Tughlaqabad Fort: History, Architecture, and the Myth of a Curse
UPSC Prelims Subject
History of India (Medieval India - Delhi Sultanate, Tughlaq Dynasty)
Indian Art and Culture (Architecture, Sufism)
Key Highlights from the News
The 700-year-old Tughlaqabad Fort was built by Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq, the founder of the Tughlaq dynasty.
Situated in the Aravali Hills of Delhi, the main purpose of this fort was to defend against Mongol invasions.
A legend persists that the fort was abandoned due to a curse by the Sufi saint Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya.
However, historians reject this claim. The dispute between the Sultan and the saint was actually about political power.
The real reason for abandoning the fort was that Ghiyasuddin's son, Muhammad bin Tughlaq, shifted the capital to Daulatabad in the Deccan.
The fort's military logic was excellent. It was built intelligently utilizing the topography of the Aravali Hills. Water reservoirs, granaries, and watchtowers were part of it.
The fort's cultural significance is enhanced by the fact that the Sama discussions, which led to the official recognition of qawwali in the Indian Sufi tradition, took place within its walls.
COMMENTS