[jyotirmoy]

Apart from the Old fort & the Red fort in Delhi there is yet another capital known as the 3rd. capital. This capital lies ominously like some Gothic palace 8 km east of the Qutab Minar on the Mehrauli Badarpur (M.B.) Road. The crazy ruler Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq decided to move the capital to this area as a whim. All available manpower was put to work & the construction work continued day & night. Soon the walled city and the fort with its 13 gateways were built. When the Tughlaq ruler took the workers Nizam-ud-din wanted for work on his tank, the saint cursed the king with a warning that his city would be inhabitated only by 'Gujars' (shepherds). Today that is indeed the situation. It is a ghost town. Roosting as a favoured hang out place, the fort is an excellent option to kick back winter afternoons. Even a cruise through the spacious lanes, with stately walls soaring from your sides, is indeed mind-blowing!