A Panoramic Tour of Delhi

Compilation of Panoramic photos from Delhi

Also see: My collection of Panorama Compilation

Panoramic photography is a technique of photography, using specialized equipment or software, that captures images with elongated fields of view. It is sometimes known as wide format photography. Panorama photos are normally shot by stitching  series of photos with sightly overlapping fields to create a panoramic image.

Feroz Shah Kotla was the fifth fortified citadel of Delhi and was built by the Feroz Shah Tughlaq (reign 1351 – 1388). Kotla literally means citadel. Feroz Shah Kotla was constructed in 1354 as the new capital of Delhi Sultanate. In 1398 the citadel was plundered by the Turco-Mongol conqueror Taimur.

Panoramic view of Feroz Shah Kotla. Left: Pyramidal Structure with Ashokan Pillar and Right: Jami Masjid

Today the ruins of the ancient citaadel lies next to the Feroz Shah Kotla Cricket Stadium, with the Jami Masjid as the prime attraction. Every Thursday there is a huge crowd at the fort. It is popularly believed that Jinn(s) descend down at the Fort from the Heavens and accept requests and wishes from people. A lot of wishes, penned down on paper, can be seen on the walls within the premises.

Baolis (Step Wells) of Delhi

A compilation of Baolis (Step Wells) of Delhi

Monsoon in India has a very short duration and moreover it has always been very unpredictable, this gave rise to the necessity of water conservation. Over the centuries Indians have constructed artificial lakes and dug wells to hold the water supplied by the monsoon rains.

Baolis of Delhi. Top Left: Rajon ki Baoli, Top Centre: Gandhak ki Baoli, Top Right: Loharheri Baoli, Bottom Left: Hindu rao hospital Baoli, Bottom Centre: Purana Kella Baoli, Bottom Right: Tuglagabad Baoli

It is often said that “Necessity is the Mother of Invention” and the necessity of conservation of water, for the dry season, led to the construction of step wells. Stepwells are wells or ponds in which the water is reached by descending a set of steps. They are often multi storied in structure and are found in Western India and in the other more arid regions of South Asia, extending into Pakistan.

Ghiyas-ud-din Balban’s Tomb, Mehrauli Archaeological Park, Delhi

Giyas-ud-din Balban’s Tomb

Mehrauli Archaeological Park, Delhi

Also see: Monuments of Mehrauli

Ghiyas-ud-din Balban was the ninth and the last major ruler of the famed slave dynasty. A Turk by origin Balban had a humble beginning as a water carrier boy, who was captured by the Mongols and sold as a slave in the bazars of Ghazni, Afghanistan.

Ghiyas-ud-din Balban’s Tomb, Mehrauli Archaeological Park, Delhi

The word “slave” is actually a misnomer, as the slave traders provided education and imparted military training to these slaves, because an educated slave with military training would fetch a higher price.

Dargah of Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki, Mehrauli, Delhi

Dargah of Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki

Mehrauli, Delhi

Also see: Monuments of Mehrauli

Qutb Minar, one of Delhi’s most iconic land mark, was started by Qubuddin Aibak and was completed by his successor Iltutmish. It was not named after the founder of the slave dynasty Qutbuddin Aibak, but after a Sufi Saint Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki.

Dargah of Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki, Mehrauli, Delhi

The Sufi saint Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki lies in eternal rest in the shadows of Qutb Minar deep inside the labyrinth of Mehrauli in southern Delhi.

Quli Khan’s Tomb, Mehrauli, Delhi

Quli Khan’s Tomb

Mehrauli, Delhi

Also see: Monuments of Mehrauli

As I walked out of the Qutab complex, two strange looking pyramid like structures attracted my attention. In a bid to explore I took the footpath between the two and reached an open area marked as Mehrauli Archaeological Park. Straight ahead was an octagonal structure.

Mohammad Quli Khan’s Tomb, Mehrauli Archaeological Park, Delhi

Suddenly a few lines from Willam Dalrymple’s famous novel The Last Mughal flashed into my mind “To the south of Delhi, Metcalfe established a second country house, “Dilkusha” (Delight of the Heart), in a converted octagonal Mughal tomb near Mehrauli ….a Mughal garden – a four part charbagh – was laid out in the front of the tomb.”

Lodi Period Tomb, Lado Sarai, Delhi

Lodi Period Tomb

Lado Sarai, Delhi

Also see: Monuments of Mehrauli

The small non – descriptive tomb lies on a small Delhi Development Authority (DDA) Park at the crossing of Mehrauli – Mahipalpur and Mehrauli – Badarpur Roads in the Lado Sarai region of South Delhi.

Lodi Period Tomb, Lado Sarai, Delhi

This is nothing unusual for Delhi and the city is literally littered with monuments and probably the Mehrauli region is South Delhi has the largest concentration of monuments, many of which are not even protected.

Adam Khan’s Tomb, Mehrauli Bus Stop, Delhi

Adam Khan’s Tomb

Mehrauli Bus Stop, Delhi

Also see: Monuments of Mehrauli

Adam Khan’s Tomb is located in the Mehrauli region of South Delhi and overlooks the crowded Mehrauli Bus Terminus.

Adam Khan’s Tomb, Memhrauli, Delhi

Adam Khan’s tomb, with its massive dome, is popularly known as the Bhul Bhuila (labyrinth) for its complex network of corridors.

Gandhak Ki Baoli, Mehrauli, Delhi

The Step Well with Sulphur Rich Water

Also see: Monuments of Mehrauli

As monsoon in India has always been erratic, the necessity of water conservation has been an integral part of Indian culture from time immortal.

Gandhak Ki Baoli, Mehrauli Archaeological Park, Mehrauli, Delhi

Over centuries lakes have been dug and wells drilled to save the water, which was available during the brief period of monsoon.

Rajon Ki Baoli, Mehrauli Archeological Park, Delhi

Rajon Ki Baoli

Mehrauli Archeological Park, Delhi

Also see: Monuments of Mehrauli

Monsoon in India has a very short duration and moreover it has always been very unpredictable, this gave rise to the necessity of water conservation.

Rajon Ki Baoli, Mehrauli Archaeological Park, Mehrauli, Delhi

Over the centuries Indians have constructed artificial lakes and dug wells to hold the water supplied by the monsoon rains.

Azim (Aka: Akbar) Khan’s Tomb, Mehrauli, Delhi

Azim (Aka: Akbar) Khan’s Tomb

Mehrauli, Delhi

Also see: Monuments of Mehrauli

Azim (Aka: Akbar) Khan’s Tomb, Mehrauli, Delhi

The tomb of Azim Khan (also known as Akbar Khan) is located on a small hillock, overlooking the Delhi – Mehrauli road. The square tomb,crowned with a dome, dates back to the days of the great Mughal Emperor Akbar.