Above: Map during the First Battle of Panipat

Panipat a small town in Harayana state of India has been witness to many a major battles since the early 12th century. This little town has been the site for most of the invaders who tried to capture India. India then had a large Delhi sultanate ruled by Ibrahim Lodhi and Lahore (now in Pakistan) had a Lodhi Governor, Daulat Khan Lodhi.

Above: Painting of the First Emperor of Mughal - Emperor Babur

Babur, the ruler of Kabul (Afghanistan) alligned with Daulat Khan and prepared to invade the Indian subcontinent targetting the northwestern territory (state of Punjab and Haryana).

Above: Soldiers fiercely attacking during ‘The First Battle of Panipat’

In the year 1526, Babur with a strong force of over 10000 soldiers invaded India. He entered through Punjab and started his triumphant march towards Delhi. It was in the barrren stretch of land of Panipat that Ibrahim Lodhi with a massive army met Babur’s force. A fierce battle ensued and though Ibrahim Lodhi had a much larger army but did not have weapons like field guns and artillery like Babur. The pitched battle saw the army commander’s skills of Babur at its best. He ordered to fire his field guns to scare the elephants in the Lodhi army. The artillery he had was used to the extreme effect on war elephants who turned around and the trick worked well and the elephants started to trample the Lodhi army under its feet thus helping Babur gain more and more control on the battle. Ibrahim Lodhi whose army mostly had feudal lords and mercenaries in the ranks quickly changed alliances when they saw the inevitable fall of Ibrahim Lodhi. Ibrahim Lodhi himself died in the battle and the feudal lords and mercenaries embraced the new ruler of Delhi. This battle saw heavy losses of man and material on both sides. Had Ibrahim lodhi fought a bit longer he would have been winner because Babur had no more reseves to replenish the dwindling flanks. The whole battle lasted for less than a day. More than 30,000 lay dead on the battle feild and nearly the same numbers were injured. This battle saw the superamacy of Babur as the perfect war general. He commanded his lil army expertly and used his resources tactfully.

Above: Photo shot of Koh-I-noor Diamond

Babur took over reins of rule at Delhi as well as Agra (Now famous for the Taj Mahal) thus embarking on one the most prolonged and most illustrious rule over the Indian subcontinent. The Mughal empire established itself as ruler of Delhi which eventually took over all of Indiansubcontinent under successive rulers of the dynasty. The famous diamond ‘Kohinoor’ was gifted to Babur when he took over as ruler of Agra.

Above: Map of Agra District showing the location of Agra now known as Taj Mahal (click map to enlarge)

Many illustrious rulers like Akbar, Aurabgzeb and Jehangir were crowned the kings of Indian subcontinent and they on thier part enriched the state with many magnificient buildings of significance. The promoted not only trade and arts but also brought small princely states under one banner. The Indian subcontinent sw the emergence of a single dynastic rule in form of Mughal Empire which stretched as west as today’s Afghanistan to the state of Bihar in the east and as far south as the then princely state of Hyderabad in Modern state of Andhra Pradesh in India.

Below: Pictures of Taj Mahal, shot in different angle