Tughlaqabad Fort, New Delhi

Tughlaqabad Fort was built by the emperor Ghiyasuddin Tughluq (founder of Tughlaq dynasty) in 1321. Legend has it that the emperor was so passionate about building this fort that he made it mandatory for all the labourers in Delhi to work for the fort.  

This incensed the great 13th century Sufi Saint Nizamuddin Auliya as the work on his baoli was stopped.  The saint cursed “Ya rahe ujjar ya base gujjar,” (either it will be left desolate or occupied by the nomadic herdsmen). Later, when Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq was on his Bengal campaign, he learned that his orders were defied and the work on Auliya’s baoli was resumed. Infuriated, the emperor ordered the Saint to leave Delhi before he returns back.

On this, the saint yet again cursed saying “Hunuz Dilli dur ast” (Delhi is yet far off), which took shape and the emperor Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq never made it back to Delhi again. Thus, the fort was never really inhabited and ultimately abandoned in 1327 as his successor Mohammad Bin Tughlaq built a separate fortified city and shifted the capital to Daulatabad. In picture, the tomb of Emperor Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq.