Old Fort in Delhi

A must-see during your travel to New Delhi, the Old Fort or the Purana Quila is a good example of medieval military architecture. Built by the Mughal Emperor Humayun, with later-day modifications by Sher Shah Suri, the Purana Quila is a monument of bold design, which is strong, straightforward and every inch a fortress. The Qal'a-I-Kunha Masjid and the Sher Mandal are two important monuments inside the fort.

Though not many buildings within the crumbling walls of the Purana Quila have survived, there are two monuments of architectural importance within it that have survived the ravages of time: the Qal'a-I-Kunha Masjid and the Sher Mandal. Both these monuments were built by Sher Shah Suri.

The Qal'a-I-Kunha Masjid is a superb but austere building, with sparse, sophisticated ornamentation in sandstone and a little marble. This mosque belongs to the Indo-Islamic style of architecture. It has a single dome, which is not pronounced and lacks the grandeur of the bulbous onion-shaped domes generally seen on Islamic buildings.

To the south of the Qal'a-I-Kunha mosque is an octagonal two-storied structure called the Sher Mandal. It was built by Sher Shah Suri, probably as a pavilion, and has a tile and inlay work in red sandstone. The Sher Mandal is an intriguing structure and the purpose of building it is not clear. This monument also conforms to the Indo-Islamic style of architecture. The Sher Mandal has a touch of sadness attached to it, as it was here that the second Mughal emperor Humayun fell to his death.

Tourists planning to travel to New Delhi can also visit the Delhi Zoo located inside the Old fort.