THE FIRST CITY OF DELHI LIES IN RUINS: QUILA RAI PITHAURA

Delhi, the capital of free India is the heart of its country. It is where love happens. But, did you know Delhi has been the Capital of this subcontinent more than seven times? let us explore the first city of Delhi.

Lal Kot in Mehrauli. image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

Open your eyes and look from the shade of your lashes- the grandeur of red brick frontier that once dominated the world architecture stands crumbling. Where one ten gates stood to welcome its people, now lays dust and remnants. The first city of Delhi, the first Red Quila of this magnificent capital- Lal Kot or Quila Rai Pithaura.

Delhi has been the pride of India for centuries. It captured the hearts of various rulers and monarchs who couldn’t take their eyes off its landscape. Delhi has been the capital of the subcontinent eight times, shifting and encapsulating a lusher landscape under its control.

The history of these capitals is incomplete without referring to the first person who stood still when they saw Dilli and build their first fort- Lal Kot. Let us go back to when it all started.

The first city of Delhi dates back to the 11th century when the Tomar Rajputs ruled over the Indian subcontinent. Raja Anangpal Tomar founded the first Delhi in AD 736. It is believed that he chose the Aravalli Range in Mehrauli as his headquarters for strategic reasons.

It was Anangpal II who shifted the capital of Tomar Rajputs and discovered Delhi after continuous attacks by Mahmud Gazni on Kannuj, their previous residence.

The initial city that was built was known as the Lal Kot or the Red Fort, making it the First Red Fort in Delhi, even before the Quila-e-Mubarak that everyone recognises so easily. It stretched from Lado Sarai to Mehrauli.

After the Tomar Rajputs were defeated by the Chauhans in 1151 AD, Raja Prithviraj Chauhan expanded the Lal Kot and renamed this magnificent fort to Quila Rai Pithaura. Historical records state that after the invasion, a pact was signed between the Tomar Rajputs and the Chauhans stating that the Tomar should marry the Chauhan princess. When they give birth to their child, he will rule the city of Delhi.

This particular historical site is known for a lot of reasons. Firstly, it is believed that Anangpal II brought the Iron Pillar from Mathura and situated it in the middle of his fort. All the temples and palaces that were later constructed were strategically placed around the pillar that made it the centre of the city. A total of 27 temples were made during this period. The same iron pillar is now located in the Qutb Minar complex.

Secondly, it is believed that the first city of Delhi had 10 entrances or gates. While some exist like Badaun, Ranjit, Sohan, Barka, Hauz Rani and Fateh, others couldn’t survive the ravages of time. The citadel was oblong while there were high stonewalls to its west.

Thirdly, Prithviraj is referred to as the hero who fought with the Muslim invaders on numerous occasions, defeating them and safeguarding the interests of his citizens. He fought two battles against Sultan Mohammad of Ghor, where he lost the second and was taken to Ghor as a prisoner.

Just like that, the time changed and welcomed a new ruler to the lands of Delhi. A new area became the capital for a new kingdom. Yet, the magnificence of Lal Kot still existed. Today, many get to know about the existence of this quila while going through Sanjay Van, the medicinal forest that surrounds the Fort