The Purana Qila or the Old Fort is the oldest fort among all forts in Delhi and also the oldest known structure of Delhi. The Afghan king Sher Shah Suri re- built the fort on the same site, which was perhaps the site of Indraprastha, believed to be the capital of the Pandavas. Sher Shah raised the citadel of Purana-Qila with an extensive city-area sprawling around it. It is located at the site of the legendary city of Indraprastha, that was founded by the Pandavas on the banks of perineal river Yamuna, which is revered by Hindus since ages, nearly more than 5000 years old. It seems that the Purana-Qila was still incomplete at Sher Shah’s death in 1545, and was perhaps completed by his son Islam Shah or Humayun, although it is not certain which parts were built by whom. The Fort was called as the inner citadel of the city of Dina-panah during Humayun’s rule who renovated it in 1533 and completed it five years later. The founder of the Suri Dynasty, Sher Shah Suri, defeated Humayun in 1540, naming the fort ‘Shergarh’. He also added several more structures in the complex during his five year reign until his death in 1545. Subsequently Islam Shah took over the reins of North India from this fort, but shifted his capital to Gwalior, as it was supposed to be a safer capital in that period, leaving the charge of Delhi and Punjab to his Hindu General Hemu. After Islam Shah’s death in 1553, Adil Shah Suri took charge of North India. General Hemu was busy in quelling rebellion in east India and the fort remained neglected.
Purana Qila
