Tughlaqabad Fort

Tughlaqabad Fort in South East Delhi was constructed in 1321 by Ghiyasuddin Tughluq, founder of the Tughlaq dynasty during the Delhi Sultanate. It was built as a fortified city to protect against Mongol invasions, featuring massive stone walls 10 to 15 meters high filled with rubble, topped by battlements and circular bastions, some two stories tall.

The fort is half hexagon-shaped with a base length of 2.4 km and a total circumference of about 6.4 km. It was originally divided into three parts: the wider city area with houses laid out in a rectangular grid, a citadel with a prominent tower called Bijai-Mandal, and an adjacent palace area with royal residences. The city once had 52 gates, but only 13 remain today, along with seven rainwater tanks that supported the settlement.

Although much of the city area is now inaccessible due to dense vegetation and modern encroachments, the tomb of Ghiyasuddin Tughluq remains well-preserved, connected to the fort by an elevated causeway. The fort’s architecture reflects the characteristic sloping walls of the Tughlaq dynasty and combines defensive features with regal style, making it a significant historical monument in Delhi.