New Delhi

Delhi has not always been the capital of India but has played an important role in Indian history. One of the fascinating aspects of the city has been the 'visibility' of its historic past. If not for the demands of ubanisation, large portions of the city could well be earmarked as archeological sites. This is because the rulers of the dynasties from the 13th and 17th centuries established eight cities in different parts of Delhi. The first four were towards the south where the Qutub Minar stands. The city's history dates much further back than the 13th century. Excavations have proved that the Old Fort site was inhabited 3,000 years ago, and fine pottery, called the Painted Grey Ware, has been found belonging to 1,000 BC, from the time of the Hindu epic of Mahabharata. The excavations also cut through houses and the streets of the Sultanate of Rajput, Post-Gupta, Gupta, Saka-Kushan and Sunga periods reaching down to the Mauraya dynasty (300 BC). The association of emperor Ashoka (273-36 BC) has come to light after the discovery of the Minor Rock Edict in the one of the city's districts. The core of the first city was created by Anangpal Tomar in the 12th century. He built Lal Kot, the first ever defense work in Delhi. Prithviraj Chauhan, the successive king, added massive ramparts and gates, and made Quila Rai Pithora. Today, only the ramparts are visible near Qutub Minar.

The second city, called Siri, was built by Alauddin Khilji in 1303. Nothing remains but the embattlements. He also dug a vast reservoir, Hauz Khas, to supply water to his people. Many historians consider the city of that time as a 'rival of Cairo and equal of Constantinople.’ The Khiljis were replaced by the Tughlaq dynasty in 1321. Of its eleven rulers, only the first three were interested in architecture and each of them established a new city. Tughlaq architecture is more austere in comparison to the ornate structures built by the Khiljis. Ghitasuddin Tughlaq constructed the fortified town of Tughlaqabad, which lies eight kilometers east of the Qutub Minar Complex. Though partially in ruins, it is still worth a visit.

Ghiyasuddin's successor, Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq built Delhi's fourth city, Jahanpanah. It is largely comprised of a walled enclosure between Quila Rai Pithora and Siri. Nothing from this time survives, and the Sultan is best remembered for his eccentric schemes, the strangest one to shift the capital from Delhi to Dulatabad in the Deccan region and back again to Delhi.

Firoz Shah Tughlaq, a man interested in history, hunting, architecture and irrigation created the fifth city, Firozabad, situated in the current Firoz Shah Kotla. Its ruins include the Ashoka Pillar and a mosque. Delhi's growth remained stagnant under the reign of Sayyids and Lodhis. The only notable architectural features by them were tombs, the best of which can be seen at Lodhi Gardens.

The last king of the Lodhis were defeated by Babur, the founder of the Mughal Dynasty. He shifted the capital from Delhi to Agra. The first six Mughal rulers were extraordinary men, and their rule witnessed a powerful resurgence in Islamic Architecture and culture. Babur's son, Humayun, built the sixth city of Delhi called the Purana Quila or Old Fort, which is off Mathura Road.