A fort with secrets few dare to uncover is located in the bustling streets of Delhi, sandwiched between the chaos of modern life and the silence of forgotten history. It is called Firoz Shah Kotla Fort. This fortress, built in the 14th century, is more than just a decrepit remnant of the Tughlaq dynasty; it is also a strange intersection of myth, spirituality, history, and even the supernatural. Firoz Shah Kotla remains eerily silent even in the heart of India’s capital, as if time has respectfully stopped at its gates.
Who constructed Firoz Shah Kotla? Sultan Firoz Shah Tughlaq built the fort in 1354 to serve as the royal citadel of his new capital, Firozabad, one of Delhi’s seven historic cities. During his reign, the fort served as a palace, administrative hub, and seat of power. Unlike earlier rulers, Firoz Shah was not known for military conquests but for civic development, irrigation systems, and architecture. Transporting a massive Ashokan Pillar from Ambala (Topra) to Delhi and erecting it in the center of his fort is one of his most well-known accomplishments. However, this sultan’s grandeur only scratches the surface of a darker, enigmatic layer of existence that continues to chill.
Firoz Shah Kotla’s Ghosts A living legend, Firoz Shah Kotla Fort is more than just a monument. Every Thursday, the air here thickens with the scent of incense, the murmur of whispered prayers, and handwritten letters nailed to walls and stuffed into crevices—all addressed not to men, but to Djinns.
Djinns are the supernatural beings of Islamic folklore who are said to dwell among humans, particularly in abandoned locations. Yes, you read that correctly.
What day is it? Believers and locals agree that the Djinns are most receptive and active on Thursday, making it the day of spiritual activity. People come to the fort on this day to ask for favors, solve problems, prevent evil, or even exorcise spirits. Some visitors leave food offerings like biryani, sweets, or milk, believing the Djinns will accept them.
Some believe there is a chief Djinn here—Laat Wale Baba—who guards the Ashokan Pillar and listens to the woes of devotees. Others say that spirits of tortured prisoners from the Sultan’s time still linger, angry and restless.
Ashokan Pillar: A 13-meter-tall sandstone pillar built in the 3rd century BCE and commissioned by Emperor Ashoka stands proudly within the fort. It carries inscriptions in Brahmi script, detailing Ashoka’s edicts of dharma and non-violence.
But what makes this pillar truly bizarre is the myth that it holds cosmic power. Some Hindu Tantrikas believe that the pillar is an energy channel, one that predates even Ashoka. They believe that it is a Hindu relic that the Islamic sultans have incorrectly claimed to be one of the lost “Yantras,” or mystical tools, of ancient sages.
A Hindu Connection?
It is whispered among local sadhus and Tantrikas that the fort was built over a much older Hindu site of worship, possibly dedicated to Lord Shiva or Vishnu. The fort, they say, is cursed because the sacred ground was desecrated during construction. Some even claim that a submerged Shiva lingam lies buried beneath the Ashokan pillar.
Many visitors, even guards and historians, have felt a strange presence in the fort—voices echoing in empty corridors, shadows moving where no one is present, and an eerie sense of being watched.
The vanishing figures Some locals say they saw a white woman who appeared and then vanished without warning. Others have heard the crying of unseen children or footsteps that follow them through the ruins, especially after dark.
A night guard died of a heart attack inside the fort in the early 2000s, allegedly after seeing a djinn-like creature perched on the pillar.
A Modern-Day Ritual
Each Thursday, the fort transforms into a surreal blend of a courtroom, church, and wishing well.
Djinns receive letters from individuals requesting lost love to return.
Ended legal battles Business to improve
Curses to be removed
Enemies to be punished
Some even bring photographs, wedding cards, or strands of hair to add “proof” for the Djinns.
If your wish is granted, there is an unspoken belief that you must return with an offering or risk the Djinn’s wrath.
A Secret Underground? According to some historians, there may be a network of tunnels beneath the fort that may lead to Tughlaqabad, another old Delhi fort. Despite the fact that the majority of these passages are blocked or collapsed, urban legend has it that secret chambers beneath the fort were used for occult rituals, such as solitary confinement or even execution. Strange symbols, possibly of a tantric or alchemical nature, have been said to be engraved on underground stones by a few explorers.
Firozabad: A Gone Town Firoz Shah Kotla was much more than just a fort. It was once the heart of Firozabad, a bustling city that has since vanished into history. Gardens, mosques, palaces, bazaars, and other structures at the fort are now buried beneath centuries of urbanization and decay. Today, only fragments remain:
Jami Masjid is one of Delhi’s oldest remaining mosques. Ashokan Pillar: Still standing after hundreds of years: Stepwell (Baoli): Now sealed off are pavilions and cells, which are said to be homes for djinns.
Why It Is Still Ignored Compared to places like the Red Fort or the Qutub Minar, Firoz Shah Kotla Fort receives far fewer visitors despite its supernatural reputation and long history. Why?
It needs more upkeep. It does not have flashy architecture. The atmosphere surrounding it is unsettling. Residents advise against staying after sunset. However, those who do go often come back altered, sometimes spiritually, sometimes emotionally, and sometimes completely.
Should You Visit? If you ever plan to visit Firoz Shah Kotla, do so with respect and humility. Whether you believe in Djinns or not, the energy inside the fort is undeniably different. Avoid mocking rituals, touching offerings, or disturbing those in prayer.
And if you visit on a Thursday, do not be surprised if someone tells you—
“Be careful what you ask for. The Djinns might be listening.”
Local Hindu and Tantric priests believe the fort is cursed—not because of what was added, but because of what was destroyed. They say that centuries before Firoz Shah, this very site was home to an ancient temple, possibly dedicated to Lord Shiva or Vishnu, which was razed to make space for the sultan’s fortress. There are even whispers that this area was once under the domain of a Tomar or Chauhan ruler, both powerful Hindu dynasties that ruled the Delhi region in earlier centuries.
Evidence of the Past? Near the fort, artifacts have been found, which point to a Brahminic or Shaivite presence. A few stone sculptures and temple carvings, now eroded, hint at earlier construction. Some underground chambers bear Tantric symbols not associated with Islamic architecture.
Conclusion? More than just another archaeological site, Firoz Shah Kotla Fort is more. It is a living mix of historical, spiritual, mystical, and paranormal aspects of Delhi. Time does not simply pass here; rather, it loops, whispers, and hides. As the sun sets and shadows lengthen, the fort becomes a canvas for the unseen—where djinns read letters, ancient spirits roam, and forgotten gods may still linger beneath stone and soil.
Firoz Shah Kotla is waiting for you, whether you are a believer, skeptic, historian, or seeker. But remember, not all who enter leave unchanged.