Cycle Riders in Delhi - Circa 1945

Photographer: N. Herfort
Source: https://collection.sl.nsw.gov.au

The Kashmiri (Cashmere) Gate, Delhi - 1895

Photograph of the Kashmir Gate at Delhi, taken by Lala Deen Dayal in the 1890s, from the Curzon Collection: 'Views of places proposed to be visited by Their Excellencies Lord & Lady Curzon during Autumn Tour 1902'. Lord Curzon served as Viceroy of India between 1899 and 1905. The Kashmir Gate is one of the northern gates in the city walls of what is now known as Old Delhi, originally the city of Shahjahanabad built in the 17th century by the Mughal emperor Shan Jahan (r.1628-58). The Kashmir Gate was built in 1835 by Major Robert Smith and was made into a double gateway in 1857 at the time of the Indian Uprising. This gate was blown up when the British retook Delhi during the Indian Uprising of 1857.

Source: British Library

Rao Petarah's Temple, Delhi 1858

Photograph of Rao Petarah's Temple, Delhi, taken by Dr. John Murray in 1858. The photograph shows a section from the Quwwat al-Islam mosque, part of the complex in South Delhi that includes the Qutb Minar. The complex was first begun by Qutb-u’d-din Aibak, the first ruler of the Slave Dynasty, and was added to by many subsequent rulers. The Quwwat al-Islam mosque was built in 1192. Inscriptions record that spolia from 27 Jain and Hindu temples that were torn down for its creation. Pillars from the destroyed temples were reused and the Hindu images were plastered over with geometric designs. Over time, the plaster has fallen away revealing the original Hindu carvings. This may explain why the caption refers to the building as a temple instead of a mosque created out of Hindu architectural material.

Source: British Library

Iron Pillar at Qutb Minar Complex, Delhi - 1858

Photograph of Iron Pillar in the Qutb Minar complex in Delhi from 'Murray Collection: Views in Delhi, Cawnpore, Allahabad and Benares' taken by Dr. John Murray in 1858 after the Uprising of 1857. The Qutub Minar complex was initiated by Qutub-ud-din Aibak, the founder of the Slave Dynasty in Delhi (1206-90), to celebrate the onset of Islamic rule in India in 1192. The Iron Pillar, with a height of 7.2 m and diameter of 32 cm, is dated to the Gupta period with Sanskrit inscriptions from the 4th or 5th century. This pillar was taken from a Vishnu temple and placed at this site before the construction of the complex. The Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque, in the background, contained within the complex is one of the earliest extant in India and is a fine example of Islamic architecture employing Islamic principles of accurate construction and geometric ornamentation, but utilising Indian building traditions.

Source: British Library

Jumma or Jama Masjid, Delhi - 1858

Photograph of Jami Masjid in Delhi from 'Murray Collection: Views in Delhi, Cawnpore, Allahabad and Benares' taken by Dr. John Murray in 1858 after the Uprising of 1857. Jami Masjid, in the background, was constructed by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan (r. 1627-1666) between 1650-1656 and based on the architectural style of Agra's Jami Masjid (c.1648). "Three bay-wings flanking the central domed chamber of the prayer hall are here preceded by two continuous galleries separated by the transverse block of the central pishtaq (high portal). The front corners of the prayer hall are accentuated by two high minarets crowned in the typical Mughal fashion by domed chhatris (umbrella shaped pavilions)."

Source: British Library