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OLD FORT
Sightseeing In Delhi
>>Old Fort
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The
ruins of this fort are located on a small hill which once stood on the bank of
the river Yamuna.Legend has it that the fort marked the site of Indraprastha
,the magnificent capital of the Pandavas, though the construction was carried
out by Sher Shah Suri any time between 1538 to 1545 A. D. The structure houses a
mosque which has a double storeyed octagonal tower. It is said that the Mughal
King Humayun fell from the tower accidently and died.
There are three Gates to this fort. Today entrance
is through the Bara Darwaza. The South Gate is called the Humayun Darwaza,
probably because Humayun built it or because the tomb of Humayun is visible from
here. The third gate is the Talaqi Darwaza. Recent excavations in the fort has
revealed painted grey pottery which date back to 1000 BC. Such and many more
findings inside the fort have proved the location to be inhabited since the
early civilizations.
Inside the fort Qila Kuhna Masjid which is one of the finest example of
architectural style being used in those days. The Masjid was built by Sher Shah
in 1541 and it seems that there was an attempt to build the whole structure in
Marble. But the scarcity of marble forced the use of Redsand stone. This mixture
was accidental forced or intended we do not know, nevertheless the combination
adds a different look to the structure. The inner west wall of the Masjid has
five arched openings and which are richly ornamented in white and black marbles.
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