Feroz Shah Kotla
The Feroz Shah Kotla or Kotla ("fortress", "citadel") was a fortress built circa 1354 by Feroz Shah Tughlaq to house his version of Delhi city called Firozabad.
| Firoz Shah Kotla | |
|---|---|
| Part of Delhi | |
| Delhi, India | |
Feroz Shah Kotla Panorama, with Ashokan Pillar (left) and Jami Masjid (right) | |
| Type | Fort |
| Site information | |
| Condition | Ruins |
| Site history | |
| Built | 14th century |
| Built by | Delhi Sultanate |
| Materials | Granite Stones and lime mortar |
A pristine polished sandstone Topra Ashokan pillar from the 3rd century BC rises from the palace's crumbling remains, one of many pillars of Ashoka left by the Mauryan emperor; it was moved from Topra Kalan in Pong Ghati of Yamunanagar district in Haryana to Delhi under orders of Firoz Shah Tughlaq of Delhi Sultanate, and re-erected in its present location in 1356. The original inscription on the obelisk is primarily in Brahmi script but language was Prakrit, with some Pali and Sanskrit added later. The inscription was successfully translated in 1837 by James Prinsep. This and other ancient lats (pillars, obelisk) have earned Firoz Shah Tughlaq and Delhi Sultanate fame for its architectural patronage.
Other than the Ashokan Pillar, the Fort complex also houses the Jami Masjid (Mosque), a Baoli and a large garden complex.