Tughlaqabad Fort

Ghiyas ud-Din Tughlaq, was the ruler of Delhi Sultanate in India during 1320-25. The Khilji dynasty, with strong rulers like Alauddin Khilji (1296–1316), ended in 1320. The last ruler of the dynasty was Qutb-ud-din Mubarak Shah Khilji (1316-20). Ghiyas ud-Din Tughlaq became the ruler in the year 1320 and founded the Tughlaq dynasty which ruled for the next ninety four years (1320-1414).

Tughlaqabad Fort

Tughlaqabad Fort was built by Ghiyas ud-Din Tughlaq during 1321-25. The fort served as the capital for the king and provided protection from enemy attacks. The fort is octagonal in plan and has a perimeter of about 8.5 km. It has strong ramparts with height varying between 9 to 15.2 meters. The size of the fort makes it hard to believe that it was constructed in just 5 years. But the king decreed that all laborers in Delhi work on the fort, bringing all other construction work in the area to a complete halt.

The fort has impressive ruins of bastions, gateways, palaces, mosques and halls. About seven hundred years have passed since the initial construction. But the gateways, arches, underground rooms and pathways and the fortifications speak volumes about the expertise and commitment of the construction workers and their superiors. There is a tower known as Bijai-Mandal inside the fort. Bijai-Mandal is the highest point in the citadel. There are stairs to go to the top of Bijai-Mandal. The air at the top is cool and is superbly complemented by the panoramic view of the fort all around. The fort is connected to Ghiyas ud-Din Tughlaq’s Tomb by a causeway.

Tughlaqabad Fort is located on the Mehrauli-Badarpur Road in New Delhi. Over the last few years, the upkeep of the place has improved a lot. The fort has a lot of visitors, especially in the mornings and evenings. The nearby places are the Batra Hospital, Jamia Hamdard University and the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range.

Photographs