Download - Delhi Heritage City

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