on the site of Indraprastha, one of seven abodes associated with Lord Vishnu in Hindu mythology. However, archaeological excavations conducted here have revealed a history dating back to Mahabharata period.
The monument’s picturesque beauty and historical significance has long inspired writers, poets, and filmmakers. It often serves as the setting for their works, adding another layer to contemporary storytelling.
Lado Sarai
Some areas of the city combine ancient relics with those from modernity; Lado Sarai village for instance features numerous unnamed tombs and mosques dating back to Lodi’s era (15th c).
This small tomb is situated within a Delhi Development Authority park at the crossroads between Mehrauli-Mahipalpur and Mehrauli-Badarpur roads in Mehrauli-Mahipalpur. Its architecture may indicate it once served as an entryway into a medieval equivalent of hotels and inns called sarai; Ziauddin Barni laments in his 14th-century chronicle Mohammad Ghori’s forces’ destruction of Delhi that included loss of sarais; Ziauddin Barni laments the destruction caused by Mohammad Ghori’s forces by Mohammad Ghori’s forces who mentioned loss as among other losses suffered by Delhi as mentioned by Ziauddin Barni lamented Ziauddin Barni mentioned as one of these losses along with other losses suffered due to Ghori’s forces’ invasion which had resulted from his forces’ defeat that included loss of these structures that Ziauddin Barni laments when lamented their invasion, too, including loss of these structures that Ziauddin Barni lamented this loss when Mohammad Ghori invaded Delhi due to Mohammad Ghori forces when Mohammad Ghori defeated them and mentioned this loss when Ziauddin Barni lamented in his 14th-century chronicle his mention this loss while lamenting his forces’ defeat by Mohammad Ghori in 14th-century forces when Ziaud Barni mentioned among losses experienced.
Gumbad Park Tomb
This 14th-century tomb is in jeopardy of being overtaken by village homes; but laborers working on its transformation into a park hope to restore its significance as a symbol of Delhi’s lost heritage.
This tomb is believed to be the resting place of Sheikh Kabir-ud-din Auliya, a Sufi saint who died in 1397 as Nizamuddin Auliya’s disciple and lived during Mohammed-bin-Tughlaq’s Tughlaq dynasty rule in 1397. However, little else is known about him except that he lived during that period of history.
From its exterior, this building appears to be from Tughlaq-era but is actually from Lodi-era tomb dating to 15th century. The main qanati mosque has recessed arches with faded incised plasterwork on its western prayer wall – both characteristics that suggest Tughlaq-era structure.
Raj Ghat
Mahatma Gandhi, the father of our nation, was cremated at Raj Ghat. A peaceful memorial decorated with flowers that stands as his final resting place and represents Gandhi’s philosophy of simple living and higher thinking, Raj Ghat is also where memorial ceremonies take place on both of Gandhi’s birth and death anniversaries.
This memorial, constructed of simple black marble, bears an inscription with the words ‘Hey Ram,’ said to have been Mahatma Gandhi’s last words. Additionally, other notable Indian leaders such as Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri and Indira Gandhi are remembered here with memorial samadhis or memorials including Jawaharlal Nehru’s, Lal Bahadur Shastri’s and Indira Gandhi having their memorials here too. Additionally, many notable personalities such as Queen Elizabeth II, American President Dwight Eisenhower as well as Ho Chi Minh have planted trees here to remember their loved ones in tribute.
