Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq's Tomb — Attraction in Delhi

"Like a miniature expression of the whole, the tomb is defended on all sides by its own set of machicolated walls, built to keep the Angles of Death at bay; they represent perhaps the most elaborate set of defenses ever raised to protect a corpse." William Dalrymple, City of Djinns

The massive fortified Tomb of Ghiyas ud – Din Tughluq lies in the shadows of the massive Tughlaqabad Fort, also a creation of Ghiyas ud – Din Tughluq. Like an umbilical cord, a causeway once linked the mother fort with the miniature fort like tomb of the emperor.

Although a portion of he causeway has long been demolished for the construction of the Mehrauli – Badarpur Road but the Tomb of Ghiyas ud – Din Tughluq’s tomb is approached by a broad causeway that winds up the small hillock housing the fortified tomb. The tomb was once surrounded by a lake but sadly it has long dried up.

The causeway, supported by arches and pillars lead to a small opening leading to a huge sandstone gateway leading to the pentagonal fortified complex complete with bastions and battlements.

The tomb stands on beautiful manicured lawn art the center of the irregular pentagonal fortification.

The tomb was commissioned by Ghiyas ud – Din Tughluq, himself during his lifetime and follows the typical Tughluq style of architecture.

Ghiyas ud – Din Tughluq had an unfortunate death. After the annexation of Bengal, on his way to Delhi, he was given a reception in 1325 in Afghanpur (present day Bihar) by his eldest son Muhammad bin Tughlaq. The stage collapsed killing Ghiyas ud – Din Tughluq and his second son. Some historian opine that it was a conspiracy hatched by Muhammad bin Tughlaq.

The simple red sandstone square tomb with sloping walls is crowned with a massive white marble dome.

The tomb is largely devoid of ornamentation except for white marble inlay, medallions, carved red sandstone pillars & thick arches.

Decorative battlements atop the truncated pyramid base adds to the ornamental elements.

There are arched entrances on three of the four sides. The forth, western, side houses a mihrab, doubling the mausoleum as a Mosque. Each of the three arched gateways comes in with redundant horizontal marble lintels, which was probably added for purely aesthetic reasons.

The white marble dome rests on an octagonal drum and is crowned with a a unique lotus finial, representing the kalassa, a common form of Hundu Temple architecture.

The tomb is on ground level and the interior is also plain and houses three graves (not cenotaphs).

The central one belongs to Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq, another is of Muhammad Tughlaq & the last houses Ghiyas-ud-din’s wife.

On the north eastern bastion of the fortified mausoleum is another tomb. It is topped with a marble dome and is octagonal shape.

Although similar in architecture it is much smaller in size and contains the mortal remains of Zafar Khan, a trusted general of Alauddin Khalji. Zafar Khan died in 1299 and his tomb predates that of Ghiyas ud – Din Tughluq by almost a quarter century.

Later at this very spot Ghiyas ud – Din Tughluq built his magnificent fortified mausoleum, in the process integrating the tomb of Zafar Khan within the walled complex and christened it Dar-ul-Aman (“Abode of peace”).

The tomb, surrounded by colonnaded walkways with sandstone lattice work, is dark inside and houses two graves.

The central ornamented one belongs to Zafar Khan, the simple one next to it probably belongs to his wife.

The four, out of the five corners, of the pentagonal fort houses circular bastions, including the one containing the grave of Zafar Khan. The fifth corner houses a open roofless pavilion.

The cells on the walls also contains underground passageways, which probably lead to underground prison cells. Sadly the passages have been covered with iron grill gates and kept under lock and key.

Entry Fee: Rs10 for Ghiyas ud – Din Tughluq’s Mausoleum and Tughlaqabad Fort combined,...

Built by Ghiyassuddin Tughlak in 1321.

Neat and clean, well maintained fort in the outskirts.

Guide can be taken for 100 bucks for an hour or two, from among the security people working there, to appreciate the beauty of the place. No ASI guide was seen at the fort.

Originally had 52 gates, 13 remaining today, with sloping walls of massive strength.

Don't forget to wear good pair of sports shoes to appreciate the beauty of the fort in foot.

Carry own water bottle and food, as canteen facility was missing.

Fort is quite big, though it looked pretty safe, but still avoid walking alone on secluded parts.

Adilabad part of the fort on other side is beautiful and a must visit.

Try completing the trip in first half of the day to avoid sun.

Tickets are pretty cheap.

The fort was built by Ghiyath al-Din Tughlaq in 1321. It is a huge area spread across a stretch of 6.5 km. I went by Uber hence do not know the route for public transport. Nonetheless, it is pretty well-known in Faridabad area and is one of the very few spots you can visit in that area. The mausoleum which is on the other side of road from the ruins is in much better condition and you will see people taking an afternoon siesta there or playing cards. It has the grave of Tughlaq and his wife and son. Entry fee is mere INR15 for Indian nationals and INR100 for foreign nationals (could have increased in 2017). I went there on a solo trip and hence had to later look up its history on the Internet. Not much has been written about the history of the beautiful and vast ruins at the location. It is true that a part of the ruins are cordoned off due to criminal offenses and the guard at the main gate shall inform you about it if he sees you going in that direction. Apart from that, I didn't face any problem. But is it recommended to go in day time as the place shuts in the evening at 5 pm. I would definitely suggest visiting this place because I personally love the history that every ruin speaks of and this place evokes volumes of past richness of the...

GHIYATHU’D-DiN TUGHLUG'S SELF-BUiLT TOMB WITH A MAUSOLEUM ENCLOSED WITHIN HIGH BATTERED PENTAGONAL STONE WALLS, STRENGTHENED WITH BASTIONS AND SURMOUNTED BY CUPOLAS, LOOKS LIKE A SMALL FORTRESS. ORIGINALLY IT STOOD WITHIN AN ARTIFICIAL LAKE, FED BY THE OVERFLOWING OF THE HAUZ-I-SHAMSI, AND BY SONE NATURAL ORAINAGE CHANNELS, AND WAS CONNECTED WITH THE FORT OF TUGHLURABAD BY A GAUSEWAY BORNE ON THE ARCHES. PRESENTLY THIS HAS BEEN PIERCED BY THE MEHRAULI-BADARPUR ROAD. THE ENTRANCE TO THE TOMB ENCLOSURE IS THROUGH A HIGH AND MASSIVE GATEWAY OF RED SANDSTONE, APPROACHED BY A FLIGHT OF STEPS. THE MAUSOLEUM, ABOUT 8 M. SQUARE WITH SLOPING WALLS OF RED SANDSTONE GROWNED WITH BATTLEMENTS IS SURMOUNTED BY A WHITE MARBLE DOME RAISED ON AN OCTAGONAL DRUM A STRING COURSE, INSCRIBED PANELS, ARCH BORDERS AND PERFORATED SCREENS IN TYMPANA ALL IN MARBLE TOGETHER WITH ITS LOTUS-BUD FRINGES BREAK THE MONOTONY OF THE RED SANDSTONE AND LEND IT A DECORATIVE EFFECT. THERE ARE THREE GRAVES INSIDE, THE CENTRAL ONE OF GHIMATEUD-DIN TUGHLAQ AND THE OTHER TWO BELEVED TO BE THOSE OF HIS WIFE AND HIS SON AND SUCCESSOR, MUHAMMAD BIN TUGHLUQ (A. D. 1325-51). AGAINST THE ENCLOSURE-WALLS ARE CELLS OR PILLARED CORRIDORS WITH BRACKET-AND-LINTEL OPENINGS. IN THE NORTH-WESTERN BASTION THERE IS AN OCTAGONAL TOMB WITH AN INSGRIBED SLAB OVER ITS SOUTHERN DOOR ACCORDING TO WHICH ONE ZAFAR KHÄN LIES BURIED IN IT. IT SEEMS THAT THIS TOMB WAS THE FIRST TO BE RAISED HERE AND WHILE ENGAGED ON ITS CONSTRUCTION, GHIYATHU- DIN TUGHLAQ HAD THE IDEA OF PUTTING UP AN ENCLOSURE AND SITING HIS OWN TOMB ALSO INSIDE IT. THE PLACE IS REFERRED TO AS DÂRUL-AMAN (ABODE OF PEACE) IN THE INSCRIPTION MENTIONED ABOVE AND ALSO IN THE CONTEMPORARY RECODS OF...