Delhi : Adilabad Fort near Tughlaqabad Fort and Ghiyas Ud Din Tughluq's Tomb

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

The Adilabad Fort is located very near to the Ghiyas Ud Din Tughluq's Tomb and Tughlaqabad Fort on the Mehrauli Badarpur Road. The closest railway station and metro station being Tughlaqabad.

Adilabad Fort in  distance

After visitng Ghiyas Ud Din Tughluq's Tomb, Rohan and I decided to talk to Adilabad Fort, located a couple of kilometers away. Most of the land around was barren and dry. The strong wind made it dusty too. Some children were playing cricket on it on that hot  sunny day. There were very few trees here, they offered shade to the buffaloes grazing on the remaining grass. 

Rampart and Fortification of Adilabad Fort

The fortification looked good even from a distance. It was a hill fort with a rampart led to the entrance of the fort. 

History of Adilabad Fort

Finally we were at the entrance of Adilabad Fort. Fort looked like a twin  to Tughlaqabad Fort. As the stone used to built the walls was the same. Size wise it was much smaller than the Tughlaqabad Fort. 

Bastion of Adilabad Fort

After climbing the rampart, one reached the main entrance. The bastions around it were huge, there were slits in the walls, to attack the enemy. Looking at the size of the rampart, I was sure that elephants used to climb up the fort premises. 

Entrance to Adilabad Fort

No timings are mentioned, so  it should be open from sunrise to sunset and there is no entry fee. 

Ruins in Adilabad Fort

Adilabad Fort was built by Mohammad Bin Tughluq, the son of Ghiyas Ud Din Tughluq, who ruled Delhi between 1325 AD to 1351 AD. The fort is also called Muhammadabad Fort, after him. It was the fourth fort built in Delhi and it was planned on the same lines of Tughlaqabad Fort and built on the southern side of it. It is said that this fort used to  connect to Tughlaqabad Fort via a causeway, the remains of which are still visible.  Since both forts are hill forts, it offered a very good view of the city. 

Fortification of Tughlaqabad Fort

The fort premises, is totally in ruins. There are many structures atop it with arched doors, but no roofs, Maybe the roofs have collapsed over the years. These can be the Palace, rooms of the officials who lived then. 

Ruins within Adilabad Fort

Sadly there were not  much visitors here, in comparison to Red Fort, Humayun Tomb Complex and Qutub Minar Complex. 

That's me

Ghiyas Ud Din Tughluq's Tomb from Adilabad Fort

Next pitstop on your agenda is Sultan Ghari Tomb. 

Delhi : Tomb of Quli Khan and British Agent Sir Thomas Metcalfe's Guest House in Mehrauli Archaeological Park

Monday, October 19, 2015

Tomb of Quli Khan and British Agent Sir Thomas Metcalfe's Guest House is located in the Mehrauli Archaeological Park which is near the Qutub Complex, it is located on the Sri Aurobindo Marg and the closest Metro station being Qutub Minar. 

Information on Tomb of Muhammad Quli Khan

Metcalfe's House or Dilkhusha as it is known as was the second house built by Sir Thomas Metcalfe in 1830. He was a civil servant and appointed by the Governor General of India in the court of the last Mughul Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar.  The first one was built near Old Delhi Civil Lines in Delhi. 

Tomb of Muhammad Quli Khan

Metcalfe Guest House known as "the retreat" or "Dilkhusha" was designed like a country house in Mehrauli. Dilkhusha means "Delight of the Heart." built near the tomb of Muhammad Quli Khan. Tomb of Quli Khan was built in the 17th century. He was the brother of Adam Khan, who was the general and foster brother of Emperor Akbar. 

Interiors of Tomb of Muhammad Quli Khan

The tomb was built on a platform made of stone. it was redone of lately. A series of arched doors lead to rooms below the tomb premises. They are currently empty. The tomb was painted white in color, but due to the rains, it has turned black. The tomb is octagonal in shape with a dome atop it. There are writings atop the door to the tomb. The dome and the ceiling has beautiful designs on them made of blue colored stone. 

Chhatri near the Tomb of Muhammad Quli Khan

There is a Chhatri placed outside the tomb similar to the one near Jamali Kamali Mosque and Tomb.

Qutub Minar from the tomb arches

Thomas Metcalfe, considered it a location of strategic use, as he could keep a watch on Mughul Emperor Bahadur Zafar Shah, as he too had a summer palace there. Metcalfe resigned the Octagonal Tomb like a house with rooms in it, built gardens and follies around it. Making it appear like a European country house. The Guest House offered a wonderful view of the Qutub Minar in a distance. In was unable to locate the summer palace of the Emperor. 

Tomb of Muhammad Quli Khan

A couple of metres away are a series of rooms made of stone. They have arched shaped doors to enter, but no roof. I believe the roof might have collapsed. We visted each of the rooms constructed by Metcalfe. Though the walls of it erotic graffiti on them. Sure some ignorant people have been here and wanted to leave their mark on it. This happens on most of the historical monuments in the country which are not manned. It also houses a fire place which is intact. No furniture here as it was vandalized. Though it was a sunny day, we felt refreshed in its premises. No wonder it was strategically designed. 

Sir Thomas Metcalfe's Guest House

The Fire Place in Guest House premises

Metcalfe wanted to earn additional income and so he rented it out to honeymooning couples. The renovation of the tomb to a guest house was done in 1830. It was let out to public till 1853. In the revolt of 1857 it was vandalized. Thereafter it was not in use and remained neglected.

Delhi : Sultan Ghari Tomb

Friday, July 31, 2015

Sultan Ghari Tomb is located at Malakapur Village near Vasant Kunj in Delhi which is near the Qutub Minar Complex.

Signboard on the road leading to Masjid Sultan Ghari

Sultan Ghari Tomb was the first Islamic Tomb built by Iitumish in 1231 AD for his son Prince Nasiru'd-Din-Mahmud. Iitumish was the third sultan of the Slave Dynasty who ruled Delhi between 1210 AD to 1236 AD. 

A muddy road leads one to the Sultan Ghari Tomb.

Sultan Ghari entrance and fortification

First thoughts: Looking at the structure, I thought it was  a fort, with the tomb situated within it. I saw a couple of vendors sitting outside it selling flowers and articles of worship. The tomb is visited by both Hindu and Muslim devotees from around Delhi. Rohan told me that on Thursday it , is full house here.

Chhatri outside Sultan Ghari Tomb

A series of steps leads to the entrance of the premises, it had four bastion like structure around it with large windows in the walls. The walls were made of sandstone, common material used for building most of the historical structures around Delhi. 

Sultan Ghari Tomb

We entered the fortification via the door and walked inside barefeet. A octagonal structure lied in the middle of the walls. There were people sitting next to the fortification walls.Maybe they had come to offer prayers. But where is the tomb? was the question I had in my mind. 

Ruins outside Sultan Ghari

Rohan and I walked all around the octagonal structure and finally I located  a small door, from the door a series of winding steps leads one to the tomb. The steps are so narrow that only one person can travel at a time. Reminded me of the steps at Sindhudurg Fort in Malvan. The steps narrow steps had made it impossible for me to get down from the fort walls. 

Stairs leading to the tomb

There are a couple of tombs here. The one covered in white sheet is the tomb of Nasiru'd-Din-Mahmud. There are candles lit all around it and people praying near it. We stood still for a moment here and then decided to see around. A couple of pillars hold the tomb top from the inside. Taking photos is a bit difficult here due to low lightning. But I still managed to get a couple of shots without turning on the flash and gathering attention. 

Sultan Ghari Tomb

I couldn't stand there for much longer , as I was finding it difficult to breathe and hence rushed to  the surface. Rohan joined me up in a couple of minutes.

People queuing up to go in the Tomb premises

We then decided to walk on the walls surrounding the tomb to get a better view of the place. There are a couple of ruins located outside the Tomb premises. There is also the Chhatri of Iitumish son located outside the tomb premises. 

Islamic verses in Sultan Ghari

The dome placed on the four bastion like structure had a unique and different shape, something which I had never on the other historical structures around Delhi. 

More Ruins outside Sultan Ghari

We then headed out of the tomb premises as it was almost sunset. 

Delhi : Ziggurat one off Metcalfe's Folly in Qutub Complex

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

The Ziggurat one off Metcalfe's Folly is located in the Qutub Complex, which is located near the Mehrauli Archaeological Park on the Sri Aurobindo Marg, the closest Metro station being Qutub Minar.

The Ziggurat one off Metcalfe's Folly

These two structures are located within the Qutub Complex. 

There is a railing put around it, so entry to the top of it is restricted. Not sure about it's history though.

Both are pyramid like structures made of stone, but built differently. By the look of it, they looks like they have been restored. Both the structures are not vey tall. One looks just like a pyramid, a series of steps takes one to the top. The other a spiral pathway leading to the top. Had they been open, they would have offered a wondeful view of the Qutub Complex.

The Ziggurat one off Metcalfe's Folly

Delhi : Ala-ud-din Khilji's tomb and madrasa in Qutub Complex

Friday, July 24, 2015

Ala-ud-din Khilji Tomb and Madrasa is located in the Qutub Complex, which is located near the Mehrauli Archaeological Park on the Sri Aurobindo Marg, the closest Metro station being Qutub Minar.

 Sultan Ala-ud-din Khilji initially known as Ali Gurshap was the  second ruler of Khilji dynasty. He was one of the most powerful rulers who ruled between 1296 AD to 1316 AD.  His tomb was constructed near the madrasa aka educational centre in 1316.

The tomb was constructed by his loyal Nobles. 

The madrasa is a series of rooms, where students used to study Islam, sadly they are in ruins now, the roofs of which collapsed a long time ago. 

Delhi : Tomb of Sultan Iltutmish in the Qutub Complex

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

The Tomb aka mausoleum of Shams-ud-din Iltutmish is located in the Qutub Complex, which is located near the Mehrauli Archaeological Park on the Sri Aurobindo Marg, the closest Metro station being Qutub Minar. 

Shams-ud-din Iltutmish was the third ruler of the Mamluk Dynasty aka Slave Dynasty or Ghulam Dynasty of Turkic origin. Mamluk means a soldier of slave origin who has converted to Islam. Shams-ud-din Iltutmish was the son-in- law of Qutb-ud-din Aybak.

He had himself built the tomb in 1235 AD. The tomb is a landmark in Indo-Islamic Architecture. 

The tomb is currently open to the sky as its roof collapsed a long time ago. It was later redone by Firoz Shah Tughluq. But that didn't survive either.

The tomb is built of red stone. from the outside it looks like any other structure. The entrance to the tomb, have got inscription in Kufi and Nashk characters and geometric and arabesque patterns in Saracenic tradition.

Tomb made of white stone is placed in the middle. It is surrounded by beautifully decorated tall arches on all sides. 

Delhi : Alai Minar in Qutub Complex

Friday, July 17, 2015

The Alai Minar is located in the Qutub Complex, which is located near the Mehrauli Archaeological Park on the Sri Aurobindo Marg, the closest Metro station being Qutub Minar.

When I saw this structure, many thoughts ran through my mind. Was it a Mosque in ruins or some historic monument. But what Rohan told me, blew my mind off. He informed that, this was supposed to be a Minar, the tallest had it been built.

Alai Minar

The Alai Minar is an incomplete monument that lies within the Qutub complex. Sultan Ala-ud-Din Khalji of the Khilji dynasty's dream of constructing a Minar (Tower) to commemorate his win in the Deccan campaigns. 

He wanted to built a Minar that was double the height of the Qutub Minar as he wanted people to remember him after his death. 

Alai Minar

Qutub Minar is a spectacular piece of art, not sure as to why Sultan Ala-ud-Din Khalji wanted to built something bigger and taller than that. After all we are human so ego clashes are bound to happen. LOL. 

Delhi : Alai Darwaza in Qutub Complex

Thursday, July 16, 2015

The Alai Darwaza is located in the Qutub Complex, which is located near the Mehrauli Archaeological Park on the Sri Aurobindo Marg, the closest Metro station being Qutub Minar.

The Alai Darwaza is the main gateway (one of the four) to the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque. The other three couldn't be completed. It was built by Ala-ud-din Khilji, the second Khilji Sultan in 1311 AD. It is believed to be the oldest dome in India. 

Alai Darwaza with Qutub Minar in the background

The domed Gateway is made of red sandstone within which white marble is laid, which has Naskh script on it. The Darwaza has Indo- Islamic style of architecture. Indo Islamic is a combination of both Islamic and Hindu Art. 

Alai Darwaza with Qutub Minar in the background

Delhi : Qutub Minar in Qutub Complex

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Qutub Minar is located in the Qutub Complex, which is located near the Mehrauli Archaeological Park on the Sri Aurobindo Marg, the closest Metro station being Qutub Minar.

Qutub Minar

Qutub Minar is so tall that it can be seen from a distance, much before I could reach the Qutub Minar Metro station.

The Minar was named after Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki a famous Sufi saint who lived in Delhi. 

Qutub Minar is made of red stone and it has 379 steps to reach the top. Entry to the top is restricted though. The Minar is around 238 feet high. The Minar has inscriptions in Parso-Arabic and Nagari characters. 

Qutub Minar

The Minar comprises of several cylindrical shafts which grow conical at the top. Each of the cylindrical shafts have balconies around them. Imagine the view of the land from these balconies, it would be just amazing to snap some amazing pics there. 

Qutub Minar

Initially I was under the impression that the Minar in Daulatabad fort around Aurangabad is the tallest, but I was wrong. 

Inscription on Qutub Minar

The construction of the Minar was started in 1193 AD by Qutb-ud-din Aibak. Who died after completing the first storey, the next three storeys were built by his successor, Iltutmish. Whose Tomb resides in the Qutub Minar Complex. Firoz Shah Tughlaq completed the last storey, which was built of red sandstone and marble. 

Qutub Minar

It is said that the  Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, is the first mosque to be built in Delhi.