Delhi Rich in History
Delhi is the current capitol of India, it has a very long history and has served as capitol for several empires through the years. Some of the earliest relics found by archaeologists date back to the Mauya period around 300 BCE. What is currently the Indian city of Delhi has been continuously occupied sine this time. In the year 1966 an inscription on a tablet was found near Srinivaspuri regarding the Mauryan Emporor Ashoka, 273 to 236 BCE. Two sandstone pillars were brought to the city of Firuz Shah Tughluq in the 14th century which were inscribed with edicts from Emperor Ashoka. During the Gupta dynasty the famous Iron Pillar near the Qutub Minar was commissioned by emperor Kumara Gupta the first. This piller was subsequently removed from its original spot and placed in Delhi during the 10 century. There have been eight major cities located where Delhi occupies today. The first four of the earliest cities were located in the southern sections of today’s Delhi.
Acoding to Indian folklore Delhi was once the site of a magnificent and opulent city of Indrapastha the capitol of the Pandavas in the Indian epic Mahabharata. This city is said to have been founded in around 2500 BCE. According to Hindu texts the Sanskrit name for Delhi was Hastinapur which translates to Elephant City. The village named Indraprast occupied where Delhi currently sits until the beginning of the 19th century. The British demolished the ancient village to make way for the construction of New Delhi in the late 19th century. Archaeological evidence suggests this city once stood where the Old Fort sits today.
With such a rich and ancient past Delhi is a wonderful place to visit and discover the rich history of India. The crowded and polluted city can get to be much for foreign visitors so five star hotel Delhi accommodations are a must for a relaxing and quiet respite from the busy city.