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 About
Tughlaqabad
Lying east of Qutab Minar the third city of Delhi with 13
gateways is Tughlaqabad built by Ghiyas-ud-din Tuglaq. In the
southern periphery of Delhi are the ruins of a massive fort,
once the capital of the Tughlaq kings. It was an impregnable
fortification built by Sultan Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq in 1321. The
Elegant tomb of the emperor in red sandstone with its sloping
walls and white dome, located near the fort, is considered to
be one of the best examples of Tughlaq architecture.
An Architectural Marvel with Military Style
The massive Tughlaqabad Fort, is not only symbolic of the
might of the Tughlaq dynasty, but it is a piece of
architectural marvel. It was a part of the dream project of
Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq when he built the capital at
Tughlaqabad. However, this powerful edifice did not last long
and fell to the curse of a saint. The crumbling ruins of the
Tughlaqabad Fort convey a sense of lost grandeur. The massive
ramparts, battlements, and the mammoth stonework of this fort
speak highly of the engineering skills of the workers who
constructed it. The fort served the dual purpose of a
defensive structure as well as the imperial capital of
Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq. There are a number of monuments within
the precincts of this fort.
The Origin
Tughluqabad Fort was situated on high rocky ground, an ideal
location to withstand enemy attacks. The origin of the
historic city of Tughlaqabad and the Tughlaqabad Fort goes to
the period of the Delhi Sultanate. The Tughlaqs who followed
the Khiljis were great builders and the city of Tughlaqabad
and Tughlaqabad Fort were their first major architectural
achievement. The story behind Ghazi Malik (founder of the
Tughlaq dynasty) was once a slave of Mubarak Khilji, the last
Khilji sultan. One day, while walking by the area Ghazi Malik
suggested to his master that the rocky prominence would be an
ideal site for building a fort. The Khilji sultan laughed at
his slave and suggested that the slave build a fort there when
he became a sultan. When Ghazi Malik, as Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq,
founded the Tughlaq Dynasty in 1321, he did just
that—Tughlaqabad is Delhi’s most colossal and awesome fort,
even in its ruined state. In fact Ghiyasuddin had selected
this site for the fort when he was a mere soldier. The fort of
Tughlaqabad was completed rapidly in a short span of four
years. Within its sky-touching walls, double-storied bastions,
and gigantic towers were housed grand palaces, splendid
mosques, and audience halls. Tughlaqabad is a formidable
reminder of Delhi’s embattled past and the terror. It was a
period of political unrest and the Delhi Sultanate had to face
a number of attacks from hoards of marauding Mongols, who
descended on it in waves from the north. The massive
fortifications of Tughlaqabad, with immense circular bastions,
were raised by Ghiyas-ud-din to protect his subjects.
Legends Of Tughlaqabad
There are a number of legends associated with Tughlaqabad. It
is often said that the skulls of the killed Mongol marauders
were used in the construction material of this awesome fort.
Its construction involved a legendary quarrel with the saint
Nizam-ud-din. When the Tughluq ruler took the workers whom
Nizam-ud-din wanted for work on his shrine the saint cursed
the king with the warning that only the Gujjars (shepherds)
would inhabit his city. The demise of Tughlaqabad was not
brought about by any foreign invasion, but to the curse of a
Sufi Saint Nizam-ud-din. The legendary quarrel between the two
started when Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq did not allow his people to
work for the saint on the construction of a baoli (step well),
which angered the saint. A protracted tiff followed, which
offended the saint and led to his famous prophecy “Hunuz Dilli
dur ast” (Delhi is yet far away), for the sultan was then out
in Bengal. His prophecies proved true. Ghiyas-ud-din was
killed at a place near Delhi when a shamiana (canopy)
collapsed over him during a reception arranged by his son. The
sultan could not reach Delhi alive. His successor chose to
build his own fort and deserted Tughlaqabad. It is generally
believed that the death of Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq was
engineered and plotted by his son. One story describes that
Muhammad bin Tughlaq killed his father by building a false
wooden balcony, which collapsed and killed Ghiyas-ud-din. The
son murdered and ascended the throne of Delhi, thus making the
prophecies of Saint Nizam-ud-din come true. The massive block
walls glow a beautiful golden colour in the afternoon sun. The
remains of underground markets and some royal residences are
visible inside the walls.
Location
Tughlaqabad is the third city of Delhi, located about 10 kms.
east of Qutub complex along the Mahrauli-Badarpur Road. |
