Venkateshwar students visit Purana Qila

The Purana Qila,also known as the Old Fort,seems to have survived the test of time. It is a remarkable,majestic monument that grasps the viewer’s imagination. I was fortunate enough to have witnessed such an astonishing building with an ancient architectural style — varying from beautiful arches to exquisite domes. There are five eye-catching doorways and arches,made up of a brilliant combination of red sandstone and marble. I also learned that its architecture was influenced by Mughal,Hindu and Afghan architecture. A glistening lake also provided us with a chance to indulge in boating. This monument represents yet another historic centre of New Delhi,and I am glad to see it preserved till today.

*Mandeep Singh Sidhu

On March 2,our school organised an educational trip to the Old Fort for students of the 12th standard. The Old Fort portrays an account of two great empires in the history of India — the Afghan and the Mughal. The fort has four giant gateways,one of which leads to the Yamuna. It comprises 22 acres of land,which accommodate almost 200 artistically sculpted monuments built by great Indian rulers. The carvings on the entrance pillars are intricate,and the sculptures are flawlessly sculpted. The focal point of the complex is the grand palace,built with pink stones and white marble. The Old Fort is one of the oldest forts in India,built in the 16th Century. It showcases exotic Indian art and heritage. We explored the place for a couple of hours,and captured the scenic beauty of the Old Fort with our cameras.

*Nikita Verma,XII-Rockview

January is a red-letter month for us,because that is usually when our school excursion happens. However,this time,our school planned a visit to the Old Fort,which came as a disappointment to quite a few of us. The reason? Not many of us were overtly interested in history. However,by the end of the trip,our perceptions had gone through a complete transformation. When we reached our destination,we found a huge,magnificent fort — built by Mughal emperor Humayun in 1553 — waiting for us. A tourist guide took us through the entire fort. The fort is octagonal in shape,and has three gates — namely Bara Darwaza,Humayun Dawarza and Talaqi Darwaza,which are marvellous examples of Mughal architecture. Another fine example of Mughal architecture is the Qila Kuhna Masjid,built of marble and red sandstone,which adds to the grace of the fort. We were then shown age-old painted grey pottery,which was unearthed during recent excavations. After the sight-seeing tip,we witnessed another overwhelming experience — a light-and-sound show. The show took us almost 5,000 years back into history. The trip to the Old Fort brought us closer to our glorious past. We will always cherish it as a memorable and enlightening experience.

*Sanjana Ahuja,XII-Riverdale

Old Fort is a monument which takes us back to the Mughal era. Exceptionally stunning in appearance and architecture,it is popularly known as Purana Qila. I got an opportunity to go there with my friends on March 2. We went till Pragati Maidan by Metro,after which we walked. A big lake near the fort made the fort appear even better. Its history dates back to the 15th Century. Purana Qila,situated on the banks of Yamuna,was constructed by Mughal emperor Humayun. It is where Humayun’s capital,Din Panah,was located. Later,it was renovated and named Shergarh by the first Afghan emperor of India,Sher Shah Suri. Samrat Hem Chandra Vikramaditya,often referred to as the last Hindu emperor of India,was coronated in this fort after he defeated Akbar’s forces in Delhi on October 7,1556. We entered a big fort with three arched gateways — the Bara Darwaza (Big Gate) facing the west,the Humayun Gate in the south,and lastly,the ‘Talaqi Gate’ or forbidden gate. All the gates were double-storeyed sandstone structures flanked by two huge semi-circular bastion towers,and decorated with white and coloured marble inlays and blue tiles. A few of the interior structures still stand,except the Qila-i Kuhna mosque and the Shermandal,both credited to Sher Shah. We also got a chance to witness the awesome sound and light shows after sunset,entailing the history of Delhi. Altogether,it was a great experience.

*Jasjot Singh,XII-Rockview

The Purana Qila,also known as the Old Fort,seemed to have survived the onslaught of time. A remarkable building that grabs the viewer’s attention,I felt fortunate to have witnessed such an astonishing building,which represents the architecture of the ancient days. I also got a taste of its enchanting history — from the time of its construction by Sher Shah Suri in 1541 to efforts made for its conservation in the modern era. There are five eye-catching doorways and arches,made of red sandstone and marble. I also learned that its architecture was adopted from Mughal,Hindu and Afghan architecture. This monument represents yet another historic centre of New Delhi and I am glad to see that it has been preserved till today.

*Abhishek Dhyani,XII-Daisydale

The Old Fort,commonly known as Purana Qila,one of the most visited tourist places in Delhi. It is located four km from Connaught Circus,Southeast Delhi. There is no entry fee,and is open from sunrise to sunset. Built in the 18th Century,this fort is believed to standing on the ancient site of Indraprastha.The major attractions of this fort are Sher Mandal and Qila-i-Kuhna Masjid. The fort walls octagonal in shape,and it has three gates. One of the finest examples of architecture,the Qila Kuhna Masjid,is built inside the fort. The use of marble and red sandstone has only added to the grace of the masjid. This combination gives the structure a different look. The inner west wall of the masjid has five arched openings,richly ornamented with white-and-black marble tiles. Light and sound shows — which takes you 5,000 years into history — were conducted in Hindi and English. Also,there was also a shimmering lake of emerald water,where tourists can enjoy afternoon boating session in the shadow of history. The visit to the Old Fort was definitely an overwhelming experience for everyone.

*Shrutika,XII-Riverdale

On March 2,the Class XII students of our school set out on an educational tour to the Old Fort. The monument has great historical significance. Built in the 16th Century,when Mughals ruled over India,it encompasses 22 acres of land. The carvings on the entrance pillar sand-sculpted murtis are intricate and flawlessly designed — showcasing Indian art,values,wisdom and heritage. The focal point of the entire complex is the grand palace,built in pink sandstone and white marble with 224 magnificently carved pillars,20 pinnacles and eight domes in total. We will never forget our visit to the Old Fort.

*Rituparna Bhattacharya,XII-Rockview

I remember the first time I saw the Old Fort. As an eight-year-old child,I had crossed its northern watchtower — which was covered almost fully with foliage — as I was going to the National Science Center for a science camp. At that time,I was not exactly awestruck by the structure. However,all that changed on the day we went on our first educational trip to the Old Fort. True,I was not as enthusiastic while entering the structure through the ‘Lal Darwaza’,but the ideas in my mind had taken an about-turn by the time I exited it. But then,that’s only natural. Monuments are built to inspire.

*Abhinav Dhar

The Purana Qila is located at Lajpat Nagar in South Delhi. This magnificent fort is situated to the southeast of India Gate,and to the north of Humayun’s Tomb. The fort has four giant gateways,one of which leads to the Yamuna. The serene lake inside the fort premises is just what you need to relax after a busy day. The fort also houses a library and an observatory,and gives us a glimpse into the lives of the people during a time when the Mughals and Afghans were in power. Purana Qila,one of the oldest forts in Delhi and a top tourist attraction,could be thrilling for a first-time visitor. We remained there for a couple of hours,explored the site,and took many photographs.

*Nidhi Bhatnagar,XII-Springdale

On March 2,we went on a trip to Old Fort,which showcases a blend of the country’s history. We enjoyed the trip very much. It is an archaeological site that tells about our past. Its history of conflict and turmoil is in complete contrast to what it has now become — an idyllic place that has become a haven for picnickers and couples. Upon visiting the monument,we were filled with images from the past — the march of triumphant elephants,the blowing of conches,and the victory procession of Afghan ruler Sher Shah Suri. The fabled city of Indraprastha is said to have existed here. We also visited Sher Mandal,from where we got a glimpse of the entire cityscape. This was a memorable trip for all of us. In time,I would like to visit the Old Fort again and learn more about it.

*Sanchit Saini,IX-Riverdale