Bike Riding in Delhi 2002-2003

Bike Rides in Delhi 2002-2003
Almost every Sunday morning, I go bike riding with some other teachers at our school. It's a great way to see the sights of Delhi and get some exercise at the same time. Here are some of the places we've been to. After the name, I give the date that it was built (or the era it was built in, if the actual date is unknown) and the Intach Delhi Serial Number. Tricia gave me this awesome set of architectural encyclopedias for my birthday, so I can refer to any significant building in the city by it's official code number.

May 25, 2003
Salimgarh Mosque, 1546 C140
Built by Islam Shah as part of Salimgarh Fort. The fort was used by the British as railroad station and ammunition depot.

Gurudwara Sis Ganj, 1675 A88
This holy Sikh building was built to commemorate the martydom of one of the main Sikh Gurus. Nigambodh Ghat and cremation ground, 1000 BC, C134
You can watch public cremations here -- there've been several a day for the last three thousand years.

May 18, 2003
Chauburji Mosque, 14th C. C37

Ashokan Pillar, 300 BC C54
This was brought to Delhi in 1386, and accidentally broken after it had been moved. It's covered with Buddhist inscriptions dating back to the time when India was mostly Buddhist.

May 4, 2003
Well - Agrasen Ki Baoli D45 (early 1400s)
This was an old stepwell that now finds itself in the heart of New Delhi's downtown area. I've been back several times but this was the day I saw the stepwell for the first time. Afterwards, we went to Purana Qila and some other tombs. (on the right)

Clockwise, from above:
Mosque D46 (1400s), located next to the stepwell.
Lal Darwaza D113 (early 1500s), gateway to Purana Qila (the old fort) built by Sher Shah. One of the city gates separating the citadel area from the rest of the city.
Khairul Manzil Masjid D112 (1561), a mosque built by the wet nurse of Emperor Akbar.

Tomb of Tohfe Wala 1290-1320 F80
April 27, 2003
Nili Masjid, 1505-1506 F78

Wall Mosque of Darwesh Shah 1450-1550 F79

Tomb of Sultan Ghari, 1232-1232 F108
April 20, 2003
The ruins of a Mughal residence in Mahipalpur village, 1600s F107

Left: Ruins of a city near the tomb of Sultan Ghari. Late 1300s F110
Right: Tomb of Sultan Ghari's brother, 1236-1241 F109

Bara Lao Ka Gumbad -
Tomb behind Vasant Vihar bazaar. 1450-1550, F9. It's occupied by a family that won't let you go inside. Tricia and I went back one afternoon(without the camera) and the family was asleep, so we snuck around and got a much better look at the tomb.

April 6, 2003
Top: Khirki Mosque (1351-1386) F154

Lower left: Satpula (1351-1386) F159 A sluice dam -- the only such dam in Delhi.

Lower right: The tomb of Yusuf Qattal, 1530 F155. Behind the tomb is the mosque of Yusuf Qattal, 1630 F156.

March 2, 2003
Riding with Gene in Old Delhi

We rode through Old Delhi to the spice market. When you climb on the roof of the spice market, you get a fantastic view of the city below, including the Fatehpuri Masjid (1650, A40). Later we came to the Red Fort (1665, A145) built by Emperor Aurengzeb.

Dec 15, 2002

Chhote Khan Ka Gumbad D284
Tomb of some unknown person, built during the Lodi period (1456 to 1526) Bare Khan Ka Gumbad D283
Another tomb of some unknown person, built during the Lodi period (1456 to 1526) Moth Ki Masjid F89
Built by Miyan Bhoiya during the reign of Sikandar Lodi (1488 to 1517)

Dec 8, 2002

Idgah, F116 1404-1405
This was a large congregational mosque, built by Mallu Khan.

Chor Minar F115, 1290-1320
They say the holes in this tower held the decapitated heads of thieves. I think it's a pigeon roost. Who knows? Tomb and Mosque of Makhdum Sahib, F117 and F119, 1400s.

Nov 17, 2002

City Wall A227 (1500s to 1600s)
This was part of the original wall to the city of Shajahanabad, one of the "seven cities of Delhi."

We crossed the pontoon bridge
and rode around Old Delhi. Here are two of the monuments we saw: Mortello Tower A228 (early 1800s)
A British addition to the city wall -- a cannon tower

October 6, 2002

Oberoi Maidens Hotel, 1899 C79
A grand turn-of-the-century hotel, and an excellent place for a cup of coffee on a Sunday morning. They'll even serve you breakfast while you're wearing bike shorts and a sweaty t-shirt. Coronation Park, 1911 C7
Built to store all the statues left over after the British left India. Mutiny Memorial, 1863 C55
Commemorating those who died in one of the many uprisings against the British.


May 18, 2003 Chauburji Mosque, 14th C. C37	Ashokan Pillar, 300 BC C54 This was brought to Delhi in 1386, and accidentally broken after it had been moved. It's covered with Buddhist inscriptions dating back to the time when India was mostly Buddhist.


May 4, 2003 Well - Agrasen Ki Baoli D45 (early 1400s) This was an old stepwell that now finds itself in the heart of New Delhi's downtown area. I've been back several times but this was the day I saw the stepwell for the first time. Afterwards, we went to Purana Qila and some other tombs. (on the right)
	Clockwise, from above: Mosque D46 (1400s), located next to the stepwell. Lal Darwaza D113 (early 1500s), gateway to Purana Qila (the old fort) built by Sher Shah. One of the city gates separating the citadel area from the rest of the city. Khairul Manzil Masjid D112 (1561), a mosque built by the wet nurse of Emperor Akbar.

Tomb of Tohfe Wala 1290-1320 F80	April 27, 2003 Nili Masjid, 1505-1506 F78	Wall Mosque of Darwesh Shah 1450-1550 F79

Tomb of Sultan Ghari, 1232-1232 F108	April 20, 2003 The ruins of a Mughal residence in Mahipalpur village, 1600s F107 Left: Ruins of a city near the tomb of Sultan Ghari. Late 1300s F110 Right: Tomb of Sultan Ghari's brother, 1236-1241 F109	Bara Lao Ka Gumbad - Tomb behind Vasant Vihar bazaar. 1450-1550, F9. It's occupied by a family that won't let you go inside. Tricia and I went back one afternoon(without the camera) and the family was asleep, so we snuck around and got a much better look at the tomb.

	April 6, 2003 Top: Khirki Mosque (1351-1386) F154 Lower left: Satpula (1351-1386) F159 A sluice dam -- the only such dam in Delhi. Lower right: The tomb of Yusuf Qattal, 1530 F155. Behind the tomb is the mosque of Yusuf Qattal, 1630 F156.


March 2, 2003 Riding with Gene in Old Delhi
We rode through Old Delhi to the spice market. When you climb on the roof of the spice market, you get a fantastic view of the city below, including the Fatehpuri Masjid (1650, A40). Later we came to the Red Fort (1665, A145) built by Emperor Aurengzeb.

Dec 15, 2002
Chhote Khan Ka Gumbad D284 Tomb of some unknown person, built during the Lodi period (1456 to 1526)	Bare Khan Ka Gumbad D283 Another tomb of some unknown person, built during the Lodi period (1456 to 1526)	Moth Ki Masjid F89 Built by Miyan Bhoiya during the reign of Sikandar Lodi (1488 to 1517)

Dec 8, 2002 Idgah, F116 1404-1405 This was a large congregational mosque, built by Mallu Khan.
	Chor Minar F115, 1290-1320 They say the holes in this tower held the decapitated heads of thieves. I think it's a pigeon roost. Who knows?	Tomb and Mosque of Makhdum Sahib, F117 and F119, 1400s.
Nov 17, 2002	City Wall A227 (1500s to 1600s) This was part of the original wall to the city of Shajahanabad, one of the "seven cities of Delhi."
We crossed the pontoon bridge and rode around Old Delhi. Here are two of the monuments we saw:		Mortello Tower A228 (early 1800s) A British addition to the city wall -- a cannon tower

October 6, 2002
Oberoi Maidens Hotel, 1899 C79 A grand turn-of-the-century hotel, and an excellent place for a cup of coffee on a Sunday morning. They'll even serve you breakfast while you're wearing bike shorts and a sweaty t-shirt.	Coronation Park, 1911 C7 Built to store all the statues left over after the British left India.	Mutiny Memorial, 1863 C55 Commemorating those who died in one of the many uprisings against the British.