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Tughlaqabad Fort, Delhi
Tughlaqabad Fort is the ruin of Delhi's third city, built by Sultan Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq from 1321 and abandoned by 1327. Its sloping granite walls run for about 6.4 km around a half-hexagon in south Delhi, and across a causeway stands the Sultan's own fortified tomb. It is a ticketed monument of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), rough underfoot and usually close to empty.
Delhi's third city, begun in 1321 by Sultan Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq and abandoned soon after: six kilometres of sloping stone walls built from blocks so large the scale reads as geology rather than architecture. Legend holds that the Sufi saint Nizamuddin wished the place to stay empty, and that is roughly how it feels: bastions, broken ramparts, grass, and a long view over south Delhi. The ground is rough, so bring water and proper shoes. Ghiyas-ud-din's own fortified tomb stands across the old causeway.
Six kilometres of 14th-century walls, grass underfoot and hardly anyone else on them
History and the curse: why Tughlaqabad was abandoned
Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq, founder of the Tughlaq dynasty, built Tughlaqabad fast and on a heroic scale: walls 10–15 m high, battlemented and strengthened with round bastions, and 52 gates, of which 13 survive. He also laid the road that linked the new city to the Grand Trunk Road; today it is the Mehrauli–Badarpur Road.
The city lasted only a few years. Legend ties its fate to the Sufi saint Nizamuddin Auliya. The saint is said to have pronounced "Ya rahe ujjar, ya base Gujjar": "may it stay in ruins, or may Gujjar herders live here". A second line, "Hunuz Dilli dur ast" ("Delhi is still far away"), is told of the Sultan's return from a campaign in Bengal in 1324, when he died when a pavilion collapsed on him before he reached the city. By 1327 the capital had moved on.
Whatever you make of the curse, the place behaves as if it worked: bastions, broken ramparts, grass and a long view over south Delhi.
What to see
- The walls and bastions. The sloping rubble-filled walls are the main event: the blocks are so large that the scale reads more like geology than architecture. Climb a bastion for the view.
- The citadel. At the highest point stands a tower known as Bijai Mandal, with the remains of halls, a long underground passage and the palace area beside it.
- Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq's tomb. It faces the fort and is reached by an old causeway 180 m long on 27 arches that once crossed an artificial lake. The tomb is small (about 8 × 8 m), with smooth red sandstone walls and a dome clad in white marble. Inside are three graves: the Sultan, his wife and his son Muhammad bin Tughlaq.
Be realistic about access: most of the old city area is overgrown with thorny scrub, and parts are built over. You will walk the fort's edges and the citadel, not the whole 6.4 km.
Timings and entry fee
Tughlaqabad is a ticketed ASI monument, with separate rates for Indian citizens and for foreign citizens. Verified hours and fees are not listed here yet, so check the current rate at the ticket window or on the ASI online booking system before you go. The government's September 2026 draft revision of the ticketed list places the fort in Category B; until it is notified, existing rates apply.
Plan to be out before dusk: the site is large and uneven.
✅ Before you go
The fort is rewarding and a little demanding. A few things make it easier.
- Shoes — Proper closed shoes: the ground is broken stone, grass and loose earth.
- Water and shade — Bring water. There is little shade on the ramparts, so morning or late afternoon is the comfortable time.
- Company — The fort is quiet and spread out. Go with someone, stay on the paths that others use and avoid isolated corners late in the day.
- Getting there — The fort is in south Delhi on the Mehrauli–Badarpur Road. A cab or auto to the main gate is the simplest way; agree the return trip in advance.
❓ FAQ
Who built Tughlaqabad Fort?
Sultan Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq, founder of the Tughlaq dynasty, from 1321.
Why was Tughlaqabad Fort abandoned?
The city was left by 1327, a few years after the Sultan's death in 1324. Legend blames the curse of the Sufi saint Nizamuddin Auliya: "may it stay in ruins, or may Gujjars live here".
Is there an entry fee for Tughlaqabad Fort?
Yes, it is a ticketed ASI monument with different rates for Indian and foreign citizens. Check the current rate at the counter or on the ASI booking site.
What is Tughlakabad famous for?
For its massive sloping walls, the legend of Nizamuddin's curse and the red-sandstone tomb of Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq, joined to the fort by a 180 m causeway.