[RE[SEARCH [DIA]LOGUES
RE-CENTERING DELHI UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE
MONUMENTS OF NEW DELHI
INTRODUCTION A. SANDBERG
“Once there was nothing here. Now look how minarets camouflage the sunset. Do you hear the call to prayer? It leaves me unwinding scrolls of legend till I reach the first brick they brought here. How the prayers rose, brick by brick� --Agha Shahid Ali
Delhi, the capital of India has a strong historical background. This area was ruled by some of the most powerful emperors in Indian history and is thus scattered with mosques, tombs, ancient forts, and museums. There also exists a large number of parks, stadiums and other recreational activies. In this section, a number of these monuments and other locations of interest are described. The maps on the upper left are informational diagrams indicating how to access these sights. The yellow indicates public transportation, the pink indicates private transportation (cars and rickshaws) and the green indicates walkable paths.
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HUMAYUN’S TOMB Tomb of the Mughal Emperor Humayun, commissioned by his wife Bega Begum in 1569-70, designed by Mirak Mirza Ghiyas, a Persian architect. First structure to use red sandstone at such a scale. Designated a UNESCO world heritage site in 1993. Several monuments dot the pathway leading up to the tomb enclosure from the main entrance in the West.
[ HENDERSON, CAROL E. (2002). CULTURE AND CUSTOMS OF INDIA. GREENWOOD PRESS. P. 90. ISBN 9780313305139.]
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CHAR BAGH GARDEN Persian style garden layout. Quadrilateral garden design divided by canals of flowing water into four smaller parts. FYI “char” means four in Persian. This highly structures geometrical scheme became a powerful metaphor for the organization and domestication of the landscape, a symbol of political territory.
[WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE, UNESCO.]
Char Bagh Garden facing the West Gate entrance to Humayuns Tomb Complex
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BARBER’S TOMB Towards the southeast corner, within the ‘char bagh’ garden, lies Barbers Tomb, built in 1591. Its proximity to Humayan’s Tomb suggests its importance. The tomb stands on a raised platform; it is a square plan consisting of a single compartment covered with a double dome.
[WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE, UNESCO.]
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ISA KHAN TOMB Built 1547, it is enclosed within an octagonal garden. The octagonal tomb has distinct characteristics in the form of canopies, glazed tiles and lattice screens, a deep veranda, supported by pillars. During a restoration project it was discovered the tomb stood with an unknown sunken garden. Considered the earliest example of a sunken garden attached to a tomb (a concept later developed at Akbar’s Tomb and at the Taj Mahal)
[WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE, UNESCO]
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ISA KHAN MOSQUE Built along with the Isa Khan tomb in 1547, Isa Khan mosque is directly to the left (west) of the tomb. The building is capped by a large central dome and octagonal chhatris (elevated dome shaped pavilions, common element of Indian architecture), it has arches decorated with brightly colored tiles.
[WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE, UNESCO]
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BU HALIMA’S TOMB AND GARDEN If you approach Humayun’s Tomb from Mathura Road, you will pass through a rectangular enclosure with a tomb in its northern half and a gateway on its east. This is the entrance to Bu Halima’s garden and tomb. Not much is known about Bu Halima or the origin of the garden. the garden is enclosed by rubble walls of local quartz. The façade was once decorated in many colored tiles, but much like the other monuments in the complex, tile inlay work rarely survive the ravage of time (and mankind).
[WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE, UNESCO]
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AFSARWALA TOMB AND MOSQUE The mosque (on the right) is made of local quartz with red sandstone dressing. It consists of a single, rather dilapidated, prayer-chamber divided into three bays, the central bay roofed by a dome. The inside of the central dome contains a painted circular panel. The central bay opens through a four-centered arch and is larger and higher than the flanking bays, which are also entered through four centered arches.
[WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE, UNESCO]
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BARAK HAMBA This monument gets its name from the 12 pillars and 3 arched openings on each facade. the tomb has a typical architectural style prevalent during the Lodhi period. The passage laid around the central chamber has four domed compartments at each corner. The monument is laid within a public park, up until recently the monument was occupied by squatters.
[HTTP://WWW.IXIGO.COM/BARA-KHAMBA-NEW-DELHI-INDIA-NE-1310521]
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HAZRAT NIZAMUDDIN AULIYA DARGAH This is a mausoleum of one of the worlds most famous Sufi saints, Nizamuddin Auliya. the dargah is visited by thousands of muslims every week, and sees a fair share of Hindus, Christians and poeple from many other religions. Tt houses the tombs of Amir Khusro and the Mughal Princess Jehan Ara Begum.
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10 NIZAMUDDIN TRAIN STATION
The Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station (code NZM) is one of the five main stations in Delhi, this station connects all the major cities and was constructed to ease congestion on the New Delhi railway station (approximately 7km north) The station is managed by the Northern Railway Zone of Indian Railways, it is adjacent to two major arteries, the Ring Road and Mathura Road, and the Sarai Kale Khan Interstate bus terminal.
[HTTP://WWW.NR.INDIANRAILWAYS.GOV.IN/]
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BURJ 11 SABZ Sabz Burj (Green Tower) was built in 1530, located very close to teh
Humayun’s Tomb complex, Although one of the most publicly located monuments - the tower stands in the middle of a traffic square - it is one of the least known in Delhi. During british rule it was used as a police station. Despite its name, the tower is not green. Originally it had green tiles covering the dome and drum, but due to a “restoration fiasco” the tiles ended up being blue. Now commonly referred to as “Neeli Chattri” (Blue Umbrella). It was illuminated for the Commonwealth Games of 2010. Public access is prohibited.
[INDIAHERITAGEHUB.ORG]
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12 DELHI GOLF CLUB The Delhi Golf Club is the oldest most prestigous golf club of Delh on lease from the government. A minucipal course in the early 1930’s it then became a corporate entity in 1950. the course comprises of the 18 hole lodi course, part of the Asian PGA tour, and the shorter 9 hole Peacock Course. The latter came into being when the course was re-designed by Peter Thomson in 1977.
[HTTP://WWW.DELHIGOLFCLUB.ORG/]
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13 LAL BANGLA Located on the ground of the Delhi Golf Club, lal bangla are two imperial Mughal monuments. Consists of two tombs made out of red and yellow sandstone. the monument is protected under the Archeological Survey of India. The structure consists of two tombs ade out of red and yellow sandstone. the dome of the monument is in the late Mughal style.
[/WWW.DELHIGOLFCLUB.ORG/]
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14 SYED ABID’S TOMB Also located on the grounds of the Delhi Golf Club, this tomb was built in 1626, constructed entirely of lime-based cement and bricks, with occasional patches of tilework. There is a water tank in the courtyard. Syed Abid is said to be an accosiate of Nawab Khan Duaran Khan and was killed in a battle.
[WWW.DELHIGOLFCLUB.ORG/
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15 SUNDER NURSERY 16th century heritage garden complex. A UNESCO world Heritage Site. Home to nine monuments. the garden is meant to replicate the four micro-habitat zones which were part of Delhi’s original landscape namely Kohi (reidge), Bangar (alluvial), Khadar (riverine) and Dabar (marsh).
[NIZAMUDDINRENEWAL.ORG]
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16 LAKKARWALA BURJ
The domed, rubble built tomb stands on an high platform with arched openings on all four sides. The interior of the tomb is ornamented with Quranic verses in incised plasterwork. The high plinth of the monument had been inappropriately repaired necessitating the dismantling of the upper portion of the plinth wall before rebuilding as per original design that had survived in parts.
[NIZAMUDDINRENEWAL.ORG]
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17 SUNDERWALA BURJ With exquisitely ornamented plasterwork on the ceilings, unique in Delhi, this early 16th century building is amongst the earliest building built during the Mughal reign and stands within the World Heritage Site Buffer Zone. The Sunderwala Burj suffered severe decay to the decorative plasterwork due to water seepage from the terrace. 20th century and later repair works using modern materials such as cement had adversely affected the original architectural integrity and caused further deterioration.
[NIZAMUDDINRENEWAL.ORG]
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18 MILLENIUM (INDRAPRASTHA) PARK A park located on the Outer Ring Road. Constructed in 2004 by the Delhi Development Authority. The park includes a childrens park and amphiteatre and a food court and is aproximately 85 acresh. It also houses a large World Peace Stupa (in 2007)
[WWW.THEDIVINEINDIA.COM/INDRAPRASTHA-PARK/5791]
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19 WORLD PEACE STUPA Vishwa Shanti Stupa/World Peace Pagoda was inaugruated in 2008 by monks and nuns of Nipponzan-Myōhōji, the Dalai Lama and the Lt. Governor of Delhi. The purpose of the Shanti Stupa is to provide a “peace haven” for all and to develop programs that promote peace-building efforts all over the world with an emphasis on ahimsa, or nonviolence. It is situated in Millennium Indraprastha Park, a traditional Japanese garden has been constructed in the area around the stupa. The garden is a joint project by the Fujii Guruji Vishwa Shanti Stupa Committee and the Delhi Development Authority
[HTTP://SHANTISTUPA.ORG/]
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20 SUNDER NAGAR
A neighborhood of New Delhi, full of restuarants, shopping centers, markets and hotels, including Ahuja Residency. considered one of the best neighborhoods to live and shop at.
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21 AHUJA RESIDENCY
located in the neighborhood of Sunder Nagar, full of restuarants, shopping centers, markets and hotels. Established in 1982 the guesthouse is situated next to the National Zoo to the east and the Delhi golf club on the west. The hotel is within walking distance from Sunder Nagar market and Pragati Maidan. The Khan Market and Connaught Place is also less than 3km away.
[WWW.AHUJARESIDENCY.COM/OUR_HISTORY_AND_MANAGEMENT.HTML]
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22 CHIDIYA GHAR NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL PARK The National Zoological Park is a 176-acre zoo near the Old Fort in Delhi, India. it openend in 1959. it consists of a 16th-century citadel, a sprawling green island and a collection of animals and birds. It was in 1982 that the park was given National status and came to be known as The National Zoological Park. Many of the state governments and individuals expressed their delight by sending gifts of animals for the park.
[HTTP://NZPNEWDELHI.GOV.IN/]
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23 BUS DEPOT One of the largest bus stations in the world, constructed primarily by the city’s Public Works Department, the depot was inaugurated in 2010. occupies an area of 143,000 meters squared and car park up to 1000 buses at one time. initially used exclusively for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, it is now used as a regular bus station. a lot of controversy surrounds this station because of its “temporary” nature and violation of the environment. In January of 2014 the Chief Minister announced no further construction would be allowed on the river bed.
[INDIANEXPRESS.COM]
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QILA 24 PURANA Oldest fort in Delhi with evidence dating back to 1000 BC. Located
at the old city cite of Indraprastha, built on banks of Yamuna. It was rebuilt by the Afghan king Sher Shah Suri after defeating Humayun in 1540. Suri dies five years later and the city is recaptured by Humayun. There are 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’ (constructed by Humayun, or perhaps because Humayun’s Tomb is visible from there); and lastly, the ‘Talaqi Gate’, known as the “forbidden gate”.
[WWW.DELHITOURISM.GOV.IN/DELHITOURISM/TOURIST_PLACE/PURANA_QUILA.JSP]
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25 BHAIRON TEMPLE a temple to the god called Bhairava, Bhario, or Bhairon, who is a fierce manifestation of Shiva associated with annihilation , known as the “guard god”. The temple accepts offerings of alcohol (along with food, flowers, meat, and sometimes live chickens).
[HTTP://WWW.BHAIRAV.ORG/INTRODUCTION_TO_LORD_BHAIRAV.HTML]
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26 DHYAN CHAND NATIONAL STADIUM Field hockey stadium 1933. Lies on perpendicular axis starting with the Presidents House (Rashtrapati Bhavan) through Rajpath and ending at the India Gate. It was originally multipurpose stadium and named the Irwin Amphitheatre. It was designed by Anthony S. DeMillo and opened by Lord Willingdon. As per the original plans of architect of New Delhi Edwin Lutyens there was to be garden at the site, to provide a clear view of the historic Purana Qila (Old Fort) in the backdrop, this however never happened.
[THE TIMES OF INDIA]
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HANDCRAFTS AND HEIRLOOMS 27 NATIONAL MUSEUM Established in 1956, commonly known as National Crafts Museum, is one of the largest crafts museums in India. It was set up over a period of 30 years starting in the 1950s and 60s by the efforts of the freedom fighter late Smt Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, the area was envisaged as an ethnographic space where craftsmen from various parts of India would come in to work towards preservation of various traditional arts and crafts. today it holds over 35,000 rare and distinctive pieces. It is run by the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India. The museum is situated on the corner of the Pragati Maidan, facing the Purana Qila complex.
[NATIONALCRAFTSMUSEUM.NIC.IN/]
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28 NATIONAL SCIENCE CENTER
Established in 1992, is a science museum in Delhi, India. It is part of the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), an autonomous body under India’s Ministry of Culture. It stands close to Gate no 1, of Pragati Maidan overlooking the Purana Qila. Almost 65% of the visitors to the National Science Center are students.
[HTTP://WWW.NSCDELHI.ORG/]
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AKSHARDHAM Hindu temple complex in Delhi. (Also called delhi akshardham or Swaminarayan Akshardham) displays millennia of traditional Hindu and Indian culture, spirituality and architecture.
HTTP://WWW.AKSHARDHAM.COM/]
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30 COMMONWEALTH GAMES VILLAGE The Commonwealth Games VIllage was the athletes’ residence for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. The village is spread over an area of 63.5 hectares (157 acres). The Commonwealth Games was severely criticised by several prominent Indian politicians and social activists because billions of dollars were spent on the sporting event. not to mention the corruption by officials of the Games’ Organising Committee, delays in the construction of main Games’ venues, infrastructural compromises, relocation of poor housing communitites, and inadequate ticket sales before the event.
[D2010.THECGF.COM/]
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31 PRAGATI POWER PLANT About 75% of electricity consumed in India are generated by thermal power. this power plant is one of the gas based power plants of Pragati Power Corporation Limited (PPCL). The gas for it is sourced from GAIL HBJ Pipeline.Source of water is from sewage treatment plant at Delhi Gate.
[IPGCL-PPCL.GOV.IN/PPCL.HTM]
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32 PRAGATI MAIDAN Pragati Maidan is a venue for large exhibitions and conventions in New Delhi, and with 72,000 sq. metres of exhibition space, it is Delhi’s largest exhibition centre. The overall layout and project was designed by architect Raj Rewal,who also designed some key buildings such as the Hall of Nations (pictured).
[PRAGATIMAIDAN.INFO]
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33 CONNAUGHT PLACE constructed in 1933, one of the largest financial, commercial and business centers in New Delhi. Often abbreviated to CP, it was the former headquarters of the British. Developed as a showpiece of Lutyens design. Fourth most expensive office destination in the world.
[CONNAUGHTPLACE.COM]
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34 INDIRA GANDHI STADIUM Built by the Government of India in 1982 in order to host the 1982 Asian games. The grounds covers .41 km2 (102 acres). It is the largest indoor sports arena in India, the third largest in Asia. Seats 15,000 people. Named after the Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
[COMMONWEALTH GAMES VISITORS WEBSITE]
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JAMA MOSQUE
35 Jama mosque is the principal mosque of Old Delhi in India. Com-
missioned by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, it is the best-known mosque in India. Construction was completed in 1656. It lies at the beginning of the Chawri Bazar Road, a very busy central street of Old Delhi. The later name, Jama Masjid, refers to the weekly Friday noon congregation prayers of Muslims. The courtyard can hold 25,000 people. The courtyard of the mosque can be reached from the east, north and south by three flights of steps, all built of red sandstone
[WWW.DELHITOURISM.GOV.IN/DELHITOURISM/TOURIST_PLACE/JAMA_MASJID.JSP]
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35 FEROZ SHAH KOTLA CRICKET STADIUM Established in 1883 and is the second oldest international cricket stadium still functional in India, after the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Feroz Shah Kotla is famed for its cauldron-like atmosphere. The vociferous home support has led to a great winning sequence for India in Test matches, and the India national cricket team has been undefeated for over 20 years at this ground.
[HTTP://WWW.ESPNCRICINFO.COM/USA/CONTENT/GROUND/58040.HTML]
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36 RAJ GHAT Memorial to Mahatma Gandhi. Black marble platform marks spot of Gandhi’s cremation. An eternal flame burns at one end. Located on the banks of the Yamuna
[WWW.DELHITOURISM.GOV.IN/]
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37 SHAKTI STHAL Shakti Sthal is the memorial of former Indian Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi. Elements like earth, rock, water and nature have been used in the primary design of Shakti Sthal. The structure of the memorial is sixteen feet high and has been made using 60 tonnes of iron ore, which signify the strength and fortitude of Indira Gandhi’s character.
[WWW.DELHITOURISM.GOV.IN/]
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38 SHANTIVAN Shantivan which means ‘Forest of Peace’ is situated on Mahatma Gandhi Marg on the main Ring Road along the banks of the Yamuna River. This is the Memorial site of Pundit Jawahar Lal Nehru who was the first appointed
[THEHINDU.COM]
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39 VIJAY GHAT It is the memorial grounds of Lal Bahadur Shatstri, the second prime minister of India. the word Vijay means victory and the memorial was named after the victory he led India to in the 1965 war against Pakistan. The memorial marks the spot where Shastri was cremated and prayer services are held every year on his birth and death anniversaries. Many international heads of state and visiting dignitaries visit
[WWW.DELHITOURISM.GOV.IN/]
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40 GOLCHA CINEMA The Golcha Cinema opened in 1954. It was designed by W.M. Namjoshi in what could be described as an example of 1950’s retro-Art Deco style. The exterior has a cement rendered facade which is painted pink. There is a cut-out lettered sign on top of the building and a vertical fin sign over the entrance at the right hand side. It remains open as one of New Delhi’s popular cinemas.
[HTTP://WWW.GOLCHACINEMA.COM/]
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41 HAPPY SCHOOL The first co-ed school in Delhi, established by the late Shri Padam Chand Ji. Happy School started with seven children in Chooriwalan. In 1938, the Happy Teacher’s Training Centre started and in 1953, the foundation of (Central) Happy School was laid in Darya Ganj. The school now has about 2000 students and 100 teachers.
[HAPPYSCHOOLNEWDELHI.EDU.IN/]
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42 CHAWRI BAZAAR established in 1840 specialized wholesale market of brass, copper and paper products. First wholesale market of Old Delhi.
[WWW.DELHITOURISM.GOV.IN/]
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43 KHARI BAOLI Street in Delhi known for wholesale grocery, Asia’s largest wholesale spice market. Located on the Khari Baoli Road. On the western end of the Chandni Chowk.
[WWW.DELHITOURISM.GOV.IN/]
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44 FATEPURI MASJID Fatehpuri Masjid was built in 1650 by Fatehpuri Begum, one of emperor Shah Jahan’s wives who was from Fatehpur Sikri, the mosque at Taj Mahal is also named after her. The Khari Baoli, which is today Asia’s largest spice market, gradually developed after the construction of the mosque.
[WWW.DELHITOURISM.GOV.IN/]
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45 CHANDNI CHOWK Oldest and busiest markets in Old Delhi, built by Shah Jahan, designed by his daughter Jahan Ara. Once divided by canals to reflect moonlight. Remains to be one of largest wholesale market.
[HTTP://WWW.BHARATONLINE.COM/DELHI/SHOPPING-PLACES/CHANDNI-CHOWK.HTML]
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46 SUNEHRI MASJID The Sunehri Masjid (also known as the Golden Mosque) is a mosque in Old Delhi. It is located near the Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib in Chandni Chowk, once an imperial boulevard leading to the Red Fort. The mosque was built by Roshan-ud-Daula Zafar Khan in 1721.
[HTTP://WWW.INDIA9.COM/I9SHOW/SUNEHRI-MASJID-31513.HTM]
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47 GURDWARA SIS GANJ SAHIB One of the nine historical gurdwaras (place of worship for the Sikh) in Delhi. First established in 1783 by Baghel Singh to commemorate the martyrdom site the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur. Situated in Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi, it marks the site Sikh Guru was beheaded on the orders of the Mughal emperor on the 11th of November, 1675, Aurangzeb, for refusing to convert to Islam.
[H. S SINGHA (2000). THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF SIKHISM. HEMKUNT PRESS. P. 187. ISBN 81-7010-301-0.]
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DIGAMBAR JAIN TEMPLE Best known Jain Temple (located directly across from the Red Fort) built in 1656. Made of red sandstone popularly known as the “Red Temple” Lal Mandir. During the Mughal period, the construction of a sikhara for a temple was not permitted. thus this temple did not have a formal sikhara until after India’s independence when the temple was extensively rebuilt.
[WWW.JAINTEMPLE.IN/TEMPLES/INDIA/DELHI]
CEILLING PLAN
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49 RED FORT Built in 1649 by Ustad Ahmad Lahaui, made of red sandstone. it was the residence of the Mughal Emperr until 1857. Today it is a UNESCO world heritage site (designated in 2007). The fort is an iconic symbol of India, on Independence Day, the Prime Minister hoisted the national flag at the main gate and delivered a nationally broadcast speech from its ramparts. today it is home to a number of museums.
[N. L. BATRA (MAY 20080. DELHI’S RED FORT BY THE YAMUNA. NIYOGI BOOKS. RETRIEVED 11 SEPTEMBER 2014]
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50 SALIMGARGH FORT Built in 1546 in a former island of the Yamuna River, By Salim Shah Suri during Sur Dynasty. Emperors camped at this fort while building Red Fort. the fort was meant to be a part of the red Fort Complex connected to each other via the Bahadur Shah Gate, but it never happened. It is said Humayun camped at this fort for three days before recapturing Delhi. The fort was also converted into a prison where the British
[WWW.DELHIINFORMATION.IN/FORTS/SALIMGARGHFORT.HTML, ACCESSED 11 SEPTEMBER 2014]
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51 DELHI JUNCTION RAILWAY STATION
The oldest railway station of Delhi. Established near Chandni Chowk in 1864 when trains from Howrah, Calcutta started operating up to Delhi. Its present building was constructed by the British Indian government in the style of nearby red-coloured fort and opened in 1903. It has been an important railway station of the country, and preceded the New Delhi Railway Station by about 60 years.
[HTTP://WWW.INDIANRAIL.GOV.IN/]