On a lazy Sunday morning I had the pleasure of catching up with an old friend in Chandni Chowk. Over a cup of garam chai and jeera biscuits we gossiped about old times and wonderful memories. What started as a gupshup about the wonders of tea and its almost divine effects on the senses metamorphosed into an engaging conversation of the lost moments of Delhi’s cultural extravaganza and its rich heritage! It is interesting how the conversation led us to the City of Indra or Indraprastha. With each sip we were drawn deeper into the wondrous revelations about the past of this magical ancient city!

The ancient Indian scripture of Mahabharata talks about Delhi as Indraprastha, the legendary city built around river Yamuna in Kandava van by Pandavas as early as 800 B.C. It is said that Purana Qila stands in the same place where the city of Indraprastha once existed. I can’t help but wonder what Indraprastha looked like and what its grandeur would have been in those times!

It is said that Delhi as it stands today is an amalgamation of several historic cities built by different rulers from time to time. Delhi was plundered innumerable times and forts were built one after the other to protect it from notorious invaders and monarchs. Though most of the cities have been reduced to rubbles and are lost in the sand’s of time, however some still stand strong refusing to give up!

FIRST CITY: INDRAPRASTHA

Historical logs suggest that out of Delhi’s 9 ancient cities Indraprastha is the first and the oldest city. After winning the epic battle of Mahabharata, Pandavas chose Indraparstha as their capital and built a massive fort here. Purana Qila was built by the Afghan ruler Sher Shah Suri. Archeologists believe that it was built on the remains of the ancient city of Indraprastha.

Purana Qila, Image source: https://travelguideindia.wordpress.com/2007/09/02/purana-qilanew-delhi/

SECOND CITY: QILA RAI PITHORA

Qila Rai Pithora or Lal Kot is the second lost city of Delhi which was gifted to Prithviraj Chuahan by his grandfather. It is said that his ancestors captured it from Rajput ruler, Anangpal who first built the fort at Lal Kot. Chauhan later extended the walls into his city of Rai Pithora.

Qila Rai Pithora, Image source: http://im.timescitycontent.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/raipithorafin.jpg

THIRD CITY: SIRI

The third lost city of Siri has its own story! The fort of Siri was built during the times of Khilji Dynasty to protect Delhi from Mongol rulers. It is suggested that it existed between the stretch covering Qila Rai Pithora and Indraprastha. Some of the buildings that still exist in and around the fort are Tohfewala Gumbad, Mohemmadewali Masjid, Thanewala Gumbad and Bagh-i-Alam ka Gumbad.

Walls of Siri Fort, Image Source: http://www.socialmantra.in/site-assets/images/somdeb%20-%20close%20shot%20siri%20wall%203.jpg

FOURTH CITY: TUGHLAQABAD The cities of Tughlaqabad, Jahanpanah and Firozabad were ruled by the emperors of Tughlaq Dynasty. The township of Tughlaqabad, situated between the Faridabad and Delhi border, was established by the fearsome ruler Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq.

The ruins of Tughlaqabad, Image source: https://sahapedia.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/tughlaqabad-13.jpg