Purana Qila is one of the oldest Forts in India. The second Mughal emperor Humayun began the construction work in 1533 but it was completed after 5 years. His reign here was short lived as in 1940 Sher Shah defeated him and he fled to Persia.
Sher Shah reigned here for 5 years until his death in 1545 and built many important monuments here.The most beautiful being the Qila e Kuhna Mosque.
Humayun regained the fort in 1555 but tragically fell to his death in 1556.
Some call this fort unlucky. But it’s gates and remains still stands in magnificence.
Here are some paintings and photographs from various museums around the world. I have acknowledged the ones for which I found reference on the internet
ALEXANDER SCOTT (CIRCA 1872-1932)
The western Gate of the Purana Qila, Delhi
The Purana Qila area had been converted into a vast camp for Muslim refugees waiting to be transported to Pakistan.
Humayun’s Gate from Wikipedia
Inside the Main Entrance of the Purana Qila, Delhi, 1823
By Robert Smith
Pencil and ink drawing of the Purana Qila at Delhi by Sir James Abbott (1807-1896) in 1858.
Br Lib
@BLAsia_Africa
A photo by Samuel Bourne, 1860’s, reissued by Bourne & Shepherd in the 1880’s
Western entrance to Shere Shah’s fort, Delhi,” from the Illustrated London News, 1857
Humayun Gate in Purana Qila
From archives
From Metcalfe’s Dehlie Book
The Masjid Qila e Kuhna By Robert Smith in Yate Centre for Art
Old images ( paintings and photographs of Delhi’s Purana Qila
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Come, explore and fall in love the Beauties of Delhi (Dilli ki Ranaiya’n) and the World with me, Rana Safvi
I have a masters in medieval history from the prestigious Centre for Advanced Studies, Dept. of History, AMU. A firm believer in our Ganga Jamuni Tehzeeb, I am passionate about gaining and sharing knowledge and these days I am doing it via the social media platform.