Delhi: the cities within
Within the city of Delhi in its present form, several other cities previously have been built from time to time. Some say this number could be 15 or 17 if the inner settlements and fortifications are to be taken into account.
While it is true that the vast majority of monuments in Delhi bear witness to medieval Islamic rule, it is necessary to understand that the history of Delhi and surrounding areas goes even earlier. Here are 5 signs of Pre-Islamic Delhi.
1- Purana qila or Pandavon ka qila
The earliest mention of Delhi is given in the Hindu epic, Mahabharata. Around 1450 BCE it is said, a forest area named Khandavaprastha existed on the right banks of the river Yamuna. It is here that Yudhishthir, the eldest of the five Pandava brothers, decided to build Indraprastha~ the 1st city of Delhi. Archeological excavations confirm that during the 1st millennia ie. BCE, signs of city life existed in the area between Feroz Shah Kotla ground and Humayun's tomb; that points to the Purana qila or Pandavon ka qila.
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| The entrance to Purana qila, New Delhi |
Even Buddhist traditions state that there were 16 Great Kingdoms [Mahajanapada] that spanned across Afghanistan, India and Bangladesh before the time of Buddha. The most important amongst these was Indraprastha and it was well-connected by road to other cities, such as; Varanasi~ a township of Kuru Rattha.
In the Mahabharata War of Kurukshetra, the Pandavas emerged victorious against the Kauravas (who were their cousins and arch rivals). Thereafter they moved to Hastinapur [in present-day Uttar Pradesh), and handed over Indraprastha to the Yadavas; who in turn later abandoned it and moved to Mathura.
What is the source/ reference that claims the existence of Indraprastha?
All details provided can be viewed at Purana qila museum, New Delhi. In 1955, 3 trenches were dug within Purana qila, and it was discovered that the earliest settlement that began here was around 1000 BCE. This discovery is based on the Painted Grey Ware pottery unearthed, which was in use at the time.
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| Structural remains of different periods unearthed at Purana qila, New Delhi |
2- Exhibits on display at Purana qila museum
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| Northern black polished ware pottery from the Mauryan era (4th-2nd BCE) |
The trial dig trenches of Purana qila also revealed structures from the Sunga (circa 200 to 100 BCE), Kushan, Gupta, post-Gupta, Delhi Sultanate and Mughal periods. All these finds were sufficient proof of urban settlements at the site of Purana qila in Delhi.
3- Iron pillar [4th ce AD], installed in 1052 AD
The pillar belongs to the Imperial Gupta era and was previously situated on a hill by the name of Vishupada*. The Sanskrit inscription on the surface of the pillar written in Gupta Brahmi script clearly indicates it being set up in memory of the great Gupta emperor, Chandragupta Maurya II (375-413 AD).
*Vishnupada- not sure what the present day name of this place is.
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| Surrounding the iron pillar are ruins of Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque built later by Qutub-ud-Din Aibak |
When the Tomar rajputs first occupied Dilli in 736 CE, they began their own constructions on the ruins of Indraprastha. Tomar king Anangpal-II brought the iron pillar from Shaunk in Mathura and got it installed at its present location in 1052 AD. The pillar is 6000 kgs, but what is astounding is the fact that it is rust free; most probably as a result of its phosphorus surface coating.
Location: Qutb minar complex, Mehrauli New Delhi
4- Qila Rai Pithora fort or Lal Kot
Keeping the Iron pillar as the center of his new capital, Anangpal-II Tomar (r. 1051 to 1081 CE) of Tomar dynasty built a fortified complex with several palaces and temples around it between 1052 to 1060 CE.
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| Qila Rai pithora or Lal Kot was built by Tomar rajputs in 10 ce |
He then put down his own inscription that reads: "Samvat Dihali 1109 Ang Pāl bahi" [literal translation- In Samvat 1109 [1052 CE], [Anang] Pāl peopled Dilli.
Location: Its walls are scattered and can be seen in Saket, Mehrauli & Vasant Kunj Areas. Google maps is misleading, so take the lane exactly adjacent to Saket metro gate-2 until you reach a public toilet. There is an iron gate beside it which seems locked, but one can easily enter through the gap. The ancient walls run right across here. Another portion of the fortifications can be seen in the garden close to Malviya Nagar metro.
5- Temple pillars and hindu temple elements of Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque and Qutub minar
Thereafter the samrat of Delhi, Anangpal Tomar II built several temples, one being the Yogmaya temple (yogmaya was kuldevi of the Tomar rajputs dynasty).
Anangpal-II was embroiled in numerous conflicts; one being against the Chahamanas. Eventually, Vighraharaja IV (r. 1150 to 1164), the Chahamana* Rajput king took over Delhi from the Tomar Rajputs. Rai pithora aka Prithviraj Chauhan (r. 1177 to 1192 CE), the celebrated Chahamana rajput further enlarged and enhanced the fortifications and termed it as Qila Rai pithora~ The Second city of Delhi.
*The Chahamanas (or Chauhans) of Shakambari were the most prominent among the ruling Rajput clans
Towards the end of the 10th CE, northern India had begun facing the onslaught of foreign muslim invaders. Prithviraj Chauhan was defeated in the Second battle of Tarain thereby bringing much of north India under the clutches of the invading Delhi Sultanate.
The dark-minded musselmans considered idolatry as haram; as a result the temples built by the Tomar rajput kings were destroyed by Qutub-ud-Din Aibak (Mamluk dynasty king). Aibak then built the famous Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque (1193 to 1197) over the rubble of the citadel and the temples. What we can see now are just the columns and pillars of the temples that were utilised in the mosque building.
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Hindu Temple pillars used in the building of Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque at Qutb minar complex, Mehrauli New Delhi
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An inscription at the mosque entrance shamelessly boasts that the mosque was built after destroying 27 hindu temples.
There has been a growing anger among hindus for this and the innumerable acts of temple destruction by muslim rulers, who built mosques over their places of worship.
Location: Qutb minar complex, Mehrauli
💡What's in a name?
According to an inscription found in Bijolia (district Udaipur) in 1170, the present day name Delhi is derived from Dhilli or Dhillika. This was the period when the Chahamanas had captured Delhi. It continued to be called so even during the Delhi Sultanate era. As per the Palam Baoli inscription of 1276 AD. Dhilli, was a town in the country of Hariyanka.
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