THE ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS
THE CITY OF DELHI BEFORE THE SIEGE
FROM THE ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS, JAN. 16, 1858Image size: 33.6 x 24 cm (13.2 x 9.4 inches)
Mount size: 46.7 x 37.4 cm (18.3 x 14.7 inches)
Published in The Illustrated London News, January 16, 1858.
This is the only historical map of the walled city of Old Delhi, also known as Purani Dilli. Originally named Shahjahanabad, the city was established in 1639 when Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan relocated the capital from Agra. Completed in 1648, Shahjahanabad served as the capital of the Mughal Empire until its decline in 1857, when the British Raj assumed control of India. The city was once adorned with the opulent mansions of nobles and royal court members, along with magnificent mosques and lush gardens.
The city's surrounding walls were initially made of mud, measuring 12 feet (3.7 m) wide and 26 feet (7.9 m) tall. These were replaced with red sandstone in 1657. During the Mughal era, the gates were locked at night for security. While most of the walls have vanished, five of the original 14 gates still stand today:
Ajmeri Gate: Facing Ajmer in Rajasthan. Delhi Gate: Leading to earlier settlements of Delhi. Turkman Gate: Named after the Hazrat Shah Turkam. Lahori Gate: Facing Lahore in Pakistan and Kashmiri Gate: Pointing northward towards Kashmir.
Provenance : Collection of a Gentleman
Very Good Condition
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