Ifutub-ud-Din's Mosque, according to the in scription on its entrance archway, was com menced immediately after the capture of the city in 1193. It was completed in three years, and enlarged during the reign of Altamsh, son-in-law of the founder. Eleven magnificent arches close its .western facade, Mahomedan in outline and design, but carried out in detail by Hindu work men, as the intricate lacework which covers every portion of the arcade sufficiently bears witness. Ibn Batuta, who saw the mosque about 150 years after its erection, describes it as unequalled either for beauty or extent.
The Kutub /1/inar, another celebrated monu ment of the great Slave king, stands in the S.E. corner of the outer courtyard. It rises to a height of 238 feet 1 inch, tapering gracefully from a diameter of 47 feet at the base to nearly 9 feet at the summit. The shaft consists of five storeys, enclosing a spiral stairease, and is crowned by a now broken cupola, which fell during an earth quake in 1803. The original purpose of the minaret was doubtless as a, muazzan's tower, whence the iisan summons to prayer might be heard throughout the whole city. The site chosen for the mosque was that already occupied by Raja Dhava's pillar, which forms :the centre ornament of the inner courtyard. Around, in every direction, spreads a heap of splendid ruins, the most striking of which is the unfinished minaret of Ala-ud-Din, commenced in 1311. The Slave dynasty retained the sovereignty till 1288, when Jalal - nd - Din founded a new line.
Firoz Shah Taghalag removed the site of Dab to a new town, Firozabad, which appears to have occupied the ground between the tomb of Hunia yun and the ridge. Amid the ruins of this prince's palace, just outside the modern south gate, stands one of Asoka's pillars, erected in the 3d century n.c: This monolith, 42 feet in height, known as Firoz Shah's lathi or club, contains a Pali inscription, which was deciphered by Mr. James Prinsep. It is supposed to have been brought from Shrughna, in A.D. 1356, by Firoz Shah on a
truck to Khizrabad, and thence by water to Dehli, then called Firozabad, and set up in the courtyard of the palace of Firoz. Its head is nnw bare ; but so late as A.D. 1611, when 1Villiam Finch was there, it had a golden pinnacle, which gave it the natue of Minar-i-Zarin, or golden minaret. It is a single shaft of pale-pink sandstone, and, like all Asoka's pillars, is 42 feet 7 inches high, of which the upper 35 feet are very highly polished.
In 1526, Baber, the sixth in descent from Timur, was the founder of the dynasty which lasted till 1857. He marched into India with. a small force, overthrew Ibrahim Lodi, the last Afghan ruler, at Panipat, and entered Dehli in May of the same year. His son for a time was driven from India, but in 1555 Humayun regained his throne. He died within six months of his restoration. His tomb forms one of the most striking architectural monuments in the neigh bourhood. Its white marble dome is a con spicuous objeet for miles around. It cost fifteen lakhs of rupees, and was erected by his widow, Hamida Banu, who is also interred near.
Bhoot Khana.—In Prithi - rafs capital were twenty-seven Hindu temples, of which several hundreds of richly-carved pillars still remain, to attest both the taste and the wealth of the last Hindu rulers of Dehli. The Bhoot Khans, is a colon naded courtyard, the materials of which were obtained from the demolition of the Hindu temples.
The Alia Durwaza, built by Ala-ud-Din, A.ii. 710, A.D. 1310, is a beautiful specimen of Pathan architecture.
Roushan Charagh, built by Firoz Shah as a shrine to the memory of a famous saint, is at the S.W. corner of Siri or Shahpur.
The fortifications of Taghalagahatl form a stupendous structure.
The Shalimar gardens wero made by the einperor Shah Jahan at a cost of a kror of rupees.
The Linea .711asjid, called also tho Kumari Masjid, was built by Zinat-un-Nissa, the spinster daughter of Aurangzeb.—Inip. Gaz. See Archi tecture.