Sunday, June 17, 2018

Tughlakabad Fort, ruins, Delhi

I was itching to go on my photography walk again. I seem to have finished almost all historical places in and around Delhi, Gurgaon.
I still looked around and found one - Tughlakabad Fort. It is all in ruins now though.  This also gives me opportunity to peek back in time and understand a bit of history.

This fort was built in 1321 AD by Ghazi Malik who was feudatory of his masters - Khalji the then Delhi ruler. Ghazi Malik one fine day drove away the Khaljis and assumed the kingship, gave himself a title of Ghiyas Ud din Tughlaq and built the fort. He is the founder of Tughlaq dynasty. Infamous Muhammad bin Tughlaq was his son.
However this fort had to be abandoned in 1327.  Legend says a sufi sant cursed the king.

Anyway it is interesting to read the history but then gets smudgy somewhere. The pictures below tries to take us back in history.


The place is about 22 km from Gurgaon in state of Delhi, south of Delhi in Mehruli area. Entry fee is Rs.15 for Indian. Fee would be much more for foreign visitors. (May be Rs200/-  I guess) No board. The place is open from 0700 hr to 1700 hrs.

The guard over there will customarily enquire you whether you have any video cameras. You can not avoid saying a lie, since you invariably carry your mobile if not a high end camera. I want to believe that he was enquiring whether you are carrying a real video camera on tripod etc.
Free parking is available.

I suggest the authorities to ban the plastic, eatables in side the fort. visitors carry eatables and throw the wrappers.

Lay out of the fort. It is a huge fort. I could walk through only small portion of it. Of course a lot of open space too, but with wild vegetation.



A ruined bastion.


Bird view of the surrounding space. Kids play cricket in the open field. 


Path leading to the fort's bastions. 


Another panoramic view of fort and the complex


Closer look at the ruined bastion



There is an underground or I would say, a basement - called Meena Bazaar. There are small rooms on both sides meant to be shops during those days. 


Ghyas ud din Tomb viewed from Fort




A masjid inside the fort


Another ruined bastion



View of the stable outside and inside (one below this picture)



Steps leading to top of fort



 There are plenty of monkeys just outside near the parking. Do not leave any loose items on your vehicle. They rip opened the rubber gaskets of my car. 


History of Ghiyas Ud din Tomb. The guy had built it for himself. 


Tomb from outside

 The arched corridor around the tomb. No idea why. Looks similar to the stables. But why stables in a tomb. 

Graves in side. Ghiyas ud din, M B Tughlaq and another one must be of Ghiyas ud din's wife.