Unseen City: Exploring the ‘Secret Tunnel’ Beneath Delhi’s Tughlaqabad Fort

Delhi holds secrets that even history struggles to fully explain. One of the most intriguing is the narrow, hidden passage at Tughlaqabad Fort, standing

quietly at the southern edge of the city since the 14th century. Some mutters that there are ghosts at night, other speculate that a secret tunnel runs there quietly. In any case, the site feels unsettling, triggering theories one after another to no conclusion. Like the Red Fort draws crowds during national celebrations, Tughlaqabad Fort remains largely forgotten. Tourists are rare. Only monkeys roam freely across its massive stone walls and broken structures. Also Read: Delhi's Mayur Vihar Pocket 1 Metro Station Renamed: Is It Official? New Name, Spelling, and Why It Changed

Its Beauty Once Struck Many

Tughlaqabad is the third city of Delhi, built by Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq, the founder of the Tughlaq dynasty. In its prime, the place was grand and wealthy. Travelers like Ibn Battuta wrote of its shining tiles and its wealth. But the sudden death of Ghiyasuddin drew the residents away.

Today, much of the fort lies in ruins. Yet, the mystery of passage is alive.

What The 'Secretive Tunnel' Looks Like

A small opening in the ground leads to a steep staircase. As visitors step down, the harsh sunlight fades. The corridor is short and ends at another staircase that leads back to the open fort. No one knows where the passage was meant to lead or why it was built.

What We Know

The extensive research so far could not prove the existence of the tunnel beneath Tughlaqabad Fort. Several observations, however, indicated something beneath the Tughlaqabad ground.

Physical Evidence: Several researchers and visitors suspect that the narrow and tunnel-like corridor running under parts of the fort. They say it is accessible via staircases.

Speculations:

A secret escape route for royalty or soldiers
Storage spaces or army barracks
A stable for horses
A chamber for rituals or meditation
Research Gaps: Even the detailed archaeological studies of the tunnel are scarce. Most accounts are based on observation or local stories rather than documented historical records.