Moghul Delhi

After the thirteen's century, subsequent waves of islamic invaders conquered northern India. They established the Moghul empire, which lasted until after the arrival of the British. Most of Delhi's monuments are from this time and therefore islamic origin.

 

In 1656, it took 5000 workers only half a year to built Jami Mashid Mosque in Old Delhi. It can accommodate 20.000 people and is India's biggest mosque

Delhi so far has had six reincarnations, even more if the parts of the city built by the British and in the time of the Indian Republic are considered. The area of Old Delhi, Jama Mashid and the Red Fort is regarded as the seventh city of Delhi, built after 1638.

 

Purana Quila is the citadel of Delhi's sixth city, built by Hamayun, the second Moghul emperor, around 1540. After his death in 1556, it was soon abandoned. 

 

Purana Quila houses a mosque, which was actually built by the Afghan ruler Sher Shah. He conquered Delhi, replaced Hamayun and ruled for a couple of years. After his death, Hamayum was able to recover his throne.

 In January 1556, the mosque saw Sher Shah's posthume revenge. Hamayum hurried down the steps to attend the prayer in the mosque, slipped and fell to death. 

Haji Begum, his senior wife, got him constructed a tomb, called Hamayun's tomb, which was one of the examples for the building of Taj Mahal in Agra. After it got the status of an UNESCO monument, it was renovated and its gardens rebuilt. Here some gardeners, who sweep together dead leaves with tiny kitchen brushes and shovels, take a rest from their work.

 

The vast complex of Hamayun's tomb not only houses his own tomb, but also this smaller one of Isa Khan, a 16th century nobleman, and, remarkably enough.... Hamayun's barber!

Maybe this was the gratitude that the barber did not cut Hamayun's throat during one of his services....