Purana Qila, 16th-century fortification in New Delhi, India

Purana Qila is a 16th-century fortification in the New Delhi district of India, surrounded by tall stone walls and a broad water-filled moat. The three entrance gates made of red sandstone lead into a sprawling inner courtyard with lawns, a mosque, and the remains of old pavilions.

The fortification was built in the mid-16th century by Sher Shah Suri after he drove out the Mughal ruler Humayun. Humayun later returned and took over the fort, where he ended his life in one of the towers.

The name means Old Fort, and the site is still called Pandavon Ka Qila, the Pandavas' fort, after the Mahabharata city of Indraprastha. Since the 1970s the ramparts have served as a stage: Ebrahim Alkazi directed Tughlaq, Andha Yug and Sultan Razia here for the National School of Drama. A daily sound-and-light show after sunset recounts the Seven Cities of Delhi.

The best time to visit is early morning or late afternoon when the light gently illuminates the red sandstone walls. The paths inside are mostly level, with some stairs leading to the raised sections of the walls.

Excavations beneath the walls uncovered pottery shards and tools indicating settlements from over 3000 years ago. These finds connect the fort to the oldest layers of Delhi's urban history.