Hauz Khas Fort, Delhi

Hauz Khas fort is located in the middle of HKV with a reservoir and a well-maintained park with walkways. The area is dotted with domed structures which are tombs of royalties during the 14th to 16th century. The tomb of Feroz Shah Tughlak, a renowned ruler of the Tughlak dynasty, is at the end of the road.

It has an infectious energy, and you may catch a lot of live events hosted by several cafes during the weekends ranging from stand-up comedy to live jazz. The present status of the village retains the old charm of the place along with an enhanced aesthetic appeal. No matter whether you are a Delhiite or not, you eventually find yourself at the most happening place in the city.

History

The construction of the fort began with the building of a water reservoir for the residents of Siri, a medieval city founded by Alauddin, where the current day fort resides. In Urdu, Hauz means 'tank', and Khas means 'royal', giving the name 'Royal Tank' to the structure. In the 13th century, Firoz Shah Tuqlak, a Muslim emperor from the Tughlaq dynasty, restored the water body and built the fort around it. Several other structures such as tombs, a madrassa (a place of learning for Muslims), mosques, and pavilions were also included in the fort complex.

Architecture

Among the notable buildings that hold historical importance, Hauz Khas Fort Complex was initiated with the construction of a water-reservoir or the Royal tank (now known as the Hauz Khas lake) by Allauddin Khilji. He commissioned the reservoir to provide a continuous supply of water to the inhabitants of Siri Fort. It was originally named as Hauz-i-Alai. Derived from the Urdu word Hauz, which means a Pond. Later, several monuments such as Mosques, Madrasas, Pavillions, and Tombs were built adjoining the water-reservoir or the lake by several emperors.

One of the prominent structures within the complex is the Tomb of Firoz Shah Tughlaq. The tomb which is very ascetic in appearance was built by the emperor for himself. It is embellished with Quranic inscriptions. The Tomb now looks worn-out because of being ignored. The buildings are seen on the hem, including halls and chambers, were constructed by Sikandar Lodhi. These were later converted into Madrasa, a college for theological training. Many cenotaphs can also be seen.

Activities

The fort is a beautiful sight for sore eyes and hearts. It reminds of the richness of the previous era when the fort was constructed. Even today the fort stands tall and sturdy in good condition. Due to its close vicinity to colleges, it attracts youth in large numbers. The fort has several spots to sit, from where you can enjoy the view of the lake. You can spend hours admiring the beauty of the lake and myriad shades of the sun reflected in it.

There are several cute ducks and ducklings wadding in the lake. It is quite a sight to watch them in their natural habitat, going about their day-to-day life. You can also walk around the periphery of the lake, where there is a provision for walking or jogging. In other words, the fort allows you to spend an ideal day of picnic with your loved ones.