The short answer
Feroz Shah Kotla: what visitors should know first
Yes, for a short, quiet visit. The Ashokan pillar and the mosque are the draws, and the ground is mostly flat. Thursday brings a crowd of wish-makers and a different atmosphere. Allow ninety minutes and keep the stepwell expectations modest.
History and context
The story behind Feroz Shah Kotla
Feroz Shah Tughlaq built the fortress around 1354 as the citadel of Firozabad. He had a polished sandstone pillar attributed to the Mauryan ruler Ashoka moved to Delhi and re-erected on a pyramidal building there in 1356. Sources differ on whether it came from Ambala or from Topra Kalan.
The Jami Masjid inside the Kotla is recorded as one of the older surviving mosques in Delhi, and Timur is said to have visited it in 1398. Records of the Thursday gatherings date from 1977.
Useful facts
Feroz Shah Kotla facts at a glance
- Location
- Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, central Delhi
- Experience type
- Ruined citadel with pillar and mosque
- Known for
- Ashokan pillar re-erected in 1356
- Built
- Around 1354, by Feroz Shah Tughlaq
- Stepwell
- Circular baoli, usually locked
- Time or schedule
- Thursday wish-making gatherings
Why it matters
Why Feroz Shah Kotla is worth your time
Feroz Shah Tughlaq built the Kotla in about 1354 as the core of his new city, Firozabad. The fort is best known for the Ashokan pillar he brought from northern India and re-erected in 1356, which turns a Tughlaq palace into a place where Mauryan and sultanate history stand side by side.
The site also shows how ruins turn into living ritual: Thursday gatherings to ask jinns for wishes are a modern tradition recorded since the 1970s. A visit lets you see both the historic fabric and how Delhi uses it today.
Highlights
What not to miss
- 01
The Ashokan pillar
A polished sandstone shaft from the third century BC, set on a stepped building within the fortress.
- 02
The Jami Masjid
One of Delhi's older surviving mosques, still used for prayer.
- 03
Thursday wishes
Visitors leave written notes for the jinns, giving the ruins a living ritual dimension.
Plan your visit
How to experience it
Enter through the main gate and walk toward the centre of the enclosure, where the Ashokan pillar rises from the roof of a three-tier building. The polished sandstone shaft dates from the third century BC and was moved here in the 1350s. You cannot climb it, but the setting is the point.
Near the pillar are the remains of Feroz Shah's palace buildings, courtyards and arcaded rooms, built of rubble and plaster, as well as the Jami Masjid, one of the older mosques in Delhi still in use. Look at the proportions of the arched gateways and the way the stone has been laid.
Northwest of the pillar is a circular baoli, but it is usually locked. On Thursdays, visitors come to leave written wishes with the jinns, so expect incense, lamps and a crowd that is more devotional than touristy. Go on another day if you want the ruins to yourself.
Plan with confidence
Small decisions that make the visit easier.
- Check ASI ticket price and hours at the gate
- Visit on a weekday if you prefer quiet; Thursday is busy
- Do not expect to enter the baoli
- Dress modestly if you plan to look into the mosque
- Combine with Delhi Gate and Purana Qila
Know before you go
Timing, access and comfort
- Area
- Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, near the Delhi Gate and the cricket stadium, central Delhi
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Best time
- Winter mornings; Thursday afternoons for atmosphere
- Walking level
- Moderate
- Senior comfort
- The paths are mostly level but uneven in places, and the pillar sits on a stepped pyramid that is steep. Shade and seating are limited. Going on a quieter weekday avoids crowds on Thursday.
- Tickets and access
- The site is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India and is ticketed; check current fees and hours at the gate or the ASI site. The baoli is usually locked, and entry is by permission only.
Best for
Plan it with
Plan the practical part
Hotels near Feroz Shah Kotla
Staying close keeps journeys short — useful for early starts and for anyone who tires quickly.
Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices are live on the partner site.
Travelling with parents?
The paths are mostly level but uneven in places, and the pillar sits on a stepped pyramid that is steep. Shade and seating are limited. Going on a quieter weekday avoids crowds on Thursday.
Raahzo can arrange an arrival or day companion who handles tickets, queues and pacing, and keeps the family updated.
See concierge supportFAQs
Is Feroz Shah Kotla the same as the cricket ground?
No. The cricket stadium is nearby but separate; the Kotla is the ruined fortress.
Can I climb the Ashokan pillar?
No. You view it from the pyramidal base area.
Why do people visit on Thursdays?
Many believe the jinns grant wishes, and visitors leave written requests. The practice is recorded since 1977.
Sources and further reading
Timings, fees and access rules change. Recheck with the official source before you travel.
