Shahjahanabad: Embodying Principles of Mughal Rule

Speaker: Dr. Swapna Liddle, INTACH Delhi Chapter

Chair: Dr. Shama Mitra Chenoy, University of Delhi

The city of Shahjahanabad was founded in the 17th century as the capital of the Mughal Empire. It followed upon a series of capital cities located at distinct sites in Delhi by earlier regimes. While not much remains of these earlier cities apart from some monumental buildings, Shahjahanabad retains much of its original urban grain - its street pattern, its shape and size, and many heritage buildings. This gives us the opportunity to examine the distinct characteristics of its plan; and in that plan we can see certain essential principles of Mughal rule