Feroz Shah Kotla

Delhi, India

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Feroz Shah Kotla, built around 1354 by Sultan Feroz Shah Tughlaq, was the royal citadel of Firozabad, the capital he established in Delhi.

The fortress was a grand and opulent complex with high fortified walls, palaces, the Jami Masjid (congregational mosque), a baoli (step-well), and gardens. A remarkable feature is the 13.1-meter tall Ashoka Pillar, originally from the 3rd century BC, which Feroz Shah had transported from Topra in Haryana and installed atop a specially commissioned three-story building within the fort. The fort's architecture reflects the Tughlaq style with robust, austere structures.

Over time, much of the fort was dismantled and its materials repurposed for other constructions in Delhi. The site remains notable not only for its historical and architectural value but also for local beliefs surrounding jinn spirits said to inhabit the ruins, where visitors perform rituals for blessings.

Despite its ruined state today, Feroz Shah Kotla is a significant monument symbolizing Delhi Sultanate's architectural and cultural heritage.