# Jahanpanah

- **Country:** India
- **Coordinates:** 28.521000, 77.246000

Jahanpanah, meaning "Refuge of the World" in Persian, was the fourth medieval city of Delhi, established between 1326 and 1327 by Sultan Muhammad bin Tughlaq of the Tughlaq Dynasty. Located in what is now South Delhi, India, this fortified complex was designed in the distinct Tughlaq architectural style. The city covered an area of approximately 20 hectares and strategically incorporated the earlier Adilabad Fort along with all settlements situated between the historic Qila Rai Pithora and Siri Fort. Its primary purpose was defensive, created specifically to counter the persistent and severe threat of Mongol invasions that plagued the region during the fourteenth century.

The historical significance of Jahanpanah is deeply tied to the erratic rule of its founder. Despite the massive effort to build this refuge, the city's viability was undermined when Muhammad bin Tughlaq inexplicably ordered the capital to be moved to Daulatabad in the Deccan Plateau, only to return to Delhi shortly afterward. This political instability, combined with subsequent neglect, contributed to the site's eventual decline. Today, neither the city nor its central fortifications have survived intact. The ruins are currently owned by the Government of Delhi, with remnants of the massive walls visible in isolated patches between Siri and the Qutub Minar, as well as behind the Indian Institute of Technology campus.

Although the grand city has largely vanished, specific structures within the original fortification boundaries remain noteworthy. The Begumpur Mosque and the Bijaymandal, an octagonal pavilion, stand as testaments to the site's former glory. These surviving elements offer a glimpse into the urban planning and military architecture of the Delhi Sultanate era. While the majority of Jahanpanah has been lost to time and urban expansion, the scattered ruins serve as important historical markers, illustrating the turbulent history of medieval Delhi and the ambitious yet flawed projects of the Tughlaq rulers.

![Photo of Jahanpanah](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ca/Octagonal_pavilion_and_hypostyle_hall.jpg)

**Source:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jahanpanah (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)