Lal Kot

Marvelous Lal Kot isn’t it? Before you stands Lal Kot Delhi’s first Red Fort. Built by the Tomar Rajputs in the 11th century. It predates the famous Lal Qila. Lal Kot wasn’t just a fort. It was the heart of Dhillika. Dhillika was Delhi’s first medieval city. Lal Kot and Qila Rai Pithora formed this ancient city. Imagine a sprawling three and a half kilometer oblong. High walls surrounded it. These walls rivaled those of Tughlaqabad. They were twenty to thirty feet thick. They rose sixty feet above a water-filled ditch. A massive moat protected Lal Kot. The Tomar Rajputs ruled here for a long time. Then the Chauhans rose. They conquered Dhillika. King Prithviraj-III built Qila Rai Pithora. This fort encircled Lal Kot on three sides. The Qutub complex was originally part of both Lal Kot and Qila Rai Pithora. Many Hindu and Jain temples stood here. Later these were destroyed. Muslim monarchs reused their pillars. The Quwwat-ul Islam mosque is the most famous example. Lal Kot’s history goes far back. Long before Anang Pal II a Tomar ruler who lived from 1052 to 1060 CE. Excavations at Lal Kot unearthed artifacts. These date back to the Rajput era. Anangtal a massive tank was discovered. This tank measured 48 by 45 meters. Its depth was ten to twelve meters. Water from Anangtal supplied an octagonal tank. This was within Lal Kot’s palace complex. It was shaped like an eight-petalled lotus. Royalty used this water tank. Even Alauddin Khilji used Anangtal’s water. He used it to make mortar for the Alai Minar. This was in the period between 1296 and 1316 CE. The Bijolia inscription from 1170 CE mentions Dhillika’s capture. King Vighararaja-IV a Chauhan king captured Delhi. Dhillika survived the Sultanate era. Four inscriptions prove this. They are from the Sultanate era. They are in Sanskrit. They celebrate the building of wells. These inscriptions mention Dhillika and its history. They detail the Tomar and Chauhan rule. They also mention Yoginipuram and Hariyana. The Tomar dynasty’s founding of Dhillika and Lal Kot is often overlooked. A holistic view of history is crucial. We need to go beyond preconceived notions. Let’s appreciate Lal Kot’s significance in Delhi’s rich past. It represents a unique chapter in Delhi’s long history. A testament to the power and resilience of ancient civilizations.