 Location
: Near Mehrauli, Delhi
Historically Known As: Tughluqabad, Third City of Delhi
Founded In : 1321-25
Built By : Ghiyath-ud-din Tughluq
The massive strong walls of Tughluqabad, the third city of Delhi, are
located east of the Qutub Minar. The citadel frowns down ominously like
some Gothic palace all over the Qutub-Badarpur road and seems to prefer
its splendid isolation. Making Of Tughluqabad Ghiyath-ud-din Tughluq built
the walled city and the fort with its 13 gateways. 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 dispute between the king and the saint did not end
with curse and counter-curse. When the king prepared to take vengeance
on the saint, Nizam-ud-din calmly told his followers, in a saying that
is still current in India today, 'Delhi is a long way off'. Indeed it
was for the king was murdered on his way to Delhi in 1325. Earlier, Ghiyath-ud-din
had been
a general in Ala-ud-din Khalji's army. Once while on the
road with Ala-ud-din, Ghiyath-ud-din, on spotting this area, mentioned
to the sultan what an ideal setting it seemed to provide for a new city.
Upon this the king indulgently replied, that when Ghiyath-ud-din will
become the king he should built one. After the death of Ala-ud-din various
events conspired to put the general on the throne at last. Then he fulfilled
his long-cherished dream, of building Tughluqabad. Tughluqabad Fort Tughluqabad
Fort was situated on high rocky ground, an ideal location to withstand
enemy attacks. The fort walls were constructed of massive blocks and outside
the south wall of the city is an artificial lake with king's tomb in its
centre. A long causeway connects the tomb to the fort, both of which have
walls that slope inwards. The fort is half-hexagonal in shape. The outer
walls are built around the outline of the surrounding land adding a formidable
strength to the natural barriers. Tughluqabad was built in just four years
and got abandoned in 1327. Muhammad-bin-Tughluq, was probably one of those
modern freethinking men who did not want to be known by his father's laurels.
That's why he chose to make a city of his own called Jahanpanah. With
Ghiyath-ud-din Tughluq's death, the city's short-lived glory came to an
abrupt end.
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