Delhi is having a jolly good day, days infact and hopefully for many years to come. Reason? Old kid Jagmohan is up his good old self. Our honorary Minister of Tourism and Culture is busy bringing up the true colors of Delhi for everyone's viewing pleasure. Be it the much talked about Humayun's Tomb or the Red Fort or the दिल्ली की शान Qutab Minar. Latest in the offering is the restoration of the oldest known remains of the first city of Delhi. ASI is excavating the ancient city founded by Anangpal grandfather of Prithviraj Chauhan around almost 1000 years back and has since severed as the capital to the Indian Subcontinent, with its fair share of ups and downs.

This place in the modern day Delhi is known as Lado Sarai and is near to the much famous hangout called PVR Saket movieplex. Last I saw this place was nearly 3/4 months back that too from roadside and it looked heavily under restoration, but one cud easily make out the ancient wall all the way from Aurobindo Marg to the Golf Course, clear of all under growth. If I remember correctly there was some huge statue too of a person on a horse (must be one of Maharana Prithviraj Chauhan, he only is synonymous with riding on Chetak, his equally famous horse. Now who was the Princess he eloped with? ummm some Chittordgarh? etc something similar I guess... dunno remember now)

Coming October/November the newly charged Qutab Milar too will be made public and viewing the Delhi atop the minar is gonna be an experience of its own. बस जल्दी से दरवाजे खुले और मैं चडा क़ुतुब की सीडीयांThe only memory I have of the structure dates back to when I was still on single digit years and is too hazy to count on as an experience
Its amazing to see such old structures who have taken beating from both mother nature over hundred of years and worse than that from destructive man himself, still simply outshine any modern day structures. The Nila Gumbad near Humayun's Tomb is one perfect example. Even today the colors are sparkling blue and yellow, no wonder it was the inspiration behind Shah Jehan's Taj Mahal. Other rejuvenated places like the Arab-Ki-Sarai with its recently discovered water channels, Agrasen-Ki-Baoli, Humayun's Tomb, Safdarjung's Tomb are few prime examples of successful historic architectural refurbishment. Shortly Red Fort and Qutab Minar will be added to the list and work on many more is either being planned or under progress, like Purana Kila, Urs Mahal, Tomb of Hazrat Nizamuddin et al.

Delhi is simply dotted with historic monuments from various eras and empires. Coming close to my own place, I pass thru the Tripolia Gateways next to Gateway of Mahaldar Khan's Garden every day or two, and sometimes along the Tomb of Raushanara or the Mosque of Begum Qudsia. As a kid too I was lucky enough to live in the shadows of Gumbads of Bhure Khan, Chhote Khan and Bare Khan, yes even played cricket, football in between the empty spaces of the Gumbads.
Getting nostalgic? yes

Linkosphere: Arcnet, Archaeological Survey of India, INTACH, UNESCO-World Heritage Sites

Previously on nHlog: Sufiana nights

Previously on nHphlog: Arab-ki-Sarai, Humayun's Tomb, Nila Gumbad, Red Fort

In the News: Delhi's monuments get new look, Red Fort issue, Hurting Heritage, Turning Fort into farmhouse