Siri Fort
| Siri Fort | |
|---|---|
Siri Fort | |
 Southern Gate Ruins of the Siri Fort near Panchsheel Park | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Fort |
| Architectural style | Afghan and Saljuq |
| Location | South Delhi |
| Current tenants | Ruins |
| Completed | 1303 A.D. |
| Client | Khilji Dynasty |
Siri Fort, in the city of New Delhi, was built during the rule of Ala-ud-Din Khalji of the Delhi Sultanate with the major objective of protecting the city from the onslaught of the Mongols.[1]. It was the second of the seven cities of medieval Delhi built around 1303 (stated to be the first entirely constructed by Muslims), which at present is seen only in ruins with a few remnants (pictured).[2][3]
In the back drop of the Siri Fort ruins, modern auditoriums, Asiad Games Village Complex and residential and commercial establishments have been created now between the Khel Gaon Marg and the Auro Bindo Marg in the heart of South Delhi.[4]
History
The slave dynasty was followed by the line of Khalji rulers. Khaljis of Afghan origin established their dynasty in Delhi in 1286 AD, which till then was ruled by the Turkish Slave Dynasty or the Mamluk Dynasty of Mohamed Ghori (1190-1206), Qutubuddin Aibak (1206-1210) and his descendents, starting with Iltutmish (1210) and ending with Ghiyas ud din Balban (1286). Jalal-ud-din Feroz Khalji, a powerful military general, was the founder of the Khalji dynasty from 1286 AD. He established his rule after successfully vanquishing the Rajputs and Mongols. But his nephew Ala-ud-din Khalji, after returning from a successful campaign in the Eastern India and Deccan got the aged King Jala-ud-din Feroz Khalji assassinated by deceit and assumed power as the new Sultan in 1296 AD and ruled for twenty years, till 1316.[5] Among the six rulers of Khalji dynasty, Allauddin was the best known as he extended his dominion down to South India also and then created the second city of Delhi, Siri. The reason for the creation of Siri was that between 1297 and 1307 annual Mongol invasions of India and Delhi in particular, forced Allauddin to secure himself and his population from such onslaughts. He created a massive fortification by building the Siri Fort as a credible display of the military effectiveness of the crafty Turkish fortifications with cavalry support and Indian “elephant phalanx”. The Fort served as the seat of his administration during all his campaigns to enlarge his territory. During his reign, due to frequent Mongol invasions of West Asia Saljuqs had also taken asylum in Delhi. The craftsmen of Seljuq dynasty are credited with the most incredible features in the architectural monuments in Delhi of the times.[6] Targhi, the Mongol ruler besieged the Siri fort where Ala-ud-din Khalji had ensconced himself as it was strongly fortified with enduring defenses. Targhi could not penetrate the strong fortifications of the Siri Fort and he finally retreated to his Kingdom in Central Asia. But this attack forced Allauddin to strengthen his defenses at the borders which enabled him to trounce the Mongols – Ali Beg and Tartaq and their army – when they attacked and plundered Punjab and Amroha. Alauddin deputed his two famous generals Ghazi Malik and Malik Kafur to repel the Mongol attack. The Mongol army was not only trounced before they could return to Central Asia with their plundered wealth but all the generals and soldiers of the Mongol army were captured and brought to Siri where they were trampled to death by elephants and their severed heads hung on the walls of the Siri Fort. The Mongols tried to attack one last time in 1306 AD but Ghazi Malik (who was then the Governor of Punjab) decimated the entire attacking Mongol army (believed to be 50,000 strong). Subsequent ruthless attacks by Allauddin’s army, deep into the Mongol territory in Kandahar, Ghazni and Kabul in Afghanistan ensured that Mongols would never attack India again. His military strategies were thus aimed at building an Indian Empire, which he had mostly succeeded. He consolidated his territory, ruled with military might for 20 years and was considered the “first real Emperor of India”.[7].
Siri, which is now a part of New Delhi, was later linked to the fortifications of the fourth city of Jahanpanah. Siri was then also known as “Darul Khilafat” or ‘’Seat of Califate’’[8]. Later in the year 1398 AD, Timurlane, the Mongol ruler, who invaded Delhi, writing in his memoirs has observed:[2] “ the Siri is a round city. Its buildings are lofty. They are surrounded by fortifications built of stone and brick, and they are very strong---from the fort of Siri to that of Old Delhi, which is a considerable distance---there runs a strong wall built of stone and cement. The part called Jahanpanah is situated in the midst of the inhabited city. The fortifications of the three cities (old Delhi, Siri and Tughlaqabad) have thirty gates. Jahanpanah has thirteen gates, Siri has seven gates. The fortifications of the Old Delhi have ten gates, some opening to the exterior and some towards the interior of the city.”
Legend
According to the legend of Ala-ud-din’s war exploits against the Mongol army, the name Siri given to the Fort was attributed to the gruesome reason that the foundation of the fort was built on the severed heads (‘Siri’ in Hindi means “head”) of about 8,000 Mongol soldiers killed in the war.[2][9]
Another version of the legend, mentioned under history section above, refers to the war crimes committed by Allauddin in which Mongol army generals and soldiers who were defeated and captured in the war were brought to Siri and were trampled to death by elephants and their severed heads hung on the walls of the Siri Fort.[7]
Structure
Siri Fort was built at a place 5 km (3.1 mi) to the north–east of the Qutab Minar in a flat terrain where armed forces used to camp, attacking or defending Delhi.[10]. Considered as the first city to be originally built by the Muslims, it was in an oval shape but its ruins are presently seen in an area of about 1.7 km2 (0.7 sq mi).[11]Allauddin, the second ruler of the Khilji dynasty, laid the foundation for the City of Siri in 1303 AD. The structures built in Siri were stated to have had a fine imprint of the enthusiasm of the rulers of Khalji dynasty (particularly, the first three out of six Rulers of the Dynasty) with Allauddin's deep interests in architecture and his achievements supported by the imported skills of the artists of Saljuqs richly contributing to the efforts to build the new city.[3]. It is said that Allauddin's prolific building activity involved engagement of 70,000 workers in his service. The city when built with an oval plan was best described as presenting an embodiment of richness with palaces and other structures. There were seven gates for entry and exit but at present only the Southeastern gate exists. The fort once considered the pride of the city for its palace of thousand pillars called the Hazar Sutan, built outside the fort limits, and had marble floors and other stone works decoration. Its Darwaza (door) was also stated to have been beautifully decorated. In the ruins now seen in its eastern part there are remnants of flame shaped battlements in stretches loop holes for arrows, and bastions, which were considered unique new additions of that period. In the nearby Shahpur Jat village (pictured), some dilapidated structures of the period are seen. Tohfewala Gumbad Masjid (pictured) is one such structure whose ruins in the form of domed central apartment and its sloping wall is witness to the architectural style of the Khaljis.[2][3]Apart from building the Siri Fort, the citadel around it and the water supply system with a reservoir at Hauz Khas for providing water supply to Siri, his new city, Ala-ud-din also expanded the building activity around the religious city of the first city complex of Qutb complex by making additions to the Quwwatul-Islam Mosque (made it double its original size), additions to the Qutub Minar itself (Nagari inscriptions on the tower attribute to this tower as "Vijaya sthamba" or victory tower of Ala-ud-din) and a grandiose plan of constructing a new Minar (tower) bigger (double) that of the Qutub Minar. This plan was left half completed, as may be seen from the ruins at the site, due to the death of Allauddin in 1316.[2][3][10][12] The destruction of the Fort is attributed more to the local rulers who removed the stones, bricks and other artifacts of the fort for their own buildings.[2] In particular, Sher Shah Suri (1540-1545), of Pashtun Afghan decent from Eastern India (Bihar) who had defeated Humayun at the battle of Chausa and had become the Emperor from 1540 to 1545 of the short lived Sur Dynasty, took away material from Siri to build his own city.[10][12]
The battered walls of the fort had a wider base on the outside. A protected passage was provided within the battered walls (now seen in ruins as pictured).[12]
The rest of the structures remained unexplored by Archeologists and these have been unknowingly buried when the Asiad Village Complex was built in 1982 for the Asiad 1982.[13]
ASI has now launched an excavation programme, since December 2008, to unearth some portions of the wall concealed for centuries which will enable exposing the entire wall providing a continuous link with the earlier excavated stretches of the wall.[14]
Asiad village complex
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| Siri Fort encircled by Sports Complex and Gulmohar Park | Siri Fort Sports Complex |
In the backdrop of the ruins of the ancient fort city, the Asian Village Complex, popularly known as the Siri Fort Complex, was developed during the Asiad 1982 (the 1982 Asian Games) sports event. The complex developed in the vast acres of land around the Siri Fort ruins for the sports event involved large sports complex of courts for tennis, badminton and basketball, a swimming pool, a golf course, gymnasium, aerobics centre, jogging tracks, and cricket grounds. Very large auditoriums, upscale residential buildings with lush green lawns surrounded by reserved wooded forest area, deluxe food joints and commercial establishments. This complex is now under further refurbishing and expansion for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, amidst protests and court interventions.[15][16]
- Restoration works
The Archeological Survey of India (ASI) who are the custodians of heritage monuments in Delhi have, as part of giving a face lift to the ancient monuments before the 2010 Commonwealth Games, embarked on restoration works of several monuments which includes the Siri Fort walls. According to their evaluation of three stretches of the fort walls, the first stretch nearer to the Asiad Village is in good shape, the second stretch next to the Panchsheel Park would need conservation actions costing Rs 50 lakhs (US $ 100,000) and the third stretch next to the Asiad village needs conservation measures costing Rs 5 lakhs (US $ 10,000). In addition, the stretch adjoining Panchsheel Park, which has been evaluated as in a bad shape, has also been identified for undertaking restoration works at a cost of Rs 30 lakhs (US $60,000).[17]
- Visitor information
The Fort is located at the southern end of Hauz Khas and is 13 km (8.1 mi) from Delhi. It is approachable from Panchseel road in South Delhi. The road from Moolchand to Chirag Delhi passes through the middle of the fort precincts.[3]An auditorium complex (three auditoriums) within the Siri Fort area run by the Government of India has a combined seating capacity of over 2,500. It is a prestigious entertainment centre in New Delhi where film festivals, dance performances, plays and music recitals are organized.[18]
Gallery
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Ruins of the Siri Fort wall -
Siri Fort Auditorium -
Closeup view of flanking wall of the gate -
Fort wall ruins in the park
References
- ^ "Siri Fort".
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|acccessdate=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ a b c d e f "Siri Fort". Retrieved 2009-05-07.
- ^ a b c d e Y.D.Sharma (2001). Delhi and its Neighbourhood. New Delhi: Archeological Survey of India. pp. 22, 83–84. Retrieved 2009-04-24.
{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help) - ^ "Siri Fort".
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|acccessdate=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ Fiona Hedger-Gourlay (2006-09-13). "Lal Kot and Siri" (pdf). Retrieved 2009-05-07.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|coathours=ignored (help) - ^ S. Gajrani. History, Religion and Culture of India. p. 44. Retrieved 2009-05-09.
- ^ a b "The Khiljis". Retrieved 2009-05-10.
- ^ Anon (1997). Dictionary of Islamic architecture : Delhi, the capital of India. Asian Educational Services. p. 62. ISBN 8120612825, 9788120612822. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help); Check|isbn=value: invalid character (help); More than one of|pages=and|page=specified (help) - ^ "Siri Fort". Retrieved 2009-05-11.
- ^ a b c "Siri Fort - The Fort of Ala-Ud-Din Khilji". Retrieved 2009-05-10.
- ^ Madan Mohan. "Historical Information System for Surveying Monuments and Spatial Data Modeling for Conservation of Cultural Heritage in Delhi" (pdf). pp. 5/16 & 5/17. Retrieved 2009-05-15.
- ^ a b c Lucy Peck (2005). Delhi - A thousand years of Building. New Delhi: Roli Books Pvt Ltd. pp. 45, 146–148. ISBN 81-7436-354-8.
{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help) - ^ Patrick Horton (2002). Delhi. Lonely Planet. p. 232. ISBN 1864502975, 9781864502978. Retrieved 2009-05-07.
{{cite book}}: Check|isbn=value: invalid character (help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ "ASI excavates unseen Siri Fort wall". Retrieved 2009-=05=23.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Siri Fort Sports Complex". Retrieved 2009-05-11.
- ^ "Delhi's Date with the Common Wealth Games 2010". Retrieved 2009-05-11.
- ^ "Commonwealth Games-2010, Conservation, Restoration and Upgradation of Public Amenities at Protected Monuments" (pdf). Siri Fort Wall. Archeological Survey of India, Delhi Circle. p. 50.
{{cite web}}: More than one of|pages=and|page=specified (help); Text "year2006" ignored (help) - ^ "Siri Fort".
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|acccessdate=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help)
