Shahjahanabad - or the city settled by Shah Jahan, was inaugurated in 1639 as the new capital of Mughal India. Meticulously designed, this walled city was home to spectacular structures and inhabited by some of the brightest minds of the time. It was visited by travellers, envoys and invaders. Although no longer a flourishing capital city, the lanes of Shahjahanabad continue to attract visitors from the world over.
historic cities city tales
Shahjahanabad was a centre of culture and art, with its own unique language of expression. Explore some of the words that are synonymous with this city, in the City Tales section.
historic cities history
If you look at the map, you might notice that Shahjahanabad resembles a bow, with the main road - Chandni Chowk, positioned to look like an arrow. This pattern, known as the Karmukha, is one of many auspicious designs laid out in the Shilpashastra.
Known today as ‘Old Delhi’, Shahjahanabad was one of the most important capital cities of the seventeenth century.
Timeline for Shahjahanabad
The Mughal Emperor Shahjahan plans to shift his capital to Delhi. He commences the construction work of the new capital city of Shahjahanabad.
The construction of Shahjahanabad is complete.
The Red Fort is ready. Jahanara Begum, daughter of Emperor Shahjahan, designs and begins the construction work of the two major streets - the Urdu Bazaar and the Chandni Chowk. Fatehpuri Begum, wife of Emperor Shahjahan builds the Fatehpuri Masjid.
Shahjahanabad is enclosed on all sides with massive stone walls.
The construction of Jama Masjid is complete.
Emperor Shahjahan dies of prolonged illness. He is succeeded by his son Aurangzeb who has emerged victorious against his other siblings in the Battle of Succession.
Aurangzeb departs from Delhi for his Deccan campaigns, abandoning Shahjahanabad.
Bahadur Shah I, son of Emperor Aurangzeb ascends to the Mughal throne at the age of sixty three and starts ruling from Shahjahanabad. The city is revived.
Emperor Farruksiyar, now sitting on the Mughal throne, issues a farman to the East India Company granting them trading rights.
Shahjahanabad now under the reign of the weak ruler Emperor Muhammad Shah ‘Rangeela’, starts to see further decline.
The city is severely afflicted by a series of natural calamities like earthquakes and heavy rainfall, causing damage to some of important buildings like the Red Fort and the Jama Masjid.
Nadir Shah, the Persian General, invades Shahjahanabad. He plunders and ravages the walled city and takes away with him the Peacock Throne and other treasures, leaving the city in devastation.
Ahmad Shah Abdali, successor of Nadir Shah, enters Shahjahanabad . On 21st January, the khutba is read in the name of Ahmad Shah Abdali in the Jama Masjid.
Mughal Emperor Shah Alam escapes to Awadh. Shahjahanabad comes under the control of the Marathas under Sadhashiv Rao Peshwa.
The Marathas face defeat at the hands of Ahmad Shah Abdali at the Third Battle of Panipat. Led by Najib-ud-Daulah, Shahjahanabad comes under Rohillas, who were allies of Ahmed Shah Abdali.
Shah Alam marches back to Shahjahanabad after the death of Najib-ud-Daulah.
The Maratha General, Mahadji Sindhia defeats the struggling imperial forces and takes Shah Alam under his protection.
The Rohilla Afghans under Ghulam Qadir defeat the Marathas under Mahadji Sindhia and occupy Shahjahanabad.
Mahadji Sindhia recaptures the city and holds it for a period of fifteen years until the advent of the British.
The British, under General Lake, defeat the Marathas and take control of the city.
Shah Alam becomes a pensioner of the East India Company.
Akbar Shah II comes to power.
Akbar Shah II dies. Bahadur Shah II (Zafar), the old and frail King ascends to the Mughal throne as a mere pensioner of the British.
In May, the Indian sepoys enter Delhi from Meerut. They proclaim Bahadur Shah as their leader. The city sees a long spell of destruction and bloodshed in the following months.
Bahadur Shah Zafar is arrested by the British, deposed, convicted and then exiled to Rangoon. The Mughal Empire comes to a tragic end. The city of Shahjahanabad sees a long spell of decay as the inhabitants flee to other places in order to escape the reign of terror unleashed by the British.
The British take over Shahjahanabad and later the rest of the city of Delhi.
King George V and Queen Mary make their first visit to Delhi during the Delhi Durbar of 1911. They appear before the people of Delhi from the Burj-i-Tilla of the Red Fort. The announcement of the new Imperial Capital is made by the King at the Durbar.
history timeline code
If you look at the map, you might notice that Shahjahanabad resembles a bow, with the main road - Chandni Chowk, positioned to look like an arrow. This pattern, known as the Karmukha, is one of many auspicious designs laid out in the Shilpashastra.
Known today as ‘Old Delhi’, Shahjahanabad was one of the most important capital cities of the seventeenth century.
Timeline for Shahjahanabad
The Mughal Emperor Shahjahan plans to shift his capital to Delhi. He commences the construction work of the new capital city of Shahjahanabad.
The construction of Shahjahanabad is complete.
The Red Fort is ready. Jahanara Begum, daughter of Emperor Shahjahan, designs and begins the construction work of the two major streets - the Urdu Bazaar and the Chandni Chowk. Fatehpuri Begum, wife of Emperor Shahjahan builds the Fatehpuri Masjid.
Shahjahanabad is enclosed on all sides with massive stone walls.
The construction of Jama Masjid is complete.
Emperor Shahjahan dies of prolonged illness. He is succeeded by his son Aurangzeb who has emerged victorious against his other siblings in the Battle of Succession.
Aurangzeb departs from Delhi for his Deccan campaigns, abandoning Shahjahanabad.
Bahadur Shah I, son of Emperor Aurangzeb ascends to the Mughal throne at the age of sixty three and starts ruling from Shahjahanabad. The city is revived.
Emperor Farruksiyar, now sitting on the Mughal throne, issues a farman to the East India Company granting them trading rights.
Shahjahanabad now under the reign of the weak ruler Emperor Muhammad Shah ‘Rangeela’, starts to see further decline.
The city is severely afflicted by a series of natural calamities like earthquakes and heavy rainfall, causing damage to some of important buildings like the Red Fort and the Jama Masjid.
Nadir Shah, the Persian General, invades Shahjahanabad. He plunders and ravages the walled city and takes away with him the Peacock Throne and other treasures, leaving the city in devastation.
Ahmad Shah Abdali, successor of Nadir Shah, enters Shahjahanabad . On 21st January, the khutba is read in the name of Ahmad Shah Abdali in the Jama Masjid.
Mughal Emperor Shah Alam escapes to Awadh. Shahjahanabad comes under the control of the Marathas under Sadhashiv Rao Peshwa.
The Marathas face defeat at the hands of Ahmad Shah Abdali at the Third Battle of Panipat. Led by Najib-ud-Daulah, Shahjahanabad comes under Rohillas, who were allies of Ahmed Shah Abdali.
Shah Alam marches back to Shahjahanabad after the death of Najib-ud-Daulah.
The Maratha General, Mahadji Sindhia defeats the struggling imperial forces and takes Shah Alam under his protection.
The Rohilla Afghans under Ghulam Qadir defeat the Marathas under Mahadji Sindhia and occupy Shahjahanabad.
Mahadji Sindhia recaptures the city and holds it for a period of fifteen years until the advent of the British.
The British, under General Lake, defeat the Marathas and take control of the city.
Shah Alam becomes a pensioner of the East India Company.
Akbar Shah II comes to power.
Akbar Shah II dies. Bahadur Shah II (Zafar), the old and frail King ascends to the Mughal throne as a mere pensioner of the British.
In May, the Indian sepoys enter Delhi from Meerut. They proclaim Bahadur Shah as their leader. The city sees a long spell of destruction and bloodshed in the following months.
Bahadur Shah Zafar is arrested by the British, deposed, convicted and then exiled to Rangoon. The Mughal Empire comes to a tragic end. The city of Shahjahanabad sees a long spell of decay as the inhabitants flee to other places in order to escape the reign of terror unleashed by the British.
The British take over Shahjahanabad and later the rest of the city of Delhi.
King George V and Queen Mary make their first visit to Delhi during the Delhi Durbar of 1911. They appear before the people of Delhi from the Burj-i-Tilla of the Red Fort. The announcement of the new Imperial Capital is made by the King at the Durbar.