It was later used by Humayun as a library. While descending
the stairs of this tower one day in 1556, he slipped, fell and
received injuries from which he later died. The Qila-i-Kuhran
Mosque, or Mosque of Sher Shah, lies just beyond it and unlike
the fort itself, is in a fairly reasonable condition. There's
a small archaeological museum just inside the main gate. There
are good views of New Delhi from atop the gate.
Humayun's Tomb - Built in the mid 16th century by Haji Begum, senior wife
of Humayun, the second Mughal emperor, Humayun's Tomb is an
early example of Mughal architecture built in Delhi. A rose
petal sandstone mausoleum built in proper Mughal style is a
beautiful memorial to the poet king. Octagonal in shape, raised
on a plinth, with double domes, high arches, laid in the centre
of a large walled enclosure, the monument is an imposing structure.
Qutub Minar - 13 km to the south of Connaught Circus at Lalkote
of 8th century Tomor Rajputs, the 72.5 m high Victory Pillar
stands as a victory stand of a Muslim King Kutub-ud-din-Aibak
in India. At Kila Roy Pithora, on the dilapidated fort of the
last Hindu king Prithwiraj, this victory stand was made like
throne in Gajni. In 1199 Kutub-ud-Din started its construction
and it was completed in 1236 by Iltutmish, the son-in-law of
Kutub.
Rajpath, past the imposing
India Gate, Parliament House, the President's Residence and
would end with a drive through the Diplomatic Enclave.
Red Fort - The red sandstone walls of Lal Qila, the Red Fort, extend
for two km and vary in height from 18 metres on the river side
to 33 metres on the city side. Shah Jahan started construction
of the massive fort in 1638 and it was completed in 1648. Before
he could move his capital from Agra to Shahjahanabad in Delhi,he
was deposed and imprisoned in Agra Fort by his son Aurangzeb.
The Lahore gate is the main gate to the fort, getting its name
from the fact that it faces Lahore. It leads to a vaulted arcade,
the Chatta Chowk (Covered Bazaar). The shops cater to the tourist
trade today, but once they stocked articles for the royal household
- silks, jewellery, gold. This arcade was also known as the
Meena Bazaar, where ladies of the court shopped on Thursdays.
No man was allowed inside the citadel on that day.
Jama Masjid - Jama Masjid The splendid mosque built by Muhammad
Ali Shah in the typical Mughal style with two minarets and three
domes, lies to the west of the Hussainabad Imambara and is entirely
free from pseudo Italian art then in vogue in Lucknow. Mohammad
Ali Shah started the construction of this splendid mosque in
1840 but his wife Begum Malika Jahan finally completed it after
his death. It is the country's largest mosque, built in 1656,
where thousands of Muslims offer prayers. It lies opposite the
Red Fort and is surrounded by a large number of shops, which
deal in a variety of goods. The great mosque of Old Delhi is
both the largest in India and the final architectural extravagance
of Shah Jahan with a courtyard capable of holding 25,000 devotees.
Raj Ghat - the memorial site where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated.