The Qutb Minar is a tapering tower of red and buff sandstone that rises seventy-two and a half meters above the landscape, distinguished by its five storeys, projecting balconies, and alternating angular and rounded flutings. It stands as…
History of Delhi
We trace the rise and fall of Delhi's empires through seven iconic fortresses, tombs, and ruins that shaped the modern capital.
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1. Qutb Minar
2. Masjid and Madarsa at Hauz Khas Complex
The Hauz Khas Complex is defined by an L-shaped structure of ruins that stretches along the southern and eastern banks of a large, sunken water reservoir. This reservoir, or hauz, was originally excavated in the late thirteenth century by…
3. Lodhi Garden
Lodhi Garden is defined by its collection of grey quartzite stone monuments from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, which sit scattered among ninety acres of manicured lawns and mature trees. These tombs, belonging to the rulers of the…
4. Purana Qila
Purana Qila, or Old Fort, is defined by its massive, thick ramparts that rise high above the surrounding greenery and enclose a roughly rectangular space spanning nearly two kilometers. This fortress sits upon a site of ancient settlement,…
5. Humayun’s Tomb
Humayun’s Tomb is a sprawling, symmetrical mausoleum of red sandstone and white marble, rising high above its surroundings with a prominent, slightly bulbous double dome. Commissioned in fifteen sixty-five by Empress Bega Begum, the widow…
6. Red Fort
The Red Fort is defined by its massive, towering walls of red sandstone, which reach heights of up to thirty-three meters and enclose a vast, octagonal complex. Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan commissioned this fortress-palace in sixteen…
7. Safdarjung Tomb
Safdarjung Tomb is a red sandstone and marble mausoleum dominated by a large, bulbous dome that rises above a high terrace. Completed in seventeen fifty-four, it holds the cenotaph of Safdarjung, who served as the powerful Prime Minister…