# Kotla Fort

- **Country:** India

Firoz Shah Kotla, often referred to simply as Kotla Fort, is a historic fortress located in the Central Delhi district of India. Constructed in 1354 by Firuz Shah Tughlaq, the ruler of the Delhi Sultanate, it served as the citadel for his newly established capital city, Firozabad. The structure was built using granite stones and lime mortar, reflecting the military architectural style of the medieval period. Today, the site exists primarily as ruins, yet it remains a significant landmark that offers a glimpse into the grandeur of the fourteenth-century Sultanate era.

The complex is historically renowned for housing a pristine, polished sandstone pillar originally erected by the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka in the third century BC. This Topra Ashokan pillar, featuring inscriptions in Brahmi script and Prakrit language, was transported from Haryana and re-erected within the fort in 1356 on a three-tiered pavilion. Beyond this ancient monument, the grounds include the remnants of a Jami Masjid, a stepwell known as a Baoli, and extensive garden complexes. Over the centuries, many original structures were dismantled by subsequent rulers who reused the materials, leaving the current site in a state of partial decay.

Despite its ruined condition, Firoz Shah Kotla holds immense cultural and archaeological value. It stands as a testament to the architectural patronage of the Delhi Sultanate and the successful preservation efforts regarding the Ashokan edicts, which were first translated into English in 1837. The site continues to attract visitors interested in its mysterious atmosphere and layered history, ranging from ancient Mauryan decrees to medieval Islamic governance. While much of the fortified city has vanished, the surviving elements make it a crucial destination for understanding the evolution of Delhi's seven historical cities.

![Photo of Kotla Fort](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f7/Feroz_Shah_Kotla_-_Mosque.jpg)

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