Delhi-Topra Ashokan Pillar — Attraction in Delhi

The Delhi-Topra Ashokan Pillar stands as a magnificent testament to two distinct periods of Indian history: the Mauryan Empire and the Tughlaq Dynasty. Originally erected by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE at Topra Kalan, the pillar was later transported with great effort to Delhi by Sultan Firoz Shah Tughlaq in the 14th century. ​Historians consider this pillar a masterpiece of Mauryan artistry. It is a single shaft of finely polished sandstone, inscribed with Ashoka’s famous edicts, which promoted his philosophy of "Dhamma," a code of conduct based on morality and compassion. The pillar’s transportation and re-erection in Delhi were an engineering feat of the medieval period, showcasing the Tughlaq rulers' admiration for ancient art and their desire to embellish their new capital. ​Today, the pillar is located within the ruins of the Firoz Shah Kotla fort. Its presence here highlights a fascinating historical overlap—a Buddhist monument standing within a medieval Islamic fortress. It has become a symbol of continuity, where the ideals of a great emperor are preserved and celebrated by rulers centuries later. ​Despite the passage of time, the Delhi-Topra Pillar retains its grandeur and continues to be a subject of great interest. It serves as a physical link between ancient India and its medieval successors, inviting visitors to reflect on the enduring legacies of these two...

It is located in feroz shah kotla fort and is a must visit. Feroz Shah Tughlaq (r. 1351–88), the Sultan of Delhi, established the fortified city of Firuzabad[3] in 1354, as the new capital of the Delhi Sultanate, and included in it the site of the present Feroz Shah Kotla. Kotla literally means fortress or citadel. The pillar, also called obelisk or Lat is an Ashoka Column, attributed to Mauryan ruler Ashoka. The 13.1 metres high column, made of polished sandstone and dating from the 3rd Century BC, was brought from Ambala in 14th century under orders of Feroz Shah. It was installed on a three-tiered arcaded pavilion near the congregational mosque, inside the Sultanate's fort. In centuries that followed, much of the structure and buildings near it were destroyed as subsequent rulers dismantled them and reused the spolia as building materials. Every Thursday there is a huge crowd at the fort. It is popularly believed that Jinn(s) descend down at the Fort from the Heavens and accept requests and wishes from people. A lot of wishes, penned down on paper, can be seen on the walls within the premises.The association to Jinn(s) seems to be not too old. It is only since 1977, a few months after the end of the Emergency, that there are first records of people starting to come to Firoz Shah Kotla in...

A pristine polished sandstone Topra Ashokan pillar from the 3rd century B.C. rises from the palace's crumbling remains, one of many pillars of Ashoka left by the Mauryan emperor; it was moved from Topra Kalan in Pong Ghati of Yamunanagar district in Haryana to Delhi under orders of Firoz Shah Tughlaq of Delhi Sultanate, and re-erected in its present location in 1356. The original inscription on the obelisk is primarily in Brahmi script but language was prakrit, with some Pali and Sanskrit added later. It was installed on a three-tiered arcaded pavilion near the congregational mosque, inside the Sultanate's fort. In centuries that followed, much of the structure and buildings near it were destroyed as subsequent rulers dismantled them and reused the spolia as...