Delhi Tughluqabad Fort

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Site Name: Tughluqabad Fort
Site Type: Historical, Fort
Location:  Tughluqabad, Delhi, India
Highlights: An important landmark in Delhi; historically, considered as the fifth city of Delhi; the first fort of Tughluq dynasty
Nearest Railway Station: Delhi
Nearest Airport: Delhi
How to reach: Well connected by road, rail and air
Hotel: A lot of options are available within Delhi city
Restaurants: Many options and varieties across the city

It might be true that the Tughluqabad Fort in Delhi is not visited by travelers. However, this gigantic fortress which is in ruins today is an important landmark of Delhi, the capital city of India.

The last king of Khalji dynasty, Qutbud-Din Mubarak Khan was killed Khusraw Khan, a chief minister. Ghazi Malik, a Turk nobleman of Tughluq tribe, who was then governor of Debalpur in Punjab marched against Khusraw Khan and beheaded him. As there was no male survivor in Khalji dynasty, he was proclaimed king in 1321 AD under the title of Ghiyathu'd-Din Tughluq. He built the fortified town of Tughluqabad, the fifth city of Delhi.

Tughluqabad Fort stands on a rocky hill on the Badarpur Road near Okhla Industrial Estate. It's roughly octagonal in plan. It was divided mainly into three portions. To the east of the present main entrance, a rectangular area with high walls and bastions served as the citadel. A wider area immediately to its west housed the palaces. Beyond this to the north lay the city, now marked by ruins of houses and streets. A ruined tower named Bijai Mandal and remains of few halls are also present inside the citadel.

Opposite to the fort, the Ghiyathu'd-Din Tughluq's self built tomb with a mausoleum stands. It looks like a small fortress. There are three graves inside, the central one is Tughluq's an the other two are believed to his wife's and his son Muhammad bin Tughluq's graves.

The fort which was built in 1321 AD was abondoned in 1327 AD. There is an interesting legend behind this. When Tughluq started his fort, he apparently dictated all the labourers in Delhi to work for his fort. Saint Nizamuddin Auliya, a Sufi mystic, got incenses as the work on his baoli was stopped. He apparently cursed and due to this it is believed tha the fort became unoccupied.

If you are interested in history, you should definitely visit this site. Beware of monkeys and petty thieves.

Happy travelling.



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