1. Lal Kot
Walls of Lal Kot were about 15 feet thick. It seems that there were four gateways, out of which, the western one was called ‘Ranjit Gate’. Later some historians started calling it ‘Ghazni Gate’. The wall of this fort still exists, though not in the same majestic manner.
It is said that outside Ghazni Gate, was the largest slave market of Asia.
The open ground outside it had a huge slave market, which probably was India’s largest. In this market were sold the best of class slaves for all kind of work, concubines, dance girls, wines, opium and all other items that were considered a luxury for the richest during that period,” says Vikramjit Singh Rooprai.
Another interesting fact about Ranjit aka Ghazni Gate is that the kings who ruled Delhi had a bell hung outside it. Anyone who needed justice from the emperor could ring this bell. He was then presented to the king and his wish granted. Several interesting stories from Tomar to Sultanate period float around this bell, showing how justice was dispensed during that period.
Information about these walls and gates, and the stories associated with them is available in the accounts of Ziauddin Barni (Tarikh-i-Firozshahi), Amir Khusro (Nuh Sipir) and Abu Fazil (Ain-i-Akbari). Mentions in the inscriptions about this magnificent city were found in Rajasthan, Palam Baoli of Delhi, Sonepat, Raisina (Delhi) and Narayana (Delhi).
2. Genghis Khan reportedly decided not to conquer India after meeting a unicorn, which bowed down to him; he viewed it as a sign from his dead father and turned his army back.
3. Jauna Khan became the Wazir of Feroze Shah Tughlaq’s Government. Jauna Khan was as competent as his father but he was no military leader. He failed in the conflict for succession, which began even during the lifetime of Feroz Shah.
Jauna Khan was captured and executed.
Also known as Junan Shah, he built seven large mosques in and around Delhi of which Khirki Masjid is very well known.
The seven Mosques built by Jauna Khan are:
· Khirki Mosque.
· Begampur Mosque.
· Masjid Kalu Sarai.
· Kalan Masjid (Hazrat Nizamuddin).
· Masjid Firoz Shah Kotla.
· Masjid Wakya (Lahori gate).
· Kalan Masjid (Turkaman gate).
4. Why is the tomb of Darya Khan Lohani without inscriptions? And without any covering?
Tomb of Darya Khan Lohani
(Internet Image-Old Image)
5. Salima Sultan w/o Akbar
Salima Sultan is buried in Madarkar Garden Agra.
6. Akbar’s music-loving daughter Meherunnisa (begotten by Queen Daulatabad Begum) fell in love with the court-musician Tansen, and Akbar allowed her to marry him after Tansen underwent conversion from Hinduism to Islam.
(There are some accounts to the effect that Tannu Pandey aka Tansen was converted to Islam, when he was very young, by his Guru Pir Mohammad Ghous of Gwalior).
Tansen’s tomb in Gwalior, near the tomb of his Sufi master Muhammad Ghaus
Many admirers are convinced that his death was caused by a fire while he was singing the raga Deepaka.
7. During the rule of Jahangir, Mirzā Azīz Koka (Khan-i-Azam) lost much of positions, as he along with Raja Man Singh I supported the rebellion of Khusrau Mirza, the eldest son of Jahangir.
Mirza rebellion was crushed in 1606, he was first blinded and later executed.
Mirzā Azīz Koka (Khan-i-Azam) was the son of Shams ud-Din Ataga Khan, the Prime Minister of Akbar and Akbar‘s wet-nurse Jiji Anga. His Turkish sobriquet was “Koka” or “foster-brother,” of Akbar.
The cenotaph of Mirza Aziz Kokaltash, at Chaunsath Khamba Delhi
8. Rauza-i-Munavvara aka Taj Mahal
Shah Jahan had named Mumtaj Mahal’s tomb as Rauza-i-munavvara (The Illumined Tomb)
It got to be known later as Taj Mahal-a corruption of Mumtaj Mahal
9. Qila i Mualla or Qila-i-Mubaraq aka Lal Qila
Qila i Mualla
10. Shah Jahan
Abraham Eraly writes that According to Bernier, Shah Jahan had had constructed under his palace in Dely two deep caves, supported by vast marble pillars.
Piles of Gold were stored in one and those of Silver in the other.
(For safety the precious metals were saved in prodigious sizes, to render them useless for purposes of commerce.)
11. Shah Jahan
On Mumtaj Mahal’s death, Shah Jahan, “gave up the practice of plucking out grey hair” from his beard, says Qazvini.
Mumtaj Mahal’s body was initially kept in a building in the deer park [Ahukhana] while Taj Mahal was being constructed at Agra.
It is said that the casket of Mumtaj Mahal was kept amidst thousands of roses and was made of a special material and design to preserve her body/remains.
The actual tombs of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan in the Crypt-Taj Mahal-Agra
12. ‘Gauharara Begum’ aka ‘Dahar Ara Begum’ daughter of “Mumtaz Mahal”
According to legend, when Mumtaz was in labour with her last child, the baby cried in the womb, portending the death of the mother on childbirth.
A woman who died on childbirth was considered a ‘shaheed’ (matyr), and her tomb urs was held. Since Mumtaz Mahal died in childbirth hence her Urs was held.
Mumtaz died in Burhanpur (in present day Madhya Pradesh), on June 17th 1631 while giving birth to their fourteenth child, a daughter, Gauhara Begum.
Gauharara Begum (June 17, 1631 – 1706) aka Gauhar Ara Begum or Dahar Ara Begum, was an Imperial Princess of the Mughal Empire as the fourteenth and last child of the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan (builder of the Taj Mahal), and his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal.
Mumtaz Mahal died giving birth to her. Gauharara, however, survived the birth and lived for another 75 years. Little is known about her and whether she was involved in the war of succession for her father’s throne.
Gauharara died in 1706, at the age of 75, from natural causes or disease.
Mumtaz Mahal bore Shah Jahan fourteen children, including popular (and, at times, controversial) historical figures such as Dara Shikoh, Shah Shuja, Roshnara Begum, Jahanara Begum and Aurangzeb, among others.
i) Shahzadi Hluralnissa Begum (1613 – 1616).
ii) Shahzadi (Imperial Princess) Jahanara Begum) (1614 – 1681).
iii) Shahzada (Imperial Prince) Dara Shikoh (1615 – 1659).
iv) Shahzada Mohammed Sultan Shah Shuja Bahadur (1616 – 1660).
v) Shahzadi Roshanara Begum (1617 – 1671).
vi) Badshah Mohinnudin Mohammed Aurangzeb (1618 – 1707).
vii) Shahzada Sultan Ummid Baksh (1619 -1622).
viii) Shahzadi Surayya Banu Begum (1621 – 1628).
ix) Shahzada Sultan Murad Baksh (1624 – 1661).
x) Shahzada Sultan Luftallah (1626 – 1628).
xi) Shahzada Sultan Daulat Afza (1628 – ?).
xii) Shahzadi Husnara Begum (1630 – ?).
xiii) Shahzadi Gauhara Begum (1631 – 1707).
1748-Muhammad Shah, his son Anwer Ali escaped to his grand Aunt Princess Jahanarra & hid in a place in Arrah, Bihar which was infested with bears which was later named as Bhaluhipur.Bihar which was infested with bears which was later named as Bhaluhipur.
14. Barahkhamba–known for fox hunting by the Englishmen
There was a time when this entire area was known for jackal hunting as in those days the Barahkhamba monument was known for fox hunting by the Englishmen.
The premises also has a small cottage made by a British officer known as Smith.