Old Names of Delhi: From Indraprastha to Delhi... These are the 16 old names of the country's capital; amid a BJP MP's demand, see the full list.

Old Names of Delhi: The BJP MP from Chandni Chowk has urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to change Delhi's name to Indraprastha. Let's explore the various names Delhi has had in history.

Old Names of Delhi: India's capital, Delhi, has witnessed the rise and fall of many powerful empires. Each empire has left behind a unique identity and a new name. Recently, Praveen Khandelwal, BJP MP from Chandni Chowk, urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to change Delhi's name to Indraprastha. He also proposed renaming Old Delhi Station to Indraprastha Junction and Delhi Airport to Indraprastha International Airport. Meanwhile, let's explore the historical names Delhi has had.

Ancient Names of Delhi

According to the Mahabharata, Indraprastha was the capital of the Pandavas, located on the banks of the Yamuna River. This is considered the oldest known name for Delhi. It is said that around the first century BCE, King Dhillu founded a city named Dillika or Dilli, which later evolved into Delhi.

Changes in the Medieval Period

The Tomar rulers first built the fortified city of Lalkot in the 11th century. Prithviraj Chauhan later expanded it as Qila Rai Pithora. Although it remained called Qila Rai Pithora during the Slave Dynasty, Sultan Khaiqabad later renamed it Kilekhori. This marked Delhi's early medieval phase. Similarly, Delhi received two more names: Lal Kot and Qila Rai Pithora. During the reign of the Khilji dynasty, Delhi was given another name, Siri. Soon after, Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq renamed it Tughlaqabad in 1320. Subsequently, Muhammad bin Tughlaq renamed it Jahanpanah in the mid-14th century.

Firozabad to Shahjahanabad

Firoz Shah Tughlaq founded Firozabad in 1354 AD. In the 16th century, Mughal emperors Humayun and Sher Shah Suri built Dinpanah and Shergarh. Khizr Khan renamed it Khizrabad. When Mubarak Shah ascended the throne, he named it Kotla Mubarakpur. In the 17th century, Delhi came to be known as Shahjahanabad, a name derived from Emperor Shah Jahan.

Delhi's Modern Name

When the British Empire shifted its capital from Calcutta to Delhi in 1911, a new city, New Delhi, was conceived. Its design was prepared by architects Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker. It was officially inaugurated in 1913. In addition to these names, Delhi has also been known by ancient names such as Hastinapur, Dadalar, and Surajkund. These names are associated with different eras and rulers.