The Purana Quila or the old fort was constructed by Humayun and Sher Shah. The old fort complex covers an area of about a mile. The walls of Purana Quila have three gates (the Humayun Darwaza, Talaqi Darwaza and Bara Darwaza) and are surrounded by a moat, which was fed by river Yamuna. The double-storied gates of the Purana Quila are quite massive and are built with red sandstone. The walls of the old fort are said to be built by Humayun while the buildings in the old fort are attributed to Sher Shar, the Sur ruler. Of all the surviving buildings in the old fort complex, the Sher Mandal and the Quila-i-kunha Mosque are notable.
Born in present day Uzbekistan in 1483, Zahir-ud-din Babur was a ferocious fighter. He was a descendant of Turkic ruler Tamerlane and the notorious military general Genghis Khan. Babur came to India during the early years of the 16th century and founded the Mughal Empire. His son Humayun would consolidate the gains made by his father and expand the empire to as far as Assam in Eastern India and Maharashtra in the south. As a part of his consolidation efforts, he built a new capital in Delhi and ordered the construction of the “Purana Qila or the Old Fort.” When Humayun was temporarily ousted from power by Sher Shah Suri from Afghanistan, the new ruler changed the name of the fort to “Shergarh.” Fortunately for Humayun, Sher Shah Suri died quickly and he was able to regain his empire. The Old Fort continued to remain the seat of the Mughal power until Shah Jahan decided to move the capital and constructed the Lal Qila.
Metro: The nearest metro station to Puaran Qila is Pragati Maidan Metro Station. You can take an auto or a rickshaw to reach the fort after you get unboard the metro.
Bus: Purana Qila is located in one of the prime areas of Delhi. Buses number 73, 901, 405, 423, 502 and 425 ply to and from Purana Qila to various parts of the city.
The entry fee to visit Purana Qila is Rs. 20 for Indians and Rs. 200 for Foreigners. The fee for Camcorder is Rs. 25.
October to March is the best time to visit New Delhi. Summers are very hot here in Delhi and should be avoided as much as possible as the temperature might rise upto 45 degree Celsius. Temperatures fall a little during the monsoons, but rains might hamper your sightseeing plans.
