My interest in 'Baolis of Delhi'(step-wells of Delhi) instigated my visit to the ruins at Firozshah Kotla. So when my friends suggested on taking a trip on HOHO route, I said yes to the idea and hopped on :)
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| Palace of 'Fifth city of Delhi', Firoz Shah's 'Firozabad' by the river Yamuna. Most of the citadel is in ruins today.Successive rulers plundered and dismantled many of the beautiful structures here. |
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| The palace was built by Sultan Firoz Shah Tughlaq (AD-1351-88) |
Firozshah Kotla fort, famous for it's value and place in history is a huge fort with large garden and lawns in it's vicinity. What remains today to be seen here is a 14th century roofless mosque called 'Jami Masjid', a cellular pyramidal structure with Ashokan Pillar on top of it and a circular Baoli(step-well).
Once I entered through the gate, all I saw was ruins of fallen walls,half remaining towers and chambers around.This place like all other forts and ruins of Delhi has, on itself, the mark of changing times!
The mosque is still functional, people still come and pray here.The entrance to Baoli and the pyramidal building is closed.
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| 'Circular Baoli'. Unfortunately it was closed for visitors. This Baoli was an essential source of water for the citadel. Unlike the other step-wells, this one doesn't have steps leading down to the water level. |
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| Standing tall and shiny on the northern side of the Mosque is the Ashokan Pillar. It is 13 mtr tall pillar built in third century BC, was brought in from Ambala by Firoz Shah and re-installed on a three storeyed pyramidal structure. |
While we were taking our walk around the ruins we couldn't help but notice diyas(earthen lamps) and aggarbattis(incense sticks) kept at a few places. It was as if someone had come and prayed there. yes, these ruins are supposed to be housing Jinns as well. People from many faiths come here every thursday and pray to them. They ask/pray for their wishes to be granted. Some write letters, they write their wishes on papers and leave it there. Some offer milk,aggarbattis and diyas to please the Jinns and some simply pray in the quiet.
