The next chapter in the history of Delhi unfolds the time of epic Mahabharata with the creation of Indraprastha by the Pandavas (approximately 1450 BC) and the transformation of this barren land into an idyllic haven.  Archaeological findings now support the view that this was indeed Delhi's earliest city. Hardly a surprise for anyone in Delhi, as the popular opinion had never doubted the existence of Indraprastha.

The second city built in the 11th century by Tomar Rajput King, Anangpal Tomar
and was called Lal Kot.  The site was later captured by a daring Chauhan Rajput King of Ajmer Prithviraj Chauhan in 12th century and the new establishment came to be known as Quila Rai Pithora. The site where these cities were located is near present day Maharauli and Qutub Minar. Though very little of this city remains to be see.  Out of the 13 gates of Quila Rai Pithora, only three remain.

In 1192 A.D., the Turkish leader, Muhammad of Ghur, defeated the Rajputs at the second battle of Tarain, gaining control of the Kingdom of Delhi. After establishing his reign, Ghur returned to Afghanistan, leaving his conquest in the hands of his trusted slave, Qutb-ud-din Aibak. When Ghur died in 1206 without leaving an heir, Qutb-uddin declared himself Sultan of Delhi. Qutb-ud-din's reign marked the beginning of the Delhi sultanate under the Slave dynasty - so named because many of the sultans of this time were former slaves. Qutb-ud-din is best remembered for his destruction of Hindu and Jain temples and for building mosques.

On the site of Quila Rai Pithora Qutb-ud-din-Aibak built his citadel and the Qutb Minar in during late 12th and early 13th century. He completed three storeys and his son-in-law Iltutmish, built the fourth. It was damaged by lightning, twice in the fourteenth century. Firoz Shah Tughlaq repaired the damage and added the fifth storey. It now stands 72 metres tall.

In the early fourteenth century Alauddin Khilji of the Delhi Sultanate built the 3rd city of Delhi, called Siri. Alauddin Khilji was well-known for trade reforms and the city became a major trading the centre.  Alauddin Khilji built other structure around Siri like Alai Darwaza, the south gate of the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque and reservoir in present-day Hauz Khas.

The fortunes of Delhi then shifted hands and moved to Tughlaq Dynasty that ruled over Delhi and large parts of India until the last quarter of the fourteenth century.

Tughlaqabad, the fourth city was built by Ghiysud-Din Tughlug (1321-51). The fort walls and some other structures can still be seen around 8 kms from Qutub Complex.

Firuzabad, the fifth city of Delhi, is now represented by Kotla Firuz Shah, founded by Firuz Shah Tughluq (1351-88). Some remains of Firoz Shah Kotla (Citadel) can be seen few kilometers south of the Red Fort.  The complex now also the site of the famous Firozshah Kotla cricket ground.

Mohammad- bin-Tughlaq, the so-called lunatic king from the same dynasty built Jahanpanah in mid 14th century.  A few remnants of defensive ramparts can be seen between Siri and Qutub Minar.

By this time the rulers of Delhi had become week with continuous infighting and in-competent leadership. Tatar adventurous ruler Timur the Lame invaded Delhi in 1398 and plundered the city. Several hundred thousand people were put to death and similar number of people, were taken slaves.   It is said that the rampage left so many dead that there was none left to bury the dead. The carnage was followed by famine & Plague.

Timur's invasion dealt a fatal blow to the Tughlaq dynasty and the Sultanate of Delhi. By A.D. 1412 the Sultanate disintegrated and numerous new kingdoms emerged in its place. Khizr Khan, a local governor, who called himself as viceroy of Timur, founded the new dynasty known as Sayyids. This dynasty ruled over Delhi and its surrounding region for a short time.

After Sayyids, Delhi came in the hands of Bahlol Lodi an Afghan, who founded the last dynasty of the Sultanate known as the Lodi dynasty. The Lodi kings tried to regain the lost territories of Bihar and Bengal. Sikandar Lodi built new city of Agra in A.D. 1506 and made it his capital. The last Lodi Sultan was Ibrahim Lodi. He was defeated and killed by Babur in the first battle of Panipat in A.D. 1526. With the fall of the Lodis the Sultanate of Delhi also ended. When Babur defeated Lodi in Delhi, his son Humayun headed to capture Agra and as a booty was gifted with a 186 carat diamond.  Humayun presented this to Babur who called it “Koh-i-noor” (Mountain of Light).

In 1534, Humayun started construction of a city which began to give shape to the present day Delhi.  The City was called Din Panah by his son Humayun.

Humayun was the most capable of Babur’s sons, and inherited his father’s poetic and scholarly side, but was not a consistent fighter. Besides he was an opium addict.  He did lead his army to a few successful battles, however in the end he was defeated and chased out of India by Sher Shah Suri. Humayun gave up opium and went to the Shah of Persia for help and eventually managed to work his way back to Delhi, upon Sher Shah Suri’s death. Although he regained his kingdom with great effort and luck, he could not rule it for long. January 1556, he met his tragic end by slipping from the stairway of Din Panah as he was coming down the library. Dinpanah, the city he started building was finished by and Sher Shah Suri. Humayun and Sher Shah Suri, the conqueror and the defeated, both built the new city. Humayun started it as Dinpanah and Sher Shah Suri finished it as Delhi Sher Shahi.

Probably the romantic in Humayun made him select the ancient city of Indraprastha as the site for his new capital. Work began on the fort and the new city in 1533. By 1538 the major construction was over. In 1556 tragedy struck the Mughals when Humayun tripped and fell to his death while descending the steps after gazing at the stars (he was a keen astronomer) from the rooftop of Sher Shah’s Delhi palace.

Humayun’s son, Akbar was only 13 years old at that time and with no other claimants to the throne; Akbar was thrust into the forefront of an empire in jeopardy  
Akbar was able to safe guard his empire with the help of Bayram Khan and Adham Khan respectively.  Though of them later developed differences with Akbar and were putt to death. The capital of Mughal Empire now shifted to Agra, from where the Mughals ruled till mid 17th century when Shah Jahan, the builder of Taj Mahal shifted the capital back to Delhi and called in Shah Jahanabad.  Shah Jahan built the Red Fort, and the Jama Masjid

By this time fratricide, patricide and filial murders had become a norm and would be expected before every succession.  Shah Jahan son, Aurangzeb who was a devout but radically intolerant Muslim also added to the woes of the empire that extended over a large part of India, but was getting continuously weaker with infighting and intrigue.

After death of Aurangzeb, the real power shifted in the hands of regional rulers of different provinces and the emperor in Delhi remain the Emperor of India only for namesake. Most of the monuments of Mughal period structures are still a part of Delhi skyline. Some of them are the Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Chandni Mahal, Roshanara Bagh,

By this time the Mughal empire had become so week that invaders got encouraged to attack and plunder Delhi at will. 

In addition to Marathas who were now constantly attacking Delhi Nadir Shah a Timur descendent marched through Punjab and was invited by Muhammad Shah as a guest to Delhi. Within forty-eight hours, using a lame excuse, Nadir Shah ordered a general massacre of Delhi citizens and looted every bit of wealth. Nadir Shah remained in Delhi for forty eighty days and departed with millions worth of gold, jewelry and coins the emperor’s throne, the bejeweled peacock throne the Koh-I-nur diamond

Later an Afghani, Ahmad Shah Abdali started his incursions into Delhi just for the looting the capital. In a series of attacks from 1748 until 1761, he looted Delhi, Mathura, Kashmir and Punjab. From the east the British defeated the Nawab of Bengal and occupied the state of Bengal. The vast Mughal Empire was coming undone at its seams. The fortunes of the British in India were intertwined with the misfortunes of the Mughals.

In 1806 Akbar Shah II acceded to the much diminished empire of the Mughals and ruled until 1837. His son Bahadur Shah Zafar II would be the last emperor of Mughals before the British deposed him in 1858 and the Mughal dynasty would officially come to a dishonorable end. During the India’s first struggle for freedom of 1857, Bahadur Shah II was forced to be the leader of the struggle. However, the unleashed a flurry of attacks on Delhi as well as Bahadur Shah; Two of his sons and a grandson were shot while in custody. The emperor was then exiled to Rangoon in Burma where he died in obscurity in 1862.
 
The power finally In 1858 and in the year 1911, Delhi was declared to be the Capital of India.  The British built New Delhi, south of Shahjahanabad and shifted their capital from Calcutta in 1931. Since the creation of New Delhi as the Capital of British India, the city has undergone a sea change. Made initially to cater to a population of 70,000; the total population of Delhi has now crossed 14 million. The city has exploded in all directions beyond the confines of Lutyen's wide, tree-lined avenues, with an exuberance that is characteristically Indian.

The coexistence of the past and the present at many levels characterizes Delhi. Some parts of the city are undoubtedly the trend-setter, and the fashions and lifestyle introduced here become the aspirations of many. There are however, dramatic differences in localities, standards of living and adherence to traditions.