History of Delhi

The history of Delhi, one of the oldest cities in the world, spans thousands of years and is deeply intertwined with the history of India itself. Here's a brief overview:

Ancient Delhi:

Indraprastha: According to the Mahabharata, Delhi was once the site of Indraprastha, the capital of the Pandavas. Though archaeological evidence is limited, it’s considered part of Delhi’s mythological past.

Maurya Period (c. 300 BCE): Delhi was under the control of the Mauryan Empire, especially under Emperor Ashoka.

Medieval Delhi:

Tomar and Chauhan Dynasties (8th–12th century): The Tomar Rajputs founded Lal Kot, and later the Chauhan king Prithviraj Chauhan ruled from here until he was defeated by Muhammad Ghori in 1192.

Delhi Sultanate (1206–1526):

Founded by Qutb-ud-din Aibak, this era saw the construction of Qutub Minar.

Five dynasties ruled: Mamluk, Khilji, Tughlaq, Sayyid, and Lodi.

Delhi became a major center of culture, learning, and power.

Mughal Period (1526–1857):

Babur defeated the last Lodi Sultan and founded the Mughal Empire.

Shah Jahan moved the capital to Delhi from Agra and built Shahjahanabad (Old Delhi) and the Red Fort.

Delhi flourished culturally and architecturally, becoming one of the greatest cities in the Islamic world.

British Rule (1857–1947):

In 1857, Delhi was the center of the first major rebellion against British rule (the Sepoy Mutiny or First War of Independence).

After suppressing the rebellion, the British took direct control and moved their capital from Calcutta to Delhi in 1911.

New Delhi was designed by British architects Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker and became the new capital.

Post-Independence (1947–present):

After India gained independence in 1947, Delhi became the capital of the new nation.

It has since grown into a major political, cultural, and commercial center.

In 1991, Delhi was given special status as the National Capital Territory (NCT).