Ever wondered what made Delhi Delhi? This time we bring to you the story behind Names of Delhi. From Pandava’s Indraprastha to the modern day Delhi we have everything ready on the platter to serve. So the 10 major settlements that led to the formation of Delhi are

1. Indraprastha-Pandavas

According to Mahabharatha, the Hindu epic text, Pandavas were the five sons of Pandu with his two wives Kunti and Madri. The names of Pandavas were- Yudhishthira, Arjun, Bhima, Nakula and Sehadeva. The five brothers were married to the same lady, Draupadi. After Pandavas were able to escape from the fire put in the castle made out of wax, they were invited back to Hastinapur by King Dhritarashtra. The time they came back Duryodhan, the eldest of the 100 sons of King Dhritarashtra was pronounced as king. King Dhritarashtra gave a barren island to Pandavas. The Pandavas made a very beautiful castle and the city. They called this place Indraprastha. The Purana Quila in Delhi is believed to be the palace of Pandavas.

                          The Pandavas

2. Lalkot- Prithviraj Chauhan

Originally it was Built by Tomara ruler Anangpal in 1052 AD. Prithviraj Chauhan extended and it and fortified it to improve the defense of the city against Muslim invaders such as Muhamad of Ghor. This city came to be known as Qile Rai Pithora. The area of Qile Rai Pithora is now known as Mehrauli. Prithviraj Chauhan was one of the strongest Indian rulers and belonged to Chahmana or Chauhan dynasty. He controlled most of the present day Rajasthan, Delhi and Haryana. This place was also a seat of Mamluk or the Slave Dynasty.

The Lalkot Fort

3. Tughluqabad- Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq

The Tughlaqabad fort was built in 1320 AD. This fort was built by Ghiyasuddin Tughluq of Tughluq dynasty. He gave this Names of Delhi ‘Tughlaqabad’. A subsidiary fort known as Adilabad, was built by Ghiyasuddin Tughluq’s son Muhammad bin Tughlaq of Tughlaq dynasty. The Adilabad fort was built in 1325 AD.

The Tughluqabad Fort

4. Jahanpanah

Jahanpanah or the Refugee of the World, This Names of Delhi was given to the area sandwiched between suburbs  between Qil Rai Pithora and Siri. It was built by Muhammad bin Tughluq in 1325 AD.

The Jahanpanah Fort

5.Ferozabad- Firoz Shah Tughlaq

Firoz Shah Tughlaq built the city of Ferozabad. It was built in 1354 AD. Presently, only a palace remains known as Feroz Shah Kotla. Yes Feroz Shah Kotla has much more than a cricket stadium where recently India played ODI against New Zealand. Next time when you go to watch a match there do take a look at the castle. Feroz Shah’s building indicated that the suburbs were occupied. Many major mosques were already built inside Jahanpanah ( the present day Khirki and Begumpur) and Nizammudin. Also around Khijli reservoir Hauz Khas was developed.

6.Dinpanah- Humayun

Dinpanah was built by the KING Mirza Nasir ud-din Baig Muhammad Khan Humayun commonly known as Humayun. Humayun was a Muslim ruler. He lost his kingdom for a while but regained it. When he died the Mughal Kingdom was one million square kilometres.

7. Shergarh- Sher Shah Suri

Shergarh was built by Sher Shah Suri in the area near the site of Indraprastha. Sher Shah Suri was the founder of the Sur Empire which sprouted in North India and had its capital in the present day Delhi. He took control of the Mughal empire in 1540 AD.

Gate to Shergarh

8.Shahjanabad- Shah Jahan

Mirza Shahabuddin Baig Muhammad Khan Shah Jahan popularly known as Shah Jahan built the walled-city of Shahjanabad. Shahjanabad contained the Lal-Quila or Red Fort and Chandni Chowk. Presently this area is referred to as the ‘Old Delhi’ Shah Jahan built many famous architectural marvels in his time. He made the Taj Mahal in Agra, which is one of the seven wonders in the world, for the loving memory of her wife Mumtaz Mahal. Both Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal are buried inside the Taj Mahal.

Red Fort, Shahjanabad

9. Lutyen’s Delhi or the New Delhi

British ruled over Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947. They entered as East India Company. The present day Delhi as we know of was made by the British architect Edwin Lutyens. Lutyens laid down the architectural design and plan of Delhi. Edwin was the architect of many modern day marvels. He decided to put one-third area as the green space. He was the head architect of the Rashtrapati Bhawan, formely known as the Viceroy’s House, is the house and office to the President of India. Rashtrapati Bhawan was put on top of Raisina Hill. Presently, Dr. Pranab Mukherjee, the current President of India, stays in the Rashtrapati Bhawan.The Rajpath or the King’s way is the connection between India Gate to Rashtrapati Bhawan.

The Janpath crosses at the right angle connects to South End Road with Connaught Place,CP. The Secretariat building was built to house the ministries of Government. Parliament House which is on the Sansad Bhawan , which is parallel to Janpath, was designed by Herbert Baker. The Prime Minister’s Office, PMO was designed by Herbert Baker.

Rashtrapati Bhawan

The Secretariat Building

Derivation of term “Delhi”

There are various theories as to how the term ‘Delhi’ after so many Names of Delhi came into existence. The most common belief is that this Names of Delhi originated from Raja Dhilu or Dilu. Raja Dhilu was a king of Mauryan Dynasty. He ruled in the first century BC.The various names like Dihlika, Delhi or Dili have been derived from the King’s name.

Another popular story according to historians is that Dili is derived from dehleez or dehali which translate to threshold in Hindi. It means that Delhi is the gateway to the Indo-Gangetic Plain.

Now you know what made Names of Delhi, Delhi. How the Names of Delhi came into existence.

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