Salimgarh Fort at Yamuna River in Delhi

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Salimgarh Fort

History of Salimgarh Fort

Salim Shah Suri, son of Sher Shah Suri built this fort in 1546 AD, on a former island of the Yamuna River. This fort was named Salimgarh Fort. There was a pause in Mughal rule when in 1540 AD Sher Shah Suri defeated the Mughal Emperor Humayun (and ousted him from Delhi) and established the Sur dynasty rule in Delhi. Sur dynasty rule lasted till 1555 AD when Humayun regained his kingdom by defeating Sikander Suri, the last ruler of the dynasty. During the Mughal period, several Mughal rulers, including Emperor Shah Jahan, who completed Shahjahanabad in 1639 AD, camped at this fort while building the Red Fort and Shahjahanabad. Historical accounts suggest that Humayun camped at this fort for three days before launching his successful attack to recapture Delhi.

Salimgarh Fort
Salimgarh Fort

Transformation into a Prison

Aurangzeb, the Mughal Emperor, converted the fort into a prison. The British, who took control of the fort in 1857, perpetuated this practice. The Fort is part of the Red Fort Complex. The declaration of the complex as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2007 obligates the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to ensure well-planned conservation measures for the heritage monuments.

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Jama-Masjid (Masjid-i Jahān-Numā)

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Masjid

The Masjid-i Jahān-Numā commonly known as the Jama Masjid of Delhi, is the largest mosque in India. The Jama Masjid stands across the road in front of the Red Fort. Built between 1644 and 1658, it is one of the last architectural works of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. The spacious courtyard of the masjid holds thousands of faithful. It is located on a mound in the heart of the old city and projects beautifully into the Old Delhi skyline. This mosque was built in red sandstone and marble by more than 5000 artisans. Originally called the Masjid-i-Jahan-Numa, or “mosque commanding view of the world”, the Jama Masjid stands at the center of the erstwhile capital city of the Mughals, Shahjahanbad.

jama masjid
Jama Masjid

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World’s Top 10 Beaches

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Copacabana

Explore the world’s top 10 beaches, each a paradise of pristine sands, crystal-clear waters, and breathtaking scenery. These destinations offer the perfect escape, whether you’re seeking relaxation, adventure, or natural beauty.

Copacabana Beach in Brazil

Copacabana Beach is located in the Babin Kuk area. It is situated at the tip of the Lapad Bay and provides spectacular views of the Adriatic and the nearby islands, just 6km from Dubrovnik. One of Dubrovnik’s most popular beaches shares its name with the legendary beach in Rio de Janeiro. There must be some sort of obsession with Rio in Croatia because this is not the only Copacabana beach in Croatia. Even Osijek, a city in northeast Croatia, has a river beach and recreational center also named after Copacabana.

Copacabana beach
Copacabana beach

But let’s go back to Dubrovnk’s Copacabana… It’s a long shingle beach with the possibility of renting sun umbrellas and deck chairs. There you can enjoy different water sports activities: water polo, water skiing, surfing, banana riding, canoes, pedaling, etc. Parachute rides are exceptionally popular as you can catch the whole panorama of this magnificent part of Dubrovnik. For children, there are sea slide chutes on the beach and the grown-ups can rest in a beach bar or a beach restaurant. The beach also hosts windsurfing regattas and Dubrovnik’s local water polo teams matches. Besides a pleasant rest on a beach are offered many different activities with which you can have fun, such as riding on the bananas, water skiing, and parachuting. You can also take a tour of the peninsula with scooters or kayaks to see the imposing city walls.

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Humayun Tomb: The Great Mughal Monument

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Humayun' Tomb

About The Moghul Tomb

Humayun’s Tomb, the final resting place of Mughal Emperor Humayun in Delhi, India, was commissioned by his widow, Hamida Banu Begam, also known as Haji Begam, in 1569, fourteen years after he died in 1556. While there is no recorded evidence of Humayun’s involvement in planning the tomb, it is widely believed that he drew inspiration from Persian architecture during his exile. The construction, costing 15 lakh rupees (1.5 million), employed Mirak Mirza Ghiyath, a Persian architect.

The tomb, situated within a square garden, surrounds four main parterres divided by causeways, with shallow water channels running through their centers. Two lofty double-storeyed gateways on the west and south grant access to the high rubble-built enclosure. An elaborate baradari (pavilion) adorns the center of the eastern wall, while a hammam (bath chamber) is situated in the center of the northern wall.

The square red sandstone mausoleum, with chamfered corners, rises from a 7-meter-high square terrace. Beneath this terrace lies a series of cells accessible through arches on each side, leading to the central chamber containing the cenotaph. Diagonal passages connect to corner chambers housing the graves of other royal family members. Externally, the tomb’s sides are adorned with marble borders and panels, with three arched alcoves dominating each side, the central one being the tallest. Pillared kiosks encircle the high double dome atop the roof.

The octagonal central chamber within the tomb encompasses the cenotaph, surrounded by octagonal chambers at the diagonals and arched lobbies on the sides. Perforated screens close off their openings, while three arches dominate each side, repeating the pattern on the second storey. The marble double dome crowning the roof, reaching 42.5 meters in height, is adorned with pillared kiosks (chhatris).

Humayun' Tomb

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Jantar Mantar Delhi’s most Beautiful monument

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About Jantar Mantar:

A unique structure raised in 1724, now lies in the heart of Delhi’s commercial center near Connaught Place. Maharaja Jai Singh II of Jaipur raised the Jantar Mantar, one of several astronomical observatories, as part of the five built by him. Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah tasked him with revising the calendar and astronomical tables. Someone placed a plaque on one of the structures in the Jantar Mantar observatory in New Delhi, mistakenly dating the construction of the complex to the year 1710. This occurred in 1910. Later research, though, suggests 1724 as the actual year of construction.

Jantra MantraThe primary purpose of the observatory was to compile astronomical tables and to predict the times and movements of the sun, moon, and planets. Some of these purposes nowadays would be classified as astronomy.

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