Context:
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has planned to further excavate the Purana Qila site.
Recent Excavations:
- Revealed 9 cultural levels and a continuous history spanning over 2,500 years.
- Artefacts from different historical periods related to Pre-Mauryan, Mauryan, Sunga, Kushana, Gupta, Post Gupta, Rajput, Sultanate and Mughal were excavated.
- Artefacts recovered include idols of Hindu deities to over 100 coins and almost 3 dozen seals among others.
- It includes a stone image of Vaikuntha Vishnu, a terracotta plaque of Gaja Laxmi, a stone image of Ganesha, seals and sealings, coins, terracotta figurines, beads of various stones and a bone needle
- Provide further insights into the ancient city of Indraprastha.
Purana Qila:
- Located on the banks of – River Yamuna
- Known as – Indraprastha or Pandavon ka Qila or Old fort.
- Built by – Mughal Emperor Humayun
- Part of Humayun’s new city of Dinpanah in 16th century
- Architecture – Purana Quila is roughly rectangular in shape having a circuit of walls built using red sandstone
- Major architectural features – Qila-e-Kuhna mosque, Sher Mandal, Lal Darwaza and Khairul Manazil
- Qila-i-Kunha Mosque – Exhibits 5 doorways and is designed in the Indo-Islamic architectural style.
- Sher Mandal – Octagonal tower built by Humayun as an observatory and library.
- Gateways –
- All of the gates are double-storeyed and comprise of huge semi-circular bastions flanking either of their sides.
- The ornate detailing on the pavilions (chhatris) and balconies (jharokhas) of the fort gateways display traces of Rajasthani style.
- 3 Gateways –
- Bada Darwaza (Large Gate) – Tucked between two massive, curving bastions made of rubble masonry.
- Forbidden / North gateway (Talaqui darwaza) – It typically combines Islamic pointed arch with Hindu Chhatris and brackets.
- Southern gateway (Purana Quila, Humayun Darwaza) – It had a similar plan like northern gateway.
- Significance –
- Provided evidence that Delhi has a continuous history for almost 3000 years
- Mentioned by the Greek traveller Megasthenes as one of the 7 cities of Delhi.
- Served as an internment camp for Japanese civilians of British India during the 2nd World War
- It is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993
Source: Times of India
Previous Year Question
Ibadat Khana at Fatehpur Sikri was:
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2014 Prelims]
(a) the mosque for the use of the Royal Family
(b) Akbar’s private prayer chamber
(c) the hall in which Akbar held discussions with scholars of various religions
(d) the room in which the nobles belonging to different religions gathered to discuss religious affairs
Answer: (c)
