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The  Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), as an attached office under the Department of Culture, Ministry of Tourism and Culture, is the premier organization for the archaeological researches and protection of the cultural heritage of the nation. Maintenance of ancient monuments and archaeological sites and remains of national importance is the prime concern of the ASI. Besides it regulate all archaeological activities in the country as per the provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958. It also regulates Antiquities and Art Treasure Act, 1972. For the maintenance of ancient monuments and archaeological sites and remains of national importance the entire country is divided into 24 Circles. The organization has a large work force of trained archaeologists, conservators, epigraphist, architects and scientists for conducting archaeological research projects through its Excavation Branches, Prehistory Branch, Epigraphy Branches, Science Branch...

The  Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), under the Ministry of Culture, is the premier organization for the archaeological researches and protection of the cultural heritage of the nation. Maintenance of ancient monuments and archaeological sites and remains of national importance is the prime concern of the ASI. Besides it regulate all archaeological activities in the country as per the provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958. It also regulates Antiquities and Art Treasure Act, 1972. For the maintenance of ancient monuments and archaeological sites and remains of national importance the entire country is divided into 24 Circles. The organization has a large work force of trained archaeologists, conservators, epigraphist and scientists for conducting archaeological research projects through its Circles, Museums, Excavation Branches, Prehistory Branch, Epigraphy Branches, Science Branch, Horticulture Branch, Building Survey Project,...

Culture is who we are and what shapes our identity. No development can be sustainable without including culture.UNESCO ensures that the role of culture is recognized through a majority of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including those focusing on quality education, sustainable cities, the environment, economic growth, sustainable consumption and production patterns, peaceful and inclusive societies, gender equality and food security. From cultural heritage to cultural and creative industries, Culture is both an enabler and a driver of the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development.UNESCO's programme, through the operationalization of UNESCO’s Culture Conventions on the safeguarding and promotion of cultural and natural heritage, and the cultural and creative industries, as well as joint programmes with other UN Agencies and strong cooperation with the national authorities will be key for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustai...

The conquest of India by the Muslims made an effective and distinct impact on the indigenous manifestations of life and culture, which gave rise, among other expressions of art, also to a new style in architecture. This style incorporated not only certain new modes and principles of construction but reflected also the religious and social needs of the adherents of Islam. The necessity of raising a round dome over a square construction introduced multiplication of sides and angles by providing squinches, so that a base with many sides, usually sixteen, could be obtained to raise a circular drum of the dome. A balcony was laid on cantilever brackets projecting from walls, which introduced as the 'chhajjas'(eaves or sunshades).Kiosks (chhatris), tall towers (minars) and half-doomed double portals are some of the other distinguishing features of the Indo-Islamic architecture.    The difference in the lay-out of a temple and mosque is explained by the essential difference b...

History of Delhi dates back to Mahabharata times (some 5000 years ago) when it used to be the capital of Pandavas.Since then Delhi has been inhabited continuously.Delhi has seen the rise and fall of various dynasties and empires. All of them left their impact in its culture, food, living style and all other fields. The first architectural reference of the city is found in Mauryan period around 300 BC. The excavations carried out in year 1966 have unearthed certain inscriptions belonging to Emperor Ashoka’s period at Srinivaspuri.Delhi has been destroyed and recreated 7 times. It has served as capital for Pandavas with the name Indraprastha to the modern time New Delhi as the capital of India. Delhi during Pandavas : Delhi was named as Indraprastha, the capital city of pandavas, the religious book Mahabharata support this fact.Indraprastha had beautiful gardens, wide streets, delightful palaces and innumerable mansions. Delhi as Qila Rai Pithora : Vigraharaja IV , the Chauhan prin...

Delhi has been invaded by many rulers time to time. It began in 1192 when afghan ruler Muhammad Ghori defeated King Prithviraj Chauhan iii and this laid the foundation for dominance of Muslim rulers in Delhi which lasted for six hundred years. In the year 1206 after the death of Muhammad Ghori, the Turkic slave-general, Qutub-ud-din Aibak came to power and proclaimed himself as the first Sultan of Delhi. Immediately after coming to power he started construction of Quwwat-al-Islam and Qutub Minar. He faced tough opposition from Hindus during his rule. However, his successor, Iltutmish succeeded in establishing his supremacy and consolidating Muslim power in entire Northern India. The next three centuries witnessed Delhi being ruled by various Pashtun and Turkic dynasties. These rulers built numerous townships and forts which are now part of seven cities established in Delhi. Sufism was at its peak during these rules. The famous ruler among these Kings was the second Khilji ...

Delhi is a living city. It accommodates the remains of over a thousand years of building in different states of preservation.  Urdu Language, Sufi traditions and other forms of Intangible heritage have. survived in the heritage precincts of Mehraull and Nizamuddin and continue till today.Similar to the city planning concept of Islamic cities like Lahore, Cairo and Tunis; Delhi also had a unique street layout with the primary axis leading to a central place of worship flanked by shops on either side.The Islamic city of Shahjahanabad was designed based on ideas and ideals of Persian city planning and the Indian text of Vastu Shastra. Delhi has been compared to the cities of Samarkand, Lahore, Agra, Lucknow, Cairo, Istanbul and Tunis in the broader region of Asia, Arab and European states. The architectural style and the planning principles which are the features of the above mentioned cities exhibits very rich heritage and are comparable to Delhi.    Delhi being a c...

"I asked my soul: What is Delhi?; she replied : The wold is body and Delhi it's life."- Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib. Historically, developments in Delhi took place in a triangular patch of land with River Yamuna on one side and the northern range of Aravalli hills on the other two sides. The wider regional importance of Delhi strategically stems from its location on an important trade route, the Uttarapatha that ran along the Gangetic plain and linked up to the Silk Route.Delhi is without doubt, a city of international standing and significance. Diverse historical, cultural and environmental exigencies have created the city that is today recognized globally as the capital of an important developing nation.An amalgamation of cultures also influenced the traditions which resonated within the society in the form of intangible heritage. Art, craft, religious practices and performing arts developed and was practiced profusely by the people influencing other cities wit...

Behind every historical capital there is a great big river. The route is an ode to this river that has been a silent witness to Delhi’s history and is now a recurrent victim of its excesses. Starting from the little lanes of Shahjahanabad, while the city is still sleepy in its proverbial sockspassing along the magnificently formidable walls of the Red Fort we find ourselves on the meditative quiet banks of the Yamuna at Nigambodh Ghat. Migratory birds circling above the calm waters - unravels the ritualistic devotion with which the Hindus treat the historic river. Yamuna enters Delhi at Palla village 15 km upstream of Wazirabad barrage, which acts as a reservoir for Delhi.The major reasons for high level of pollution in river Yamuna is inadequate flow, due to over extraction of surface and ground water and discharge of untreated effluent.This Ministry is supplementing the efforts of the States for pollution abatement of river Yamuna by providing financial assistance to States o...

Shah Jahan transferred his capital from Agra to Delhi in 1638 and laid the foundation of Shahjahanabad, the city of Delhi, which was completed in 1649. The city, polygonal in plan, was provided with houses in block, wide roads, mosques, and bazars, among which Chandni Chowk with a tree shaded channel flowing in its center, was one of the most enchanting markets in the contemporary East. With the Red fort at its north eastern base, the city was en girdled by rubble built high walls strengthened by bastions, circular as well as square and pierced by several gates. Of its main fourteen gates, apart from wicket-entrance, only some have escaped demolition. Among these are Ajmeri gate on the south-west, Turkmaan gate on the south, Kashmere gate on the north, Nigambodh gate on the north-east and Delhi gate on the south-east. These gates, square on plan, are pierced by high arched opening, except the Nigambodh gate, which is low, and the Kashmere gate, which was lateral double openings, ...

The Purana Qila occupies the ancient mound which conceals perhaps the ruins of the city of Indraprastha of Mahabharata story. Sher Shah Suri (1538-1545) demolished the city of Dinpanah built by Humayun and on the same site raised this citadel. It is believed that Sher Shah left Purana-Qila unfinished, and it was completed by Humayun. There are several sites associated with the story of the Mahabharata and had been dated around 1000 B.C.,its occurence here seemed to support the tradition of Purana-qila being the site of Indraprastha, capital of the Pandavas. Purana Qila originally lay on the bank of the Yamuna. The Qila was a living part of the city until 1914, when a village within the fort walls was found incompatible with the Qila’s new-found grandeur, and was cleared. Later, the fort became the site of several temporary settlements. During the second world war, there was a camp of nearly 3,000 Japanese civilians from across British-ruled Asia. After the partition of India in...

According to contemporary historians Firozabad the fifth city of Delhi built by Firoz Shah Tughluq (1351-88), extended from Hauz Khas to Pir Ghaib in the north, although no remains of any large city wall to answer to such a size have been traced. Kotla Firoz Shah, then lying along the banks of the Yamuna, and now situated on the Mathura road outside the Delhi Gate of Shahjahanabad, served as its citadel and was called Kushk-i- Firoz, i.e., Firoz’s palace.  JAMI MASJID: Among the few surviving buildings inside the citadel is the Jami Masjid, ascended by a gateway on north. It is surrounded by a large courtyard with cloisters and a Prayer Hall. The Prayer Hall now in complete ruins, was once used by the Royal Ladies. The mosque and its architecture is an example of Tughluq architecture.The Jami Masjid was one of the largest mosques in the Tughluq times. Timur mentioned having visited it to say his prayers.  TOPRA ASHOKAN PILLAR: On top terrace...

Jahanpanah, means 'Refuge of the world's in Persian. Jahanpanah was the 4th medieval city in Delhi by Mohammad Bin Tughlaq in 1326-1327. Mohammad Bin Tughlaq is best remembered as the 'mad' sultan for shifting the capital of Hindoostan from Dilli to Daulatabad near Aurangabad in Maharashtra.   The protected city of Jahanpanah was established in order to deal with the continuous intimidations given by the Mongols. Sadly neither the fort nor the city of Jahanpanah is known to have survived. Numerous reasons were cited for the cause of such a condition. Among many, one is said to be the peculiar manner ruler, Mohammed bin Tughlaq when the capital was moved to Daulatabad without any explanation and was again shifted back to Delhi just after.    One can witness , the beautiful Toghluqi pattern of architecture in this city of Jahanpanah. Any traces of the fort or the city, Jahanpanah city city can be spotted at numerous points for instance towards the northern side...