Department of Archaeology 
India has a significant number of Historical Monuments and Heritage sites spanning millennia of History, with Delhi alone boasting the rare distinction of having a wide spectrum of historical buildings & monuments; about 1300 in numbers. Among the many interesting places in India, Delhi occupies a position of unique importance, in that it has not only a historical past of being the capital city of several dynasties but is at present also the Capital of the Republic of India.
The History of Delhi traces its origin back to the Prehistoric era, as exemplified by numerous archaeological artefacts discovered in Palaeolithic sites such as Anangpur and Surajkund. The archaeological ruins of Late Harappan period found in areas like Mandoli, Bhorgarh, Kharkhari Nahar, etc. situated in Delhi illustrate that the city has been inhabited since the 2nd millennium B.C.E. The archaeological excavations conducted at Purana Qila have yielded material remains of the old city of Indraprastha which propound the idea of inhabitation from the Mahabharata period (approx. 1000 B.C.E.) to the Mughal times. A glorious chapter to Delhi’s history was added with the discovery of the Ashokan inscription (273-236 B.C.E.) on a small rocky outcrop in Aravallis confirming the existence of a flourishing city around that time. History has it that the first medieval city of Delhi was founded by the Tomars in around 736 C.E. The territory of Delhi was successively ruled by the Chahamanas (Chauhans), the Slave Dynasty, the Khiljis, the Tughlaqs, the Sayyids, the Lodis, the Mughals and lastly the Britishers. Popular tradition mentions only seven cities of Delhi such as Qila Raipithora and Lalkot (First City of Delhi, established by Tomars and Chauhans ), Siri Fort (Second City of Delhi, established by Ala’ ud Din Khilji), Tugluqabad (Third City of Delhi, established by Gyas’ud Din Tughluq), Jahanpanah (Fourth City of Delhi, established by Muhammad bin Tughluq), Firuzabad (Fifth City of Delhi, established by Firuz Shah Tughluq), Dinpanah (Sixth City of Delhi, established by Humayun) and Shahjahanabad (Seventh City of Delhi, established by Shah Jahan). However, assimilating the count of smaller towns and villages; the cities then outnumber the existing ones to fifteen.
It is certain that Delhi ranks as one of the most ancient and historic cities of India as it has seen the rise & fall of many civilizations. With such a variegated history, it is not surprising that Delhi abounds with monumental remains of its long chequered past.
The Monuments of national importance are under the aegis of ASI and have been declared as centrally protected monuments under the provisions of “The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958”, subsequently amended as “The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment and Validation) Act, 2010”; whereas those of local importance, found worth protection, are looked after by the respective State Governments under their own Acts through their respective State Departments of Archaeology. Hence, it becomes obligatory for each State Government to establish a Department of Archaeology for protection and maintenance of ancient monuments of local importance under their respective jurisdictions.
With a view to protect and maintain the monuments in Delhi, other than those of national importance, Department of Archaeology was established in Delhi Administration in 1978. The Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi’s Department of Archaeology has made persistent endeavors to restore the glory of these abandoned masterpieces of art and architecture of Delhi. The Department has identified, till date, 75 monuments of historical and archaeological importance and out of them, designated few monuments as protected ones under the provisions of "The Delhi Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act 2004".
These monuments range from ancient to Colonial period, consisting of Archaeological sites, fort walls, tombs, mosques, baolis, gateways, gardens, memorials, colonial buildings, palaces etc. The prime heritage sites being- Mutiny Memorial at Northern Ridge, Maqbara Paik at Jahangirpuri, Gol Gumbad at Lodhi Road, Jharna at Mehrauli, Sarai of Azimganj, Bara Lao ka Gumbad at Vasant Vihar, Mosque of Darwesh Shah at Gulmohar Park, Turkman Gate at Chandni Chowk, etc. The Department has successfully undertaken conservation work on about 75 monuments of Delhi, till date.