Lal Kot : Delhi's oldest fort
Sufia Fatima
The Tomar Rajputs are believed to have settled first in the Suraj-kund area and shifter later some 10 km west, where Anangpal raised the citadel of LAL-KOT, now survived by its thick stine-built ramparts, a panoramic view of which may be ovtained from the top of balconies of the Qutb-Minar.
Recent excavations have shown that the original citadel of Lal Kot was oblong on plan, and the high stone walls to its west, which enlarge the original enclosure and are usually regarded as its part, are a latsr construction.
Outside the ramparts ran a moat , now traceable only in some places. The later wall mentioned above is provided with massive towers and pierced by several gates, some with outworks, known as Ghazni, Sohan and Ranjit gates.
The rubble-built walls of the ramparts are 2.5 to 3 m thick with a stone shooting on the exterior, over which was raised a thick brick revetment.
Later, and elegant and impressive veneer of dressed local quartzite blocks, now extant only over some stretches, was raises in front of the brick-face, and provided with neat-looking semi-circular bastions at irregular intervals.
Ruins of several structures can be traced within the Lal-kot, but no palaces have been located. It’s original temple area is now occupied by the qutb- minar and other associated monuments.
The walls of Lal-Kot have been pierced by the Delhi-Qutb, Badarpur-qutb and Mehrauli-qutb roads, and the visitation can have a glimpse of them while approaching this area from any of these directions.
Writer has completed her masters (Specialization in medieval history) from Jamia Millia Islamia, department of history and culture.
