Qila Rai Pithora, Fortification in South Delhi district, India
Qila Rai Pithora is a fortification in South Delhi district with red sandstone wall remnants scattered across different neighborhoods. The structure includes several gates and wall sections stretching from Saket to Mehrauli, some hidden within forested areas like Sanjay Van.
Originally built as Lal Kot between 1052 and 1060, the compound was later expanded by Prithviraj Chauhan in the 12th century. After his defeat by Muhammad Ghori, the fort served as the foundation for early Islamic rule structures in the region.
The name comes from Prithviraj Chauhan, also known as Rai Pithora, who expanded the compound. Today visitors see along preserved sections remains of battlements and openings that show how the defensive structure once worked.
The ruins spread across a wide area, so expect longer walks between individual wall sections. Comfortable footwear is advisable, as some areas feature uneven terrain and partly run through woodland patches.
In some sections later residential buildings were constructed directly against the old walls, so the fort remains are now embedded within modern housing areas. Archaeologists discovered several buried entrances that likely lead to underground chambers.
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