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From Early Settlements and Sultanate Capitals to New Delhi

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History of Delhi: From Early Settlements and Sultanate Capitals to New Delhi

Delhi's history is not the story of one city built once and continuously occupying the same site. It is a region where settlements, fortified centres and capitals grew, declined and shifted over many centuries. The modern metropolis contains layers from early historic settlements, Rajput-era strongholds, Sultanate capitals, Mughal Shahjahanabad, colonial New Delhi and independent India.

Early Delhi and the Tomaras

Traditions associate an early Delhi settlement with the Tomara ruler Anangpal, and the name Dhillika appears in historical discussions of the region. The details of the earliest foundation stories are not fully secure, and later literary texts should not be treated as straightforward contemporary records. Archaeology and inscriptions are important for testing these traditions.

Chauhans and the medieval city

The Chauhan rulers, including Prithviraj Chauhan, are associated with the region before the Ghurid conquest at the end of the twelfth century. The political history of this period involved competing regional powers, and Delhi's importance grew because of its strategic location and connections to northern Indian routes.

The Delhi Sultanate

After the Ghurid campaigns, Delhi became a major centre of power for a succession of Sultanate dynasties, including the Mamluk, Khalji, Tughlaq, Sayyid and Lodi lines. These rulers did not all govern from exactly the same urban centre. New fortified cities and palace complexes were established, expanded or abandoned as rulers sought defensible sites and symbols of authority.

Qutb Minar and its surrounding monuments are among the most visible remains of early Sultanate Delhi. Later complexes at Siri, Tughlaqabad, Jahanpanah and Firozabad show how the capital's built landscape changed over time.

Mughal Shahjahanabad

In the seventeenth century, Shah Jahan established Shahjahanabad as a new Mughal capital. The Red Fort served as the palace-fortress, while the surrounding city developed markets, religious buildings, neighbourhoods and major thoroughfares. Shahjahanabad forms the historic core of what is now commonly called Old Delhi.

1857 and British rule

Delhi was central to the Revolt of 1857 because rebels declared the Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar their symbolic leader. After the revolt was suppressed, British rule transformed the city. The Mughal court ended, parts of the Red Fort's interior were altered or demolished, and the city's political and urban role changed.

In 1911, the British announced that the capital of British India would move from Calcutta to Delhi. New Delhi was planned and built during the colonial period, with major contributions from architects Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker. The new imperial city was inaugurated in 1931.

Delhi after independence

After India became independent in 1947, New Delhi continued as the national capital. Partition brought a huge movement of refugees and profound demographic and social change. Delhi then expanded into a large urban region with new residential districts, institutions, transport systems and satellite cities. Today, “Delhi” can refer to the National Capital Territory as well as the broader National Capital Region, which includes urban areas in neighbouring states.

Why Delhi has so many historical sites

Delhi's monuments are evidence of changing political centres rather than one uninterrupted royal capital. The Qutb complex, Purana Qila, Humayun's Tomb, the Red Fort, Jama Masjid and New Delhi's planned avenues each represent different phases. Their histories overlap, but they should not all be assigned to the same dynasty or period.

Quick timeline

  • Early medieval period: Tomara and Chauhan traditions are associated with early Delhi's political history.
  • Late 12th century onward: Delhi becomes a major centre under Sultanate rulers.
  • 17th century: Shah Jahan establishes Shahjahanabad and the Red Fort.
  • 1857: Delhi is a major centre during the uprising; British rule transforms the city afterward.
  • 1911: The British announce the transfer of the imperial capital to Delhi.
  • 1931: New Delhi is formally inaugurated.
  • 1947 onward: Delhi serves as the capital of independent India and grows into a major metropolitan region.

Delhi's identity comes from its many layers. The most accurate way to understand it is to see each monument and neighbourhood within the period that produced it, while recognising that later generations reused, reshaped and reinterpreted the city.

Sources and Further Reading

Editorial note: Dates and interpretations in ancient and medieval history can vary by source. This article distinguishes established evidence from tradition where relevant.

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