Najafgarh Fort

Najafgarh Fort in South West Delhi was built in the late 18th century by Mirza Najaf Khan, the commander-in-chief of the Mughal Army under Emperor Shah Alam II. He established this fort as a military outpost to protect Delhi from attacks by the British, Sikhs, and Rohillas during a time when the Mughal Empire was in decline.

The fort played a strategic role in guarding the capital, Shahjahanabad, and the surrounding region. Historically, Najafgarh was originally known as Mas'ūdābād and had an old brick fort, but it was Mirza Najaf Khan who fortified the area and the fort was later named after him.

Although the original fort no longer survives, the Delhi Gate of Najafgarh, built around 1770, still stands as a remarkable red brick structure with pointed arches and Indo-Persian architectural influences, serving as a gateway and a reminder of the fort’s past. This gate witnessed the Battle of Najafgarh during the Indian Rebellion of 1857, a major conflict between Indian rebels and British forces resulting in heavy casualties.

Following the rebellion, the area came under British control and eventually became part of modern Delhi. Today, the fort site is largely lost to urban development, but the remaining gate continues to be a historic marker reflecting Najafgarh’s Mughal heritage and its role in 18th and 19th-century Delhi history.