The history of Delhi's Purana Qila (Old Fort) is connected to Humayun. This is the same fort from whose stairs Humayun fell and died. Historians believe that the Pandavas had established their capital Indraprastha here.

During the Mahabharata period, when Dhritarashtra divided his kingdom between the Pandavas and the Kauravas, Hastinapur came in the share of the Kauravas. Khandavprastha was given to the Pandavas. Khandavprastha was a dense forest, where even sunlight did not reach. With the help of Lord Krishna and Vishwakarma, the Pandavas made it their capital and settled Indraprastha. It is said that Indraprastha of the Mahabharata period is today's Delhi, but what is the proof of this? 

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is now looking for the Pandavas' capital Indraprastha. For this, the excavation of the Purana Qila (old fort) of Delhi is also going to start soon. ASI has also given its approval for this. In such a situation, let us know why the ASI is looking for the Pandavas' capital Indraprastha in the Purana Qila of Delhi, how will it be known that the Purana Qila built during the Mughal period was built on top of Indraprastha? 

Humayun died in the old fort itself

The history of Delhi's Purana Qila is connected to Humayun. This is the same fort from whose stairs Humayun fell and died. After this accident, the Mughals vacated this fort. It is said that the place where Purana Qila was built, used to be the capital of Pandavas, Indraprastha. Now ASI is going to excavate it. Let us tell you, the construction of Purana Qila was started by Mughal emperor Humayun in 1533. In 1540, Sher Shah Suri took forward the construction of this fort, after which Humayun completed its construction in 1555. 

Excavation is going to happen for the sixth time after independence

After the independence of the country, the Old Fort of Delhi has been excavated six times in search of Indraprastha. For the first time, its excavation was started by ASI in 1954-55. After this, this fort was also excavated in 1969-73, 2013-14, 2017-18. The last time this fort was excavated was in 2023. The special thing is that this time excavation will be done in different areas inside the fort and if needed, the already excavated areas will also be reopened. Let us tell you, last time excavation was done up to 6 meters, but this time excavation will be done to a greater depth. 

This evidence has been found

In the excavations done earlier in Delhi's Purana Qila, remains of Maurya period, Shunga, Kushan, Gupta, Rajput period, Sultanate and Mughal period have been found. However, ASI is looking for Indraprastha of the Pandavas, for which concrete evidence has not been found yet. 

How will you know the address of Indraprastha

Let us tell you, in the earlier excavation done in Purana Qila, a 900-year-old Rajput era statue of Lord Vishnu has been found at the Kunti Mandir site. A 1200-year-old Gajalakshmi statue and Ganesh statue were also found here, due to which historians are hopeful that evidence of Indraprastha can also be found here. Historians say that Purana Qila may be located on the mound on which the Pandavas had once made their capital. Evidence of this mound will be searched in the excavation.

PC:ABPNews