Jahanpanah

Jahanpanah, meaning "Refuge of the World," was the fourth medieval city of Delhi, established between 1326 and 1327 by Sultan Muhammad bin Tughlaq. It was built as a fortified city to protect against frequent Mongol invasions by enclosing and connecting the existing cities of Siri, Lal Kot (Qila Rai Pithora), and Tughlaqabad with massive walls and 13 gates.

The city included important structures like the Bijay Mandal (thought to be a royal palace), Begumpur Mosque, Serai Shaji Mahal, Lal Gumbad, and Baradari. Though the fort and much of the city no longer survive intact, remnants of walls and buildings can still be seen scattered in South Delhi areas like Begumpur, Khirki, and near IIT Delhi.

Jahanpanah was intended to unify the earlier cities under one protective fortification, but the ambitious plan was never fully completed, partly due to the high costs and subsequent political shifts. Today, the ruins of Jahanpanah lie engulfed by modern urban development, offering historical insight into Delhi’s medieval past and the architectural legacy of the Tughlaq dynasty.

The site is accessible in South Delhi and remains a significant yet largely ruined symbol of the era’s strategic urban planning and defense needs.