Question

What role did Yamuna play in the layout of the new mughal city.

Answer 1

Hint: Rivers played an important role in establishing a city as it provided various facilities to the rulers. Rivers were of great importance since time immemorial.

Complete answer:
Rivers gave many advantages to the rulers like better navigation, easy trade , security, easier mode of transport and idyllic beauty.

The city of Shahjahanabad which Shah Jahan constructed in Delhi was established on one side of the river Yamuna and in Agra the construction work was done on both sides of the river Yamuna. The Imperial palace commanded the riverfront and only specially favoured nobles like his son Dara Shukoh were given access to the river side and all other nobles had to construct their homes in the city, away from the river Yamuna.

The access to river Yamuna for nobles was controlled by development architectural form in which the white marble mausoleum was placed on a terrace by the edge of the river and garden was to its south. Thus Yamuna played an important role in the layout of the new Mughal city at Shahjahanabad.

Note: All great Civilizations flourished along the sides of the river. Indus valley along the river Indus, Egyptian along the Nile, Mesopotamian along Tigris and Euphrates. Even the Mauryan dynasty made their kingdom along the Ganga river in Patliputra. Rivers have proved to be the difference between armies. Even the soldiers of Alexander couldn't cross Beas which resulted in the halt of his campaign.