The Lost Cities of Delhi: Tughlaqabad, Jahanpanah, and Firozabad in Perspective

By Variyata Vyas

Jahanpanah, Firozabad, and Tughlaqabad were among the prominent fortified settlements built by Delhi’s medieval rulers, each reflecting distinct political, military, and administrative priorities. Tughlaqabad, founded by Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq in 1321, was the first of these cities to rise. It was envisioned as a fortified stronghold to protect against Mongol invasions and to establish the Tughlaq dynasty’s power (Asher, 1992). The city featured robust fortifications with massive stone walls stretching over six kilometers, integrated with bastions and watchtowers. The strategic urban planning of Tughlaqabad also included an artificial reservoir, reflecting Ghiyasuddin’s pragmatic approach to sustaining his city (Sharma, 2001). However, the grandeur of Tughlaqabad was short-lived. According to a legend, a curse by the Sufi saint Nizamuddin Auliya—”Ya rahe ujjar, ya base gujjar” (May it remain barren or be occupied by nomads)—led to its decline (Eaton, 2005). The city was soon abandoned, its ruins now standing as a reminder of its unfulfilled potential.

Jahanpanah, constructed between 1326 and 1327 by Muhammad bin Tughlaq, was built to address the spatial and defensive needs of Delhi. Unlike the isolated splendor of Tughlaqabad, Jahanpanah was not an entirely new city but rather an amalgamation of existing settlements, including Siri and Lal Kot (Nath, 2004). Muhammad bin Tughlaq sought to unite these areas within a fortified enclosure to create a haven amidst frequent external threats (Asher, 1992). The city served as the Sultanate’s capital during his reign and housed the royal court along with numerous mosques, palaces, and public buildings. However, Jahanpanah, too, fell victim to neglect, as Muhammad bin Tughlaq’s infamous decision to move the capital to Daulatabad in the Deccan led to the city’s gradual decline (Sharma, 2001). Despite its brief prominence, the remnants of Jahanpanah contribute to the layered historical narrative of Delhi, with surviving structures such as the Begumpur Mosque offering insights into the architectural styles of the period.

Firozabad, the last of the three, was established by Firoz Shah Tughlaq in 1354 as part of his extensive urban and architectural initiatives (Eaton, 2005). Unlike its predecessors, Firozabad embodied a more pragmatic vision, focusing on civic infrastructure and the well-being of its inhabitants. The city was known for the construction of canals, gardens, and public utilities, displaying Firoz Shah’s inclination towards administration and welfare (Nath, 2004). He also relocated Ashokan pillars to the city, highlighting his reverence for India’s ancient heritage while reinforcing his sovereignty (Asher, 1992). While Firozabad remained relatively stable compared to Tughlaqabad and Jahanpanah, its significance waned with the rise of the succeeding dynasties, particularly during the Mughal era. Today, much of Firozabad has merged with modern Delhi, yet the legacy of Firoz Shah’s civic-minded rule endures through landmarks such as Firoz Shah Kotla.

The Yamuna River significantly shaped the construction and planning of Tughlaqabad, Jahanpanah, and Firozabad, offering strategic, defensive, and resource-related benefits. However, each city’s approach to utilizing this natural asset varied, reflecting evolving urban planning and water management strategies during the Tughlaq era.
Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq’s decision to construct Tughlaqabad away from the Yamuna exhibited a prioritization of defense over resource availability (Asher, 1992). The city’s placement on a rocky outcrop in the Aravalli hills provided natural fortification against Mongol invasions but came at the cost of water scarcity. Ghiyasuddin attempted to mitigate this challenge by building large reservoirs and implementing rainwater harvesting techniques. An artificial lake, created by damming a nearby stream, served both domestic and military needs (Sharma, 2001).

Despite these efforts, Tughlaqabad’s isolated water systems struggled to sustain its population. The rocky terrain hindered groundwater recharge, and the reservoir’s dependency on seasonal rainfall made the city vulnerable to droughts. The limitations of this approach contributed to Tughlaqabad’s rapid decline and abandonment (Eaton, 2005). The challenges faced here offered valuable lessons for future city planning, emphasizing the need for reliable and consistent water sources.

Muhammad bin Tughlaq’s Jahanpanah represented a shift towards integrating existing water resources with urban development (Nath, 2004). Instead of establishing a new settlement, he fortified and combined the existing cities of Siri, Lal Kot, and others, benefiting from their wells, step-wells (baolis), and small lakes. Unlike Tughlaqabad, Jahanpanah’s relative proximity to the Yamuna provided improved water access, enhancing the city’s sustainability.
However, the decision to move the capital to Daulatabad disrupted the city’s administration and maintenance. The water systems, though initially sufficient, fell into neglect, illustrating the critical need for consistent management and infrastructure upkeep (Sharma, 2001). While Jahanpanah showcased progress in utilizing natural water sources, its decline highlighted the importance of governance and sustained investment in civic infrastructure.

Firoz Shah Tughlaq’s approach to water management in Firozabad marked a notable evolution in hydraulic engineering. By constructing the city along Yamuna’s banks, Firoz Shah ensured easy access to water for domestic, agricultural, and infrastructural purposes (Eaton, 2005). His administration built an extensive network of canals, known as rajabwahs, to channel water from the Yamuna into the city (Nath, 2004). These canals not only provided drinking water but also facilitated irrigation, boosting agricultural productivity and trade.

Beyond canals, Firoz Shah focused on comprehensive civic infrastructure, including wells, step-wells, and reservoirs. This synthesis of natural and engineered solutions helped maintain a stable water supply even during dry seasons. His proactive and systematic approach promoted resilience against seasonal fluctuations, setting Firozabad apart from its predecessors (Asher, 1992). The city’s relative stability and longevity displayed the success of integrating natural resources with innovative urban planning.

Present State of Tughlaqabad, Jahanpanah, and Firozabad
Today, the remnants of Tughlaqabad, Jahanpanah, and Firozabad stand as historical ruins amidst the metropolis of Delhi, offering glimpses into medieval urbanism and its enduring challenges. These cities, once thriving with life and strategic purpose, now echo the complexities of time, nature, and human neglect.

Tughlaqabad, with its crumbling walls and imposing fortifications, is now an archaeological site under the care of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The site, with Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq’s mausoleum, stands as a tribute to the city’s grand yet short-lived legacy. However, urban encroachment and neglect have taken a visible toll. The dry reservoir beds and abandoned rainwater harvesting systems are stark reminders of the city’s historical struggle with water scarcity. The overgrown structures and sporadic maintenance efforts highlight the challenges of preserving such vast ruins in a rapidly expanding urban environment (Asher, 1992).

Jahanpanah, in contrast, has mostly disappeared into the modern urban sprawl. Its once formidable walls and fortifications have either eroded over centuries or been swallowed by residential and commercial developments. The city that Muhammad bin Tughlaq built to unify Delhi’s earlier settlements is now a fragmented memory. Still, some remnants, like the Begumpur Mosque and Bijai Mandal, offer scattered yet significant evidence of its historical past. These monuments, though isolated, serve as cultural markers amid modernity. The Jahanpanah City Forest, a green space developed in recent years, preserves some of the area’s ecological heritage. However, much of the ancient city’s planning and infrastructure have been lost, buried under layers of concrete and contemporary urban needs (Nath, 2004).

Firozabad, now overshadowed by the more prominent Firoz Shah Kotla, presents a better-preserved snapshot of Delhi’s medieval era. The Ashokan Pillar, along with the remains of palaces and gardens, continues to draw historians and tourists. Yet, Delhi has enveloped most of Firozabad’s legacy, leaving only fragments of its original expanse visible. The canal systems, which were once a marvel of medieval water management, are no longer operational. Still, their remnants offer a silent narrative of early urban planning ingenuity. The layered history of Firozabad, juxtaposed against Delhi’s modern skyline, embodies the complex relationship between heritage conservation and urban development (Sharma, 2001).

The current state of these cities is not merely about decay but also about the stories they hold and the lessons they impart. As Delhi strides forward as a global city, these ruins urge planners and policymakers to integrate historical wisdom with modern urban strategies, ensuring that progress does not come at the cost of erasing the past.
The present state of Tughlaqabad, Jahanpanah, and Firozabad offers not only a historical perspective but also a critical lens to examine contemporary challenges such as environmental degradation, urban planning failures, and the looming threats of climate change. These medieval cities, now largely in ruins, encapsulate the consequences of inadequate resource management, ecological imbalance, and urban mismanagement. Their histories serve as case studies to draw parallels with the current socio-environmental crises, including the alarming state of the Yamuna River, the global impact of climate change, and the urgent need for sustainable urban development.

The Yamuna River, which once played a crucial role in supporting Delhi’s historical cities, particularly Firozabad, has become a symbol of modern environmental neglect. During the reign of Firoz Shah Tughlaq, Firozabad featured intricate canal systems that efficiently managed water resources (Asher, 1992). However, contemporary Delhi has failed to uphold this legacy, and the Yamuna now ranks among the most polluted rivers in India. A study by the researcher, S.K Jain (2007) highlighted that approximately 70% of the river’s pollution load originates from untreated domestic sewage, exacerbated by industrial effluents. The degradation of the Yamuna is indicative of how unplanned urbanization and infrastructural growth often come at the expense of natural water bodies. Furthermore, the remnants of Tughlaqabad’s reservoirs, which once aimed to address water scarcity, underline the persistent challenge of water management in Delhi (Nath, 2004).

The historical decline of these cities offers a prelude to the potential fate of modern urban centers facing the impacts of global warming. Tughlaqabad’s downfall, attributed to water shortages and resource mismanagement, resounds with the situation of contemporary cities grappling with climate-induced water crises. Jahanpanah, which was built as a defensive measure to integrate and protect Delhi’s earlier settlements, ultimately succumbed to urban sprawl and mismanagement. This reflects present-day challenges in maintaining planned urban development amidst rapid population growth and infrastructural demands (Sharma, 2001).

Additionally, the historical displacement of populations following the abandonment of these medieval cities mirrors current patterns of climate-induced migration. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that climate change could displace up to 200 million people by 2050 (UNHCR, 2021). The ancient exodus from Tughlaqabad and Jahanpanah can be seen as an early form of ‘climate migration,’ driven by the failure to adapt to environmental changes and resource scarcity. These historical precedents display the importance of proactive adaptation strategies in modern urban planning to mitigate the displacement of vulnerable populations.
The legacy of Firozabad, with its emphasis on water-rich urban design, also offers lessons in integrating natural resource management with urban infrastructure. However, the city’s current state where only fragments like the Ashokan Pillar and remnants of palaces endure—highlights the transient nature of urban legacies when the ecological balance is disrupted (Asher, 1992). The disappearance of Jahanpanah into Delhi’s contemporary sprawl similarly illustrates how unchecked urban expansion can erase historical and cultural landscapes. Modern urban planning must address these concerns by prioritizing heritage conservation alongside infrastructural development.
These historical insights also contribute to the discourse on sustainable urban development. Scholars like Davis (2019) argue that modern urban planning can draw valuable lessons from medieval water management practices, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. The dry reservoirs of Tughlaqabad, the lost canals of Firozabad, and the fragmented green spaces of Jahanpanah emphasize the need for integrated water management systems, resilient infrastructure, and green urbanism.

In conclusion, the histories of Tughlaqabad, Jahanpanah, and Firozabad extend beyond academic interest and provide practical lessons for contemporary urban governance. They reveal the consequences of disregarding ecological constraints, offer insights into managing human displacement, and highlight the critical need for sustainable resource management. As modern cities face the increasing impacts of climate change, these medieval examples convey the necessity of building resilient, resource-efficient, and ecologically integrated urban environments to avoid repeating the cycles of urban decline and abandonment.

References:
Asher, C. B. (1992). Architecture of Mughal India. Cambridge University Press.
Eaton, R. M. (2005). A Social History of the Deccan, 1300–1761: Eight Indian Lives. Cambridge University Press.
Nath, R. (2004). History of Sultanate Architecture. Abhinav Publications.
Sharma, Y. D. (2001). Delhi and its Neighbourhood. Archaeological Survey of India.
Jain, S. K., Agarwal, P. K., & Singh, V. P. (2007). Hydrology and Water Resources of India. Springer.
UNHCR. (2021). ‘Climate Change and Disaster Displacement’. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.