Purana Quila
About Purana Quila
- Purana Qila, translates to old fort and is one of the oldest forts in Delhi.
- Purana Qila lies in the city of Dinpanah, in Delhi and was constructed by Mughal emperor Humayun.
- The founder of the Sur Dynasty, Sher Shah Suri, defeated Humayun and made changes to the fort, strengthening its fortifications and completing its walls.
- The Purana Quila is shaped in a rectangular pattern, and is adorned with three arched entrances namely the Bara Darwaza (Big Gate), the Humayun Darwaza (South Gate), and the Talaqi Darwaza (Forbidden Gate).
- All three gates bear a similar feature, that is, they are double-storied structures built in sandstone and contain two gigantic semi-circular towers.
- The ornate detailing on the pavilions (chhatris) and balconies (jharokhas) of the fort gateways display traces of Rajasthani style of architecture.
- The major attractions inside the fort are the Qila-i-Kuhna mosque of Sher Shah Suri, Sher Mandal (a tower, which is traditionally associated with the death of Humayun), etc
- The Qila-i-Kunha Mosque situated within the fort exhibits five doorways and is designed in the Indo-Islamic architectural style.
Archaeological excavations from Purana Quila
- Artifacts from various historical periods have been discovered, which revealed 9 cultural levels including Pre-Mauryan, Mauryan, Sunga, Kushana, Gupta, Post Gupta, Rajput, Sultanate, and Mughal.
- The findings include shards of Painted Gray Ware pottery which are usually dated to around 1200 BC to 600 BC.
- The new excavations have also found remains of a 900-year-old Vaikuntha Vishnu from the Rajput period.
- A terracotta plaque of Goddess Gaja Lakshmi from the Gupta period was discovered.
- More than 136 coins and 35 seals have been discovered from a small excavated area, indicating the site’s pivotal role as a centre for trade activities.
Why in news?
- Purana Qila was handed over to a private corporation under “Adopt a heritage scheme”
Sources
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