Fri Jul 25 05:18:01 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article based on the provided text, summarized and rewritten:
**The Hindu: Tughlaqabad Fort: More Than Just a Cursed Relic**
**New Delhi – July 25, 2025** – While Delhi is known for iconic monuments like the Red Fort and Qutub Minar, the Tughlaqabad Fort, a 700-year-old stronghold, remains shrouded in whispers and largely unexplored. Often avoided due to an age-old curse, historians and heritage activists are urging a reassessment of this architectural marvel, arguing that its historical and cultural significance goes far beyond mere legend.
Built in the 14th century by Ghiyasuddin Tughluq, founder of the Tughlaq dynasty, the fort was designed as an impregnable defense against Mongol invasions. The supposed curse stems from a conflict between Tughluq and the Sufi saint Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, who allegedly cursed the fort to remain desolate after the Sultan diverted laborers from the saint’s baoli (stepwell) project.
However, historians like Prof. S. M. Azizuddin Husain dismiss the curse as folklore that arose after the fort was abandoned. He emphasizes Tughlaqabad’s strategic brilliance, citing its intelligent integration with the Aravalli Hills, multiple lines of defense, and the use of surrounding water bodies.
“Even later forts like Agra or Red Fort can’t match the military logic of Tughlaqabad,” says Husain.
The fort’s decline began when Muhammad bin Tughlaq shifted the capital to Daulatabad, leading to its eventual abandonment. The circumstances surrounding Ghiyasuddin’s death, crushed by a collapsing pavilion after a victorious campaign, further fueled the curse narrative.
Heritage activist Sohail Hashmi believes the focus on the curse distracts from the fort’s real value. He suggests the conflict between Tughlaq and Nizamuddin was primarily political, a struggle for influence rather than a mystical event. Hashmi and Husain point to a significant mehfil held within the fort’s walls, where scholars debated and ultimately accepted Qawwali music into the Indian Sufi tradition, highlighting its cultural importance.
Today, Tughlaqabad Fort stands eerily quiet, offering visitors expansive landscapes, unobstructed views, and a glimpse into a significant but often overlooked chapter of Delhi’s history. Activists hope to transform the site into a living classroom, encouraging exploration and appreciation of its architectural and historical value, rather than simply perpetuating a myth.
The Tughlaqabad Fort is located on Mehrauli-Badarpur Road, near Govindpuri Metro station. It is open from 9 AM to 5 PM with an entry fee of ₹25 for Indian citizens and ₹300 for foreign nationals.
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