Old Fort or Purana Qila

Pragati Maidan, Mathura Rd, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, DL 110002

Phone: 011 2435 5387

Purana Qila  ( Old Fort ) is one the oldest forts in Delhi. Its current form was built by the Afghan king Sher Shah Suri, on a site which was perhaps that of Indraprastha, the legendary capital of the Pandavas. Sher Shah raised the citadel of Purana-Qal’a with an extensive city-area sprawling around it. It seems that the Purana-Qal’a was still incomplete at Sher Shah’s death in 1545, and was perhaps completed by his son Islam Shah , although it is not certain which parts were built by whom. Indraprastha is said to be founded by the Pandavas on the banks of the perennial river Yamuna, which would date the site back 5000 years. A Kunti Temple inside the Qila also exists, which is believed to be the place where Kunti, the mother of the Pandavas lived. Consequently, the fort is considered by some to be ‘the first city of Delhi’. Researchers now confirm that until 1913, a village called Indrapat existed within the fort walls. Excavations carried out by Archeological Survey of India (ASI) at Purana Quila in 1954-55 (trial trenches) and again 1969-1973 by its Director, B.B.Lal have unearthed Painted Grey Ware dating 1000 B.C., and with a continuous cultural sequence from Mauryan to Mughal through Shunga, Kushana, Gupta, Rajput and Sultanate periods, confirming the antiquity of the site.

The walls of the Fort rise to a height of 18 metres, traverse about 1.5 km, and have three arched gateways: the Bara Darwaza (Big Gate) facing west, which is still in use today; the south gate, also popularly known as the ‘Humayun Gate’ (probably so known because it was constructed by Humayun, or perhaps because Humayun’s Tomb is visible from there); and lastly, the ‘Talaqi Gate’, often known as the “forbidden gate”. All the gates are double-storeyed sandstone structures flanked by two huge semi-circular bastion towers, decorated with white and coloured-marble inlays and blue tiles. They are replete with detailing, including ornate overhanging balconies, or jharokhas, and are topped by pillared pavilions (chhatris), all features that are reminiscent of Rajasthani architecture as seen in the North and South Gates, and which were amply repeated in future Mughal architecture. Despite the grandeurs of the exterior, few of interior structures have survived except the Qila-i Kuhna Mosque and the Shermandal, both credited to Sher Shah.

Source : Wikipedia

The Delhi Old Fort is very near to the India Gate and the Humayun’s tomb in New Delhi.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3pPFpyouUQ

Reviews

https://goo.gl/kL6vK5

Visiting Hours : 6.00 AM to 7.00 PM

Entry Fee : Indian Nationals Rs. 5/- and Foreign Nationals Rs. 100/-

Time required : 2 ½ hours.

Enjoy Boating or Shikkara Rides in the Lake adjacent to the Fort. The timings are summer 12.00 PM to 7.00 PM and winter 11.00 AM to 6.00 PM

Sound & Light Show held every evening at Old Fort ( Purana Qila )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFIZWsP_U4M

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRCGk5l_Zu0

Tickets & Timings

Tickets : Rs. 80/- for adults and Rs. 40/- for children (up to 3 to 12 years of age)

For further information please contact Tel. No.24307539.

Month                                            Hindi                                          English

February to April             7.00 PM to 8.00 PM                 8.30 PM to 9.30 PM

May to August                  7.30 PM to 8.30 PM                 9.00 PM to 10.00 PM

September to October     7.00 PM to 8.00 PM                8.30 PM to 9.30 PM

November to January      6.00 PM to 7.00 PM                7.30 Pm to 8.30 PM

Sound & Light Show held every evening at Red Fort ( Lal Qila )

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XBxlLvNECg

Tickets : Rs. 60/- for adults and Rs. 20/- for children (up to 3 to 12 years of age) Weekdays.

Rs. 80/- for adults and Rs. 30/- for children (up to 3 to 12 years of age)-Saturday, Sunday & Government Holidays.

Tickets are available one hour before the show starts at the Purana Qila ticket booth.

Monday Closed

For further information please contact Tel. Nos.23274580, 23281802 .

Month                                                        Hindi                                              English

February to April                       7.00 PM to 8.00 PM                      8.30 PM to 9.30 PM

May to August                            7.30 PM to 8.30 PM                      9.00 PM to 10.00 PM

September to October               7.00 PM to 8.00 PM                     8.30 PM to 9.30 PM

November to January               6.00 PM to 7.00 PM                      7.30 Pm to 8.30 PM

For online Booking :  https://goo.gl/d09Mnc

Sound & Light Show held at Old Fort ( Purana Qila ) recommended.