|
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. |
Español
Français
Deutsch
Italiano
Português
English
