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Medieval and Colonial Capital Cities of DelhiCOMPARATIVE ANALYSIS3.2 COMPARATIVE ANALYSISThe Comparative analysis aims to highlight the distinctiveness of Delhi as compared to the various historic cities inits geo‐cultural region, Europe and Africa by examining the city planning, morphology, architecture and variousinfluences which contributed for the development of its architecture and city planning.Delhi had always been a capital city and the centre for seat of power for many centuries. Though several empireswere formed and rulers changed, the city never stopped growing. Over several centuries, the city has defined itsuniqueness in its ever evolving morphological and architectural styles as a result of its continuous amalgamationof cultures and exigencies of ideas and ideologies. Such exigencies and syncretism has left a distinct mark on itstangible footprint with the development of new vocabulary of architecture and city planning where form,function and symbolism played an important role.In the UNESCO World Heritage list; several cities have been nominated but only 14 cities are nominated withinthe geo‐cultural region (Asia‐Pacific) of India. The two medieval and capital cities of Delhi which exhibits uniquemorphological characteristics are highly influenced by the planning principles of Central Asia and European“Garden City” concept and are paramount examples developed through exigencies of ideas.Delhi has been compared to Central Asia like Lahore, Istanbul, Tel Aviv and Isfahan along with Agra in India;Colonial cities like Canberra from Australia and Saltaire in Europe; cities with a dual character like Edinburgh,Budapest and Rabat.The architectural style and the planning principles which are the features of the above mentioned cities exhibitsrich heritage and are comparable to Delhi. However Delhi stands unique as a culmination of various styles andamalgamation of different cultures resulting in a unique town planning principle.Note:Other than the many cities already mentioned earlier, Delhi will also be compared to the Timurid cities likeSamarkand and Bukhara which defined unique town planning concepts influencing Delhi greatly. Several othercities like San Cristóbal de La Laguna‐Spain as an example of dual city and Colonial Cities like Historic Centre of theTown of Diamantina‐Brazil, Historic Centre of the Town of Goiás‐Brazil, Urban Historic Centre of Cienfuegos‐Cuba,Historic Fortified Town of Campeche‐ Mexico, Medina of Essaouira (formerly Mogador)‐ Morocco, Portuguese Cityof Mazagan (El Jadida)‐ Morocco, Historic Town of Vigan‐Philippines, Island of Saint‐Louis‐Senegal, Historic InnerCity of Paramaribo‐Suriname, Historic Centre of the Town of Olinda‐ Brazil, Historic City of Trogir‐Croatia. Thesecities shall also be compared to Delhi in terms of its Authenticity and Integrity and their State of Conservationrespectively.7/31/2012 INTACH, Delhi Chapter 1
Medieval and Colonial Capital Cities of DelhiCOMPARATIVE ANALYSISDELHI AND AGRA, (Uttar Pradesh‐India)• Historical BackgroundThe historic city of Agra first finds its mention in Mahabharat as Agraven and later came to be known asAkbarabad during the reign of the Mughals. As per the legends, the history of the city goes back to 2500years. It became a prosperous and provincial city during the reign of the Mughals. Located along thebanks of River Yamuna, Agra is pre‐eminently a Mughal city and the first capital of Mughal Kings until itwas shifted to Lahore and Delhi.Map 01: Map of Agra from: 1777, Rennell Dury, Wall Map of Delhi and Agra, India Geographicus Delhi Agrah.Source: http://mapsof.net/map/city‐map‐of‐agraIn the 13 th century AD Agra was ruled by Raja Badal Singh who built his fort Badalgarh until the kingdomwas invaded by Mahmud of Ghazni. Later in the 16 th century AD it came within the reign of the DelhiSultanate king Sikandar Lodi and Ibrahim Lodi until the empire was lost in the battle of Panipat to theMughal king Babur in 1526 AD. It was made the capital of the Mughal Empire and several gardens like theChini ka Rauza, Ram Bagh, Mehtab Bagh etc. were added to the city on the opposite bank of RiverYamuna. Agra along with Delhi and Lahore was one of the Mughal Empire’s capital cities and the court ofthe emperor shifted accordingly.After the capital of the Mughal Empire was shifted from Agra to Delhi, Mughal rule declined and the citybecame a provincial capital ruled by a governor of the Mughal army. With the new city Shahjahanabadbeing set by Shahjahan in the 18 th cen. AD, Delhi again became a seat of power and continues to remaintill date. Delhi continued to a capital city and an important urban centre due to which another city wasformed by the British in the 20 th cen. After the capital if India was shifted from Calcutta to New Delhi. Thisnew city was designed by Herbert Baker and Edward Lutyens as a new seat of power and anadministrative centre. The city planning was done by incorporating the concepts of two great westernmovements known as the ‘City Beautiful’ and ‘Garden City’. The architecture of the buildings includedboth Hindu and Western elements. The buildings became symbol of administration whose monumental7/31/2012 INTACH, Delhi Chapter 2
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