| In 1629, Shah Jahan (r. 1628-58) decided that what the far-flung empire needed was an imperial city. An imperial city communicates the emperor's power to visitors and his subjects alike. Shah Jahan chose the area where other rulers of India had also founded cities and forts: Delhi. His city, named Shahjahanabad, after the emperor himself, was suitably impressive. To the right is a map of the city. Shahjahanabad is now called the Old City of Delhi, or Old Delhi. |
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Shahjahanabad: Shah Jahan's imperial city
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| It was walled, had two major intersecting thoroughfares with waterways running down the middle of each street. Tree-lined boulevards, large mansions, and parks dotted the city. Shah Jahan's daughter, Jahanara, played a major role in creating the form of the city, planning hotels and markets, parks and buildings throughout the walled area. A large fort, now called the Red Fort (because of the stone) lies along the northern border of the city. In it, a huge palace, marketplace, and military housing look out over the Jamuna River. |
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Red Fort, Shahjahanabad
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| A large mosque, where all the all the people of the city could gather for prayer, was built on a hill just opposite the fort. Each city in the Islamic world has a main congregational mosque, and these buildings are called the "Jami Mosque". Each Friday (the Islamic holy day), everyone gathers in this courtyard. |
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Jami Mosque, Shahjahanabad
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