The Geographical Dictionary of Ancient and Mediaeval India c5.s7.5

Language: English

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Indraprastha—Old Delhi. It is also called Brihasthala in the *Mahābhārata*. The city of Indraprastha was built on the banks of the Jamuna, between the more modern Kotila of Firoz Shah, and Humayun's tomb, about two miles south of modern Delhi. The river has now shifted its course more than a mile eastwards. The Nigambod Ghat on the banks of the Jamuna near the Nigambod gate of Shah-jahan's Delhi, just outside the fort close to Selimgad, and the temple of Nilachatri said to have been erected by Yudhishthira on the occasion of performing a homa, are believed to have formed part of the ancient capital. It was also called Khāndava-prastha, and formed part of Khāndava-vana (*see Khāndava-vana*). The name Indraprastha is preserved in that of Indrapat, one of the popular names of the fort Purāna. Kilā, which is still pointed out as the fort of Yudhishthira and his brothers. The fort was repaired or built on the original Hindu foundations by Humayun and was called Dīnpanā (*Arch. S. Rep.*, vol, IV). It now contains the Keelā Koni mosque the building of which was commenced by Humayun and completed by Sher Shah, and also the Sher Manjil or the palace of Sher Shah, which was used as a library by Humayun on his re-accession to the throne, and in which he met with his death by an accidental fall. Indraprastha was the capital of Yudhishṭhira, who became king in the year 653 of the Kali era, called also the Yudhishṭhira era.

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According to Āryabhaṭṭa and Varāhamihira, the Kali age began in 3101 B.C. A large extent of land between the Delhi and Ajmer gates of modern or Shahjahan’s Delhi and about sixteen miles in length contained at different periods the site of old Delhi which was shifted from time to time according to the whims and caprices of different monarchs. Just after leaving the Delhi gate, there is Firoz Shah’s Kotila containing a pillar of Aśoka [for the inscription on the pillar see *JASB.* (1837), p. 577], which is one of the few remnants of Firoz Shah’s capital Firuzabad. Another Aśoka pillar is on the ridge in a broken condition. The next place is Indrapat or Yudhishṭhira’s Indraprastha. Just outside the fort is a gate called Lal Darwâzâ, the ancient Kâbuli Darwâzâ of Sher Shah’s Delhi, which now gives entrance to an ancient mosque. At some distance is Humayun’s tomb built by Akbar, containing also the tomb of Hamida Banu Begum, and also those of Jahandar Shah, Farrukhsiyar, Alamgir II, Raffi-ud-Daula, Raffi-ud-Dijarat, and Dara. Beyond it is a village called Nizamuddin Aulia after the name of a saint who flourished at the time of Ghiasuddin Tughlak. The village contains a baoli (well); the beautiful marble tombs of Nizamuddin Aulia, Mahomed Shah, Jahanara Begum, the poet Khusru and Prince Mirza Jahangir, son of Akbar II. These tombs are enclosed with beautiful marble fret-work screens, one of which is provided with a marble door.

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There is also a mosque called Jumat Khana built by the Emperor Alauddin. Beyond Nizamuddin Aulia is Chausaṭh Khamba containing the tomb of Akbar’s foster brother and General Mobarak called Aziz Khan. The Mausoleum of Safdar Jung, the son of Sadat Khan, Nawab of Oudh and Vizir of Ahmad Shah, was erected by his son Shuja-ud-Daula. Tughlakabad contains the ruins of a big fort built by Ghiasuddin Tughlak whose tomb was raised by his crazy son Muhammad Tugulak just outside the southern wall of the city. Besides, there is the Kutub Minar, the tower of victory, with Pṛithvī-Râjâ’s Yajñâśâlâ in the neighbourhood converted into a mosque, in the courtyard of which stands the celebrated Iron Pillar. This and the Lâlkoṭ with Yogamâyâ’s temple, the Butkhana and Altamash’s tomb are within the Delhi of Pṛithvī-Râj. Close to the Kutub Minar is the Alai Darwâzâ or the gateway of Allauddin, perhaps, of his capital, and near it is the marble tomb of Imam Zemin, the spiritual guide of Humayun. Near the Ajmer gate is the Yantar-Mantar or the Observatory of Jai Singh of Jaipur. Within Shahjahanabad or modern Delhi is the fort with its celebrated Dewan-i-Am Rang-Mahal, Mamtaz-Mahal, Shahpur palace, and the Pearl Mosque. The Jumma Masjid was constructed by Shajahan. The Sonari Mosque (Mosque of Raushan-ud-Daula) is situated immediately to the west of the Kotwali from which Nadir Shah ordered the massacre of Delhi. For further particulars, see Delhi in Pt. II, of this work.