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Purana Qila (Old Fort)
The ruins of the
fort are located on a small hill which once stood on the banks of the river Yamuna.
The structure houses a mosque which has a double-storeyed octagonal tower. It
is said that the Mughal king Humayun accidentally fell from the tower and died. This tomb was built during Humayun's son Akbar's rule in 1562-72. The old city of Delhi, or Shahjahanabad, was not yet built at this time. The emperor's wife, Begai
Begum, was buried in the tomb. It was intended that future emperors and
their family members should have been buried in the chambers that line the base of the tomb. However,
each emperor has his own tomb, including Akbar, Humayun's son, and Shah Jahan, Akbar's
grandson. It took eight years to complete and is regarded as an excellent example
of
early Mughal architecture. The structure is the first of its kind built in the
centre of a well-planned garden. The combination of white marble and red sandstone
had a great influence on later Mughal arc Many
aspects of this tomb are taken from Persian traditions, such as the large archway in the
centre of the facade, with its pointed pinnacle, and the four-part garden representative of
paradise. Nizamuddin's
Tomb Inside the grounds of the shrine is a tank which is surrounded by many other tombs. Amir Khusru, a renowned Urdu poet, is en tombed here, as well as Jahanara , the daughter of Shah Jahan and Atgah Khan, a favourite of Humayun and his son Akbar. It is
worth visiting the shrine at around sunset on Thursdays , as it is a popular time for
worship , and qawwali singers start performing after the evening prayers. The Qutub Minar is the focal point of the Qutub complex in
South Delhi. In 1199, Sultan Qutab-ud-din Albak raised the Qutab Minar as a victory tower.
Its height is
72.5 m, with a diameter tapering from 14.32 m at its base to 2.75 m at its
summit. It is the highest stone tower in India, and a recognised landmark
of Delhi.
It was completed by the Sultan's successor and son-in The complex also includes an old mosque, gardens and an iron pillar believed to have been built in the 5th century A.D. The pillar is mysterious for two reasons: although it is iron, it has never rusted; and it is believed that if your arms can encompass the girth of the pillar behind your back, you will get all you wish for.
Tughluqabad Fort was situated on high rocky ground. The walls were constructed of massive blocks. Outside the south wall of the city is an artificial lake with king's tomb in its centre. A long causeway connects the tomb to the fort, both of which have walls that slope inwards. The fort is half-hexagonal in shape. The outer walls are built around the contours of the surrounding land adding a formidable strength to the natural barriers.
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Legend
has it that the Pandavas of the Mahabarat had built their capital
Indraprastha at the place where the old fort stands today. This fort was
constructed by Sher Shah Suri between 1538 and 1545 A.D, and was
the seat of administration for many emperors.
Humayun's Tomb
The tomb of the famous sufi
saint
Nizam-ud-din Auliya, also known as Nizam-ud-din Chishti, is located near
Humayun's tomb. The saint died in 1325 at the age of 92. 
-law, Iltutmish. The tomb of
Iltutmish, which he himself built in 1235, is also in the complex. Its interiors are profusely
decorated with calligraphy, though the dome has collapsed. 
The
massive strong walls of Tughluqabad, the third city of Delhi, are located east
of the Qutub Minar. Upon becoming king, Ghiyath-ud-din Tughluq built the
walled city and the fort with its 13 gateways within four years. The glory
of the citadel was short-lived as it was abandoned after his murder in
1325. His son decided to build his own city called Jahanpanah.