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OLD FORT
The Purana-Qila (Purana-Qal's) occupies the ancient mound, which conceals perhaps the ruins of the city of Indraprastha of Mahabharata story. Sher Shah Suri demolished the city of Dinpanah built by Humayun and on the same site raised this citadel.
It is irregularly oblong on plan, with bastions on the corners and in the western wall. Its ramparts cover a perimeter of nearly 2-km.and has three main gates on the north, south and west, the last one functioning as the entrance now. The gates are double-storeyed, built with red sandstone and surmounted by chhatris. On the inside, against the enclosure wall run cells in two-bay depth.
Legend Of Old Fort
It is believed that Sher Shah left the Purana-Qila unfinished, and Humayun completed it. Among the scribblings in ink that existed in a recess of the gate, there was a mention of Humayun, and it is possible, therefore, that if the gate was not constructed by Humayun, it was at least repaired by him. In the southern gate, which is called the Humayun-Darwaza, there existed a similar inscription in ink mentioning Sher Shah and the date 950 A.H. (1543-44).
Qal' A-I-Kuhna-Masjid
Among the few buildings still extant within the Purana-Qila is the 'Qal'a-i-Kuhna-Masjid' (mosque of the Old Fort), built by Sher Shah in 1541. Its prayer-hall measures 51.20m by 14.90m, and is fronted by five openings with horseshoe-shaped arches. The central arch, higher than the others and framed within a projection is flanked by narrow fluted pilasters.
Sher-Mandal
To the south of the Qal'a-i-Kuhna-Masjid is a double-storeyed octagonal tower of red sandstone relived by marble. It is surmounted by an octagonal pavilion or chhatri. On each of its sides is a recessed arch in the centre. On the second storey the central chamber is cruciform, with recesses on its four sides. The dados of its interior are decorated with glazed tiles, while the upper portion contains incised and painted plasterwork.
The Lake And Zoo
Close to the Old Fort is a lake, which has paddle-boating facility. This lake is surrounded by a garden with rows of trees and flower plants. Inside the fort too there are well grafted and maintained lawns, which add to the greenery in the fort. Delhi's Zoological Park is adjacent to the Purana Qila.
AROUND PURANA QILA
Bhairon Mandir
Among other buildings outside the Purana Qila are two Hindu temples, which are dedicated to Bhaironji, an incarnation of Shiva, the destroyer of the Hindu trinity of Gods. There is a story around that the temple or at least its core dates back to the time of Indraprastha.
Conclusion can be derived that the basis of the temple might be of that era, even though the building itself is not much old. The most amazing factor of this temple is that the reigning deity of this temple is not offered milk as is usual in Shiva temples, instead its given alcohol. There is, however, a regular temple here too called the "Dhudhiya Bhairon", where one can offer milk.
Khairu's -Manazil-Masjid
In front of the Purana-Qila on the other side of the Mathura road stands the Khairu'1-Manazil-Masjid ('the most auspicious of houses'), a rubble-built structure with five arched openings in its prayer-hall, double-storeyed cloisters and an imposing gateway of red sandstone on the east.
The central bay of the prayer-hall is provided with a dome, the other bays being roofed with vaults. Originally the façade of the prayer-chamber was profusely decorated with enamelled tiles and the double-storeyed corridors were used as a madrasa.
Sher Shah Gate Or Lal Darwaza
By the side of Khairu'1-Manazil-Masjid to its north lies one of the gates believed to be an entrance to the extensive city of Delhi built by Sher Shah sprawling in front of his citadel of Purana-Qila. The gate is largely built with red sandstone with some use of local grey quartzite in its upper storey, and is, therefore, also known as Lal-Darwaza. Later the arcades from this gate into the city appear to have been provided with series of apartments fronted by a verandah, which were possibly used as shops. Another gate on the periphery of Sher Shah's extensive city is said to be the 'Kabuli' or Khuni-Darwaza.
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