Significance of Purana Qila

About Purana Qila:

• Location:
  • It is located in the South Eastern part of the present city of New Delhi.
  • It is one of the oldest forts in Delhi and built on the banks of river Yamuna.
• It is also known as Qila-e-Kohna (meaning `old fort’).
• The present citadel at Purana Qila was believed to have been built under Humayun and Sher Shah Suri (‘The Lion King’). Excavations point to traces from the 3rd century BC, the pre-Mauryan period.
• The Qila was inspired by Jama Masjid, which was established 15 years before the reconstruction of Qila.
• Architecture:
  • It is roughly rectangular in shape having a circuit of nearly two kilometers.
  • The Purana Qila has three gates: Bara Darwaza or the Big Gate facing west, the Humayun Gate facing south and the Talaqui darwaza or the forbidden gateway facing the northern side.
    • These gates combine the typically Islamic pointed arch with Hindu Chhatris and brackets.
    • All of the gates are double-storeyed and consist of huge semi-circular bastions flanking either of their sides.
    • The Bada Darwaza acts as the main point of entry.
  • It was surrounded by a wide moat.
  • The walls themselves are as high as 20 m in places and approximately 4m thick.
  • A prominent structure of the Purana Qila is the Qila-e-Kuhna mosque built by Sher Shah in 1542 CE.