Delhi — A City of Seven Cities
Introduction
- Delhi has served as capital of successive mighty empires — one of the longest-serving capitals and oldest inhabited cities in the world
- Core tangible heritage: Hindu + Islamic (7+ centuries of Islamic rule) + British (Lutyens' Delhi)
- According to Mahabharata, the site of ancient Indraprastha ('City of God Indra') — the Pandava capital
- Purana Qila is believed to be built over the site of ancient Indraprastha
- Northern Black Polished Ware (700–200 BC) and Painted Grey Ware excavated at site — suggesting settlement possibly dating to 1000 BC
- Architects of modern Delhi: Edwin Lutyens and Edward Baker
The Seven Cities of Delhi
| Order | City Name | Builder | Dynasty | Period | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Qila Rai Pithora (or Lalkot) | Prithviraj Chauhan (Rai Pithora); Lal Kot originally by Anangpal (Tomar ruler) | Rajput (Chauhan) | 10th century | First city with recorded historical facts; ruins near Qutub Minar; Prithviraj's capital was actually Ajmer (not Delhi) |
| 2nd | Siri | Alauddin Khilji | Khilji dynasty | Beginning of 14th century | Saljuk style architecture (craftsmen from Seljuk/Seljucian dynasty from West Asia, fleeing Mongol invasions); Siri fort = thick stone walls + reservoir Hauz Khas |
| 3rd |
Key Facts per City
Qila Rai Pithora / Lalkot
- Anangpal (Tomar ruler) created the first known regular defence — Lal Kot
- Captured by Prithviraj Chauhan (also called Rai Pithora) who extended it to Qila Rai Pithora
- Note: Prithviraj Chauhan's capital = Ajmer (NOT Delhi)
- Ruins located near Qutub Minar
Siri
- Created by Alauddin Khilji (most well-known Khilji ruler)
- Saljuk architectural style dominates — craftsmen from Seljucian dynasty (West Asia) fled Mongol invasions and took refuge in Delhi court
- Today represented by thick stone walls and reservoir Hauz Khas
Tughluqabad
- Built by Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq — first ruler of Tughlaq dynasty
- Second decade of 14th century
Jahanpanah
- Built by Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq — son of Ghiyasuddin
- A man of unusual vision; not all decisions successful
- Wall enclosure in between Qila Rai Pithora and Siri
Firozabad / Firoze Shah Kotla
- Built by Firuz Shah Tughlaq — cousin of Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq
- Along river Yamuna; 2nd half of 14th century
- Contains Ashokan pillar on top of palace (major landmark)
- Firuz Shah also restored: Qutub Minar, Sultan-e-Garhi Tomb of Nasiruddin Mahmood, Hauz Khas
Shergarh / Purana Qila
- Humayun built original city as Dinpanah
- Sher Shah captured Delhi from Humayun in 1540 AD → razed Dinpanah → renamed Shergarh / Dilli Sher Shahi
- Present Purana Qila = creation of Sher Shah
- Ruins of both Humayun and Sher Shah are tourist attractions
Shahjahanabad
- Shah Jahan brought capital back to Delhi from Agra
- Inaugurated on Navroz in 1642
- Now = Old Delhi — contains Red Fort, Jama Masjid
Applied Anchors
- Continuity and Change: Delhi's seven cities embody India's layered civilisational history — each city a palimpsest of political power, architecture, and culture from Rajputs to Mughals to British.
- UNESCO & Heritage Conservation: Several structures from these seven cities (Qutub Minar complex, Red Fort, Humayun's Tomb) are UNESCO World Heritage Sites — connecting historical identity with international heritage recognition.
- Architectural Synthesis: Siri's Saljuk influence demonstrates how refugee craftsmen from Central Asia (fleeing Mongol invasions) transformed Delhi's architectural vocabulary — an early example of cultural migration and fusion.
- Living Heritage: Shahjahanabad (Old Delhi) with its Red Fort, Jama Masjid and Chandni Chowk remains a living heritage zone where Mughal urban planning is still visible.
Exam Traps
- Prithviraj Chauhan's capital: Was Ajmer — NOT Delhi. He captured Lalkot and extended it, but Delhi was not his capital.
- Lalkot vs. Qila Rai Pithora: Lalkot was created by Anangpal (Tomar); Prithviraj Chauhan EXTENDED it to Qila Rai Pithora — do not attribute Lalkot's creation to Prithviraj.
- Siri: Built by Alauddin Khilji (NOT Khilji dynasty's founder Jalal-ud-din Khilji). Saljuk style, NOT Mughal.
- Tughluqabad: Built by Ghiyasuddin (first Tughlaq) — NOT Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq.
- Jahanpanah: Built by Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq (son of Ghiyasuddin) — it is the 4th city, NOT 3rd.
- Firozabad: Built by Firuz Shah Tughlaq (COUSIN of Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq) — NOT son.
- Shergarh: Humayun built Dinpanah first; Sher Shah renamed it Shergarh. Present Purana Qila = Sher Shah's creation — NOT Humayun's.
- Shahjahanabad inauguration: Navroz 1642 — NOT 1648 (that's when Red Fort was completed) or 1638.
- Hauz Khas: Associated with Siri (Alauddin Khilji) — Firuz Shah Tughlaq later undertook its restoration.
- Ashokan pillar: Located in Firozabad (Firoze Shah Kotla) — placed there by Firuz Shah Tughlaq, not the original Ashokan site.
- Edwin Lutyens: Associated with modern Delhi (Lutyens' Delhi) and — NOT a medieval builder.
Quick Revision Points
- Qila Rai Pithora (Lalkot) → Prithviraj Chauhan; 10th c.; near Qutub Minar; capital = Ajmer
- Siri → Alauddin Khilji; early 14th c.; Saljuk style; Hauz Khas
- Tughluqabad → Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq (1st Tughlaq); 2nd decade 14th c.
- Jahanpanah → Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq; 1st half 14th c.; wall between Qila Rai Pithora + Siri
- Firozabad (Firoze Shah Kotla) → Firuz Shah Tughlaq; 2nd half 14th c.; Yamuna; Ashokan pillar
- Shergarh (Purana Qila) → Humayun built Dinpanah; Sher Shah captured 1540, renamed Shergarh
- Shahjahanabad → Shah Jahan; Navroz 1642; now Old Delhi = Red Fort + Jama Masjid
Ready to test this chapter?
Save your reading progress here, then use the quiz to lock in recall.