DELHI: The capital of India has been a centre of power almost
continuously since the 13th century. The huge city is divided into Old
and New Delhi; the former also comprise the seventh city of the Mughals
- Shajahnabad.
In 1955 excavations of the Purana Quila revealed that this area, on the
banks of the Yamuna river, was inhabited more than 3000 years ago. Fine
earthen pottery, known as Painted Grey Ware and dated to 1000 BC,
confirmed that Delhi was associated the epic Mahabharata and
Indraprastha, the capital of the Pandavas.
From the 12th to 17th centuries, the rulers of successive dynasties
established seven "cities" in different parts of Delhi. The
first one was with the foundation of Qutub Minar in 1199 followed by
Siri in 1920; Tughlaquabad; Jahanapanah; Firuzabad, Purana Quila and
Shahjahanabad.
During this period, some of the most outstanding monuments were built
which stand as past glory of the Afghan and Mughal architecture. The
Qutub Minar built in 1199 rises to a height of 72.5 metres from a base
of 14.32 metres; Humayun's Tomb begun in 1564 is one of the finest
examples of garden Tomb, the Red Fort - an imposing citadel built in the
17th century and Jami Masjid, the largest mosque in India.
The Imperial Delhi built during the British Empire houses President's
House, Parliament House, India Gate, the World War I memorial arch.
Besides; Delhi offers various museums. The important ones are National
Museum - the premier museum of India, National Gallery of Modern Art,
Gandhi Museum Crafts Museum, Dolls Museum, Rail Museum, Temple of Bahai
- a Islamic sect founded in Iran in 1836 by Bahaullah.
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