This tower in Delhi has bloodshed written all over it. Or, does it?

There was a time when South Delhi was not too great a place to live in. At least not during the time of the Khalji dynasty. Located in one quiet corner of the bustling Hauz Khas is a 13th-century minaret called Chor Minar, standing innocently amidst pretty greenery. But, Chor Minar is anything but innocent.

Chor Minar or Tower of Thieves was once a tower of absolute terror (read bloodshed). Gory sounds like a mellow word in front of Chor Minar, or what it actually was.

To this day, one can see all 225 holes on this 13th-century minaret. Any guesses what purpose did these holes serve? As per some legends, some 700-800 years ago, when Delhi was under the Khalji dynasty, things weren’t too sweet with the Mongols. Alauddin Khalji, in order to end Mongol’s influence in the city, began slaughtering the Mongols who were residing near his seat of power. This was done so that the Mongols don’t come together and grow in strength.



How did Alauddin Khalji make this “project” of his successful? This is when these legends turn gory. He beheaded all the Mongols he could find. Spears poked out of these holes and displayed all decapitated heads. Truly grotesque.


As per the legends, the tower was built specially for this purpose. Apparently, it was even called a tower of beheading. Now, it’s not very clear (and people speculate) whether all Mongols were killed or only those who were thieves. Some doubts arise here because the tower translates to Tower of Thieves.


If you are wondering about the purpose behind such a monument, that’s because Khalji really believed that it would deter other thieves in the area.



Chor Minar also holds historical importance beyond its grim origins. With time, the minar stood there witnessing the changes in the power dynamics in the Delhi Sultanate. Today, Chor Minar is a lesser-known part of Delhi’s past. The monument's historical significance and architecture makes it a site of interest for history enthusiasts, tourists, and locals alike.


If you go deeper into the history of Delhi, Delhi Sultanate, and the city’s history in general, it starts to feel like things that are said, the most gruesome tales one could ever come across about this minaret might just be true.

Also read: Taste of Tibetan culture and history in Majnu-ka-tilla

We don’t know, we were not there. However, it is important to realise that these archaeological sites, no matter what history they come with, are all a part of something that can give travellers a lot of learning.