Purana Qila, Delhi

Purana Qila (Old Fort), is the inner citadel of the city of Dina-panah, founded by the second Mughal Emperor, Humayun in 1533 and completed five years later. Purana Qila and its environs flourished as the sixth city of Delhi.Sher Shah Suri defeated Humayun in 1540, and renamed the fort as Shergarh, and also added several more structures in the complex, during his reign that lasted for the next five years until his death in 1545.

Subsequently Islam Shah took over the reigns of North India from this fort, but later shifted his capital to Gwalior, as it was supposed to be a safer capital in that period. After Islam Shah’s death in 1553, Adil Shah took the charge of North India, and this fort remained neglected. Adil Shah shifted his capital to further east to Chunar in present day Uttar Pradesh. Humayun, who was based in Kabul got an opportunity to re-capture the citadel and the seat of Delhi in 1555, fifteen year after he had to leave it, though his reign didn’t last long, he died only a year later in Jan. 1556, due to a tragic accident, within the fort complex at Sher Mandal.

Hearing about re-capture of Delhi by Humanyun, Hemu, the Hindu Prime Minister – cum – Chief of Army of Adil Shah Suri rushed towards Delhi from Bengal, where he had just quelled a rebellion, defeating and killing Muhhamad Shah, the ruler of Bengal. After capturing Agra, Itawah, Kanpur easily, the battle for Delhi took place in Tuglaqabad area on 6th Oct. 1556, and Hemu, who had won 22 battles spanning entire north India, defeated the forces of Akbar which were led by Tardi Beg Khan. Hemu had his ‘Rajyabhishake’ or Coronation at Purana Quila on 7th Oct. 1556, declared ‘Hindu Raj’ in North India, and was bestowed the title of Samrat Hem Chandra Vikramaditya.Hemu, who was slain and killed at the Second battle of Panipat in Nov. 1556 had his torso hung outside this fort to create terror among Hindus.