Bara Pulah Bridge
Bara Pulah Bridge | |
|---|---|
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| Coordinates | 28°35′03″N 77°15′12″E / 28.584074°N 77.253343°E |
| Carries | Road traffic |
| Locale | Delhi, India |
| Other name(s) | BaraPullah Bridge |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Arch bridge |
| Total length | 200 metres (660 ft) |
| Location | |
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The Bara Pulah Bridge or Barapullah Bridge is a busy road-passing in Delhi, India, near Humayun's Tomb and Khan-i-Khana's Tomb. It is surrounded by the fruit and vegetable market behind the Nizamuddin railway station.[1] Due to the increasing population and traffic problems, the government announced a new Barapullah Elevated Road project during the Delhi Commonwealth Games. The new overpass bridge has marginally solved the traffic problems, but has overshadowed the historic bridge which is now almost invisible and overrun by squatters.[2] The BaraPullah Bridge is a monument of national importance and protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).[3]
History
[edit]The Barapullah bridge was built by Mihr Banu Agha nearly 400 years ago. According to historians, the bridge was built under Jahangir's rule and personally commissioned by him. The Mughals used the bridge to cross the Yamuna river to reach Nizamuddin Dargah and Humayun's Tomb while returning from Agra.[3] In 1628 the road between the bridge and Humayun's Tomb was a wide tree-lined path and was considered the most beautiful bridge of Delhi.[1][4]
In August 2024, the ASI started restoration of the bridge. They removed silt and garbage collected on the neglected bridge and aim to restore it as a pedestrian bridge.[5][6][7]
Architecture
[edit]The bridge structure has 12 piers and 11 arches, and it is 200 metres (660 ft) in length.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Smith, R. V. (13 June 2016). "Bridging myth and reality". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
- ^ "Makeshift Markets, A Historic Bridge & Now A Busy Thoroughfare: Barapullah In Delhi". So City. 21 July 2017. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
- ^ a b c Verma, Richi (16 April 2015). "Jahangir's bridge slips into decay". The Times of India. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
- ^ Das, Aheli (2 September 2024). "Barapullah bridge: A lost piece of history in plain sight". Hindustan Times.
- ^ "ASI to restore Delhi's 400-year-old Barapullah bridge in 3 months". The Times of India. 12 August 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
- ^ Choudhary, Vikas (5 September 2024). "A 1,000 words: 400-year-old Delhi heritage Barapullah bridge emerges from neglect". Down To Earth. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
- ^ "Barapullah bridge restoration by ASI to begin in three months: L-G". The Hindu. 11 August 2024. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 10 September 2024.