Chor Minar, Medieval tower in Hauz Khas, India.
Chor Minar is a circular tower made of red sandstone built in the 13th century and located near Aurobindo Market in Hauz Khas. The structure stands roughly 13 meters (42 feet) tall and features around 225 holes systematically carved into its exterior walls.
Sultan Alauddin Khalji commissioned the tower in the early 14th century as part of his building campaigns across Delhi. It survives today as a designated Monument of National Importance, representing the medieval period of the city.
The tower occupies an unusual place in modern urban Delhi, surrounded by shops and residential buildings that form a stark contrast to its medieval purpose. Today, locals and visitors walk past it daily as a quiet reminder of the city's layered history.
The tower is reachable by walking from Green Park Metro station, about a 15-minute walk through the surrounding neighborhood. The site remains accessible throughout the day, though it sits in a busy area with shops and vehicular traffic nearby.
The holes were not decorative but served a grim practical purpose in medieval law and order, making the tower a silent record of historical justice. Few visitors today consider the structured pattern of the openings and what each one might have represented.
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