kyā būd-o-bāsh pūchho ho pūrab ke sākino
ham ko ġharīb jaan ke hañs hañs pukār kedillī jo ek shahr thā 'ālam meñ intiḳhāb
rahte the muntaḳhab hī jahāñ rozgār keus ko falak ne luuT ke vīrān kar diyā
ham rahne vaale haiñ usī ujḌe dayār ke

- Mir Taqi Mir

" क्या बूद-ओ-बाश पूछो हो पूरब के साकिनो
हम को ग़रीब जान के हँस हँस पुकार केदिल्ली जो एक शहर था 'आलम में इंतिख़ाब
रहते थे मुंतख़ब ही जहाँ रोज़गार केउस को फ़लक ने लूट के वीरान कर दिया
हम रहने वाले हैं उसी उजड़े दयार के "

- मीर तक़ी मीर

Delhi, like a cat that has 9 lives, is on its 7th one, it is a city that has seen the days of splendor and felt the sting of plunder.
Throughout history, it has managed to retain a culture of its own and like many other historical cities, it has undergone many transformations. When you step into this website, we take you through a slice of life of the walled city of Shahjahanabad. During this time it got its iconic Red Fort and culminated into the poetry of Ghalib and the scholar of British Rule.
Explore the bygone era of Shahjahanabad, as we peel back the layers of time.

This project endeavours to revive the bygone era of Shahjahanabad using old maps, digital models, and illustrations.
It serves as a bridge between the past and the present, allowing you to peel back the layers of history and uncover the passage of time. It seeks to address and delve into questions like How Delhi looked in the 17th and 18th centuries. How did the people living in this region interact and communicate? What was the kind of lifestyle of people living here? Which market was located in what region? and many more such questions.

Brief Historical Background

Panorama of Delhi from the Lahore Gate of the Red Fort, by Mazhar ‘Ali Khan, Dated November 1846. Watercolour and bodycolour, in five panels. Source: Asia Society, New York

In 1637, Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, recognizing the limitations of space and climate in Agra and Lahore for royal ceremonies, initiated the construction of Shahjahanabad, a new capital north of Delhi. This city, shaped by Islamic architectural traditions, served as a sacred nexus between heaven and earth, symbolizing the empire and the cosmos, with the emperor at its core. Shahjahan's town planning skills were evident in features like the boulevard of Chandni Chowk, pre-dating European trends, and the blending of Hindu and Islamic influences in the layout. The city's design harmonized the relationship between humanity and the universe, with cosmological elements and eight gates representing cardinal directions and gates to heaven.

Guide to explore the map

To navigate the map, simply slide the divider to the left and peel back the current layer to reveal the historical map beneath.
Monuments and historical sites are represented by black icons, while food establishments and educational centers are denoted by red and blue icons, respectively.
Clicking on any of these icons enables you to delve into the rich history of the site or region, providing a glimpse into the bygone era of Shahjahanabad.

The following video provides an overview of how to navigate and explore the map

Exploring Historical Shahjahanabad

Swipe left to peel back the top layer of the map and delve into the rich history of the region.

Legend Guide

Shahjahanabad Today

Experience contemporary life in Shahjahanbad, colloquially known as Old Delhi, via this meticulously curated gallery

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to

For giving us access to their online libraries and letting us use images from their collections in our endeavor

The team behind the project

Under the adept leadership of Professor Amogh Dev Rai, the completion of this project was made possible. Mr. Shubham Mishra's invaluable mapping insights which laid the foundation of the project, formed an indispensable cornerstone without which the project's essence would have been incomplete. Ms Khushi Kesari played a pivotal role in the project's development, meticulously designing the website and undertaking the task of academic research and plotting monuments and sites. The visual documentation, vital to the project's authenticity, was skillfully captured through on-site photography, spearheaded by the combined efforts of Raghav Sibal and Khushi Kesari.Together, this cohesive team orchestrated a harmonious blend of skills, resulting in a comprehensive and visually captivating project.

An initiative by