Capital cities were built at the site of Delhi, on the western bank of river Yamuna, for over more than a thousand years. As the river shifted course, the location of the citadel also shifted so as to be close to some dependable source of water. For example, the oldest surviving citadel which Qutubuddin Aibak conquered from the Chauhan Rajput is in present day Maharauli, far away from Shahjahanabad, the last citadel built before British rule.
In 1638,
Mughal emperor Shahjahan laid the
foundation of Shahjahanabad which we today called Old Delhi. The British called
Old Delhi, the walled city because it had a wall around it. Most of this wall
no longer exists and only a few of the gates remain.
The two most
eye catching building in Shahjahanabad
are the Lal Qila (Red Fort) within which the emperor`s palace is situated and the Jama
Masjid, one of the Asia`s largest mosques. A wide road linked the Red Fort to Lahori gate in the western wall of
the city. This road was called Chandni Chowk, after a chowk (open space) with a
pool that reflected chandni (moonlight).
The road had fountains and shady trees and along its length were bazaars
bustling witheconomic activity. Another wide road ran from the north to the
south of the city separating the Red Fort and Jama Masjid.
Shahjahanabad
has numerous gardens, places of worship, educational institutions and
mausoleums. Various sections of the people lived in close nearness. So, the
hawellis of the nobles and wealthy people stood amidst that thatched mud house
of the poor artisans and craftsmen, all were packed together in crowded
Mohallas. Narrow lanes separated the houses.
It is
believed that the city of Delhi has been the site of seven cities, one after
the other, the present New Delhi being the eighth. In December 1911, the
Coronation Durbar was held at Delhi. King George V announced the creation of a
new capital, Delhi. The real motive behind the transfer of the capital was to
leave Calcutta which had become the centre of the freedom struggle. However,
the reason given was that Delhi, was centrally located and had a healthy
climate.
Sir Edwin
Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker were the two great architects who designed New
Delhi. Lutyens and Baker had different but complimentary vision. Lutyens sought
to borrow from the architectural design of different countries and Baker wanted
to integrate local elements in his designs. Lutyens realized that what was
needed, was a synthesis of eastern and western design. Thus were built the
Victory`s Place (Rashtrapati Bhvan), Council Chamber (Parliament house) North
Block, South Block, India Gate, Connaught Place and many other public
buildings. In constructing government buildings, red and cream sandstones were
most often used. The construction of the city was finally inaugurated in the
year 1931.
Baker designed
the Secretariat buildings that house important government offices. Lutyens
designed India Gate, the Parliament House and the Viceroy`s Palace. The India
gate is a majestic arch shaped stone memorial built in the honour of Indian
soldiers who were killed in the First World War. The Parliament House is a huge
circular columned building. OuR NATIONAL Parliament functions from this
building. The Rashtrapati Bhawan i now the official residence of the President
of India. It is located on a hill called Raisina hills at the end of a long
road called Rajpath in the heart of the New Delhi. Originally Called the
Viceroy`s Palace, the Rashtrapati Bhavan was the residence of the British
Viceroy of India till India became free in1947. This huge palace like building
is a peculiar synthesis of the Islamic, Hindu and European architectural
styles. Located in a huge campus of over 330 acres, the building had over 340
rooms. During the British days, over 2000 servants looked after the building.
In recent
decades, the city has undergone several changes that have changed its original
character. Many old British period buildings have been either demolished or
renovated. New Commercial and residential buildings have been constructed to
cater to the needs of ever increasing population of the city. Heritage lovers
are against such modern constructions because they diminish the beauty and
historical value of the city. The continuous influx of people from other parts
of the country has made Delhi into the commercial capital of the present day
India.
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