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{{Short description|Archaeological site in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2017}}
{{Infobox historic site
| name = Firoz Shah palace complex
| image = Fort of Firoz Shah Tughlaq at Hisar.jpg
| image_size = 215
| caption = Inner courtyard of Firoz Shah Palace
| locmapin = India
| map_width =
| map_caption = Location in western Haryana, India
| coordinates = {{coord|29.166306|75.720587|display = title,inline}}
| gbgridref =
| location = [[Hisar (city)|Hisar]], [[Haryana]], [[India]]
| area =
| elevation =
| height =
| beginning_label = Settled
| beginning_date = 1357
| formed =
| founded = 1354
| built = 14th century
| built_for = [[Firoz Shah Tughlaq]]
| demolished = 1398
| rebuilt =
| restored =
| restored_by = [[Archaeological Survey of India]]
| architect =
| architecture = [[Islamic architecture|Islam]]
| visitation_num =
| visitation_year =
| governing_body = Archaeological Survey of India
}}

'''Firoz Shah palace complex''' (''Hisar-e-Firoza'') is an archaeological complex located in modern-day [[Hisar (city)|Hisar]], in the [[Haryana]] [[States and union territories of India|state]] of [[India]], built by [[Firoz Shah Tughlaq]] of the [[Delhi Sultanate]] in 1354 AD.<ref name="RH1"/> It is maintained by the [[Archaeological Survey of India]].<ref name="HT-JK1">[http://haryanatourism.gov.in/showpage.aspx?contentid=5262 Jahaj Kothi museum]</ref>

The original town of Hisar was a walled settlement inside of the fort. The [[Jahaj Kothi Museum]], a past residence of [[George Thomas (soldier)|George Thomas]],sits inside of the Firoz Shah palace complex. The complex contains the Lat ki Masjid [[mosque]] and an [[Ashokan pillar]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.onlytravelguide.com/haryana/spiritual/lat-ki-masjid.php|title=Lat Ki Masjid, Haryana Lat Ki Masjid, Lat Ki Masjid travel guide, Lat Ki Masjid in Hissar Haryana, Journey to Lat Ki Masjid, Traveling to Lat Ki Masjid}}</ref> [[Gujari Mahal Archaeological Museum|Gurjari Mahal]], another palace nearby, was also built by Firoz Shah for his wife Gurjari in 1356.<ref name="hisarjano.com">http://www.hisarjano.com/sylabs.pdf{{dead link|date=January 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

== History ==
[[File:Roadevol.svg|thumb|300px|right|Evolution of Indian trade networks. The main map shows the routes since [[Mughal empire|Mughal times]], Inset A shows the major prehistorical cultural currents, B: pre-[[Maurya]]n routes, C: Mauryan routes, D: routes c. 1st century CE, and E: the "Z" shaped region of developed roads.]]
The palace, known as ''Hisar-i-Firuza'', is located at a strategic point where the old [[Delhi Multan Road]] branches towards [[Greater Khorasan|Khorasan]], a historic region northeast of [[Iran]].

Construction began in 1354 CE, supervised by Firoz Shah. Stone was brought from the hills of [[Mahendragarh]] to build the ramparts, which were surrounded by a protective [[moat]]. A tank inside the complex was used to refill the moat. The complex was completed in 1356 after two and a half years, and Firoz Shah ordered his courtiers to build their palaces within the walls of the fort.<ref name=hartu1>[http://www.haryanatourism.gov.in/Hisar-at-a-glance Hisar at a glance], [[Haryana Tourism]].</ref>

Restoration work began on the palace in 1924 and has gradually continued since. The complex has been declared a Centrally Protected Monument by the [[Archaeological Survey of India]].

== Architecture ==

The palace complex consists of a mosque, a [[Diwan-e-Aam]], a palace for the Shah's wife, underground apartments, and a [[granary]].<ref name="hisarjano.com"/>
The artwork in the fort synthesizes [[Islamic architecture|Islamic]] and [[Indian architecture]], although the mosque is an example of [[Seljuk architecture]]. The palace is built of [[sandstone|red sandstone]].

== Gates==
The palace complex within the fort had one royal entrance. The protective [[Rampart (fortification)|ramparts]] around the fort originally had four main gates.<ref name=RH1/><ref name=hartu1/>

===Shahi Darwaza===
The ''Shahi Darwaza'', or Royal Gate, entrance faces east and is still standing. Roughly seven meters tall, the single-story arched gateway has small built-in guard rooms on each side.

===Talaqi gate===
The '''Talagi Gate''' faces west and leads from the palace to the ancient [[Agroha Mound]] and to [[Sirsa, Haryana|Sirsa]]. The gate stands across from the main bus station of Hisar. [[Bastion]]s with slanted narrow niches to shoot arrows at attacking enemy armies still exist.<ref name=RH1/>

===Nagauri gate===
The '''Nagauri Gate''', now gone, led south to [[Nagaur]] and on to [[Jodhpur]] in [[Rajasthan]] via [[Siwani]], [[Jhumpa Khurd]], [[Rajgarh (Rajasthan)|Rajgarh]] and [[Churu, Rajasthan|Churu]]. The [[Bansi Lal]] government demolished this gate in order to widen the entrance to the market. The [[British Raj]] built a two-story clock tower on the site which was demolished as well.

===Mori gate===
The '''Mori gate''', now gone, faced east. A water channel, now also vanished, entered the fort complex through a hole (Hindi: ''mori'') in the fort bastion to supply water. The gate provided access to [[Multan]] in Pakistan, [[Kandahar]] in Afghanistan, [[Mashhad]] in Iran, and [[Ashgabat]] in Turkmenistan. The gate is long gone and unmarked. The current ramp and road link the fort complex and the auto market.<ref name=RH1/>

===Delhi gate===
The '''Delhi gate''', located at current [https://www.google.com.sg/maps/place/Delhi+Gate/@29.1627931,75.7255089,124m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x391232d9f8421caf:0x55c62f54f7086e77 Mehta Nagar here near Shaheed Bhagat Singh Chowk], faced east but is now gone. It led to [[Delhi]] on the [[Delhi Multan Road]]. It stood near the current Gandhi statue inside the market.<ref name=RH1/><ref name=HT-JK1/>

== Royal palace==

{{Mcn|1=section|date=April 2022}}

The royal palace is a rectangular three-storied building with two floors above ground and one underground. The king resided here with his entourage. In the past, it had two more floors above the current structure. The ruined pillars of the historical third floor still lie horizontally on the roof of the current structure. They supported a two-story structure of wood and stone.

The palace is built of rubble masonry and lime mortar. The palace building has between one and three rooms on the north, west, and east sides, but it is several rooms deeper on the south side where the bulk of the structure lies. The north and west sides have arched passages built into the fort's bastion, and has no windows. The west and south sides of the structure were renovated by the [[Archaeological Survey of India]] and still stand with a flat roof and arched gateway and passages.<ref name="RH1" /><ref name="HT-JK1" />

On the far northwest side of the complex, there is a watch tower with three stories above ground and one underground, that doubles as a staircase and connects all floors of the palace and serves as a corner passage between the north and west sides of the building. This is the tallest structure in the complex.<ref name="RH1" /><ref name="HT-JK1" />

The west side structure remains in good condition and still has a roof. It has underground ''tehkhana'' {{definition needed|date=April 2022}} chambers with ''[[hammam]]'', or steam baths. There are two doorways on the ground level and three on the second floor which open into the ''Diwan-e-khas'', a central courtyard that served as a private audience hall. The underground apartments were used for sleeping during periods with intense summer heat, as shown by the underground presence of a ''hammam''.<ref name="RH1" /><ref name="HT-JK1" />

The south side, being the longer side of the rectangular palace complex, has seven doorways on the ground level, and nine doorways on the second story opening into the central rectangular courtyard.<ref name="RH1" /><ref name="HT-JK1" />

The east and north sides are in ruins and only the remains of the ground floor, with no roof, still exist today.<ref name="RH1" /><ref name="HT-JK1" />

== Stables ==
The stables are semi-underground and located between the ''tehkhana'' structure to the east of the main royal palace building and the [[Jahaj Kothi Museum]].<ref name=HT-JK1/>

== Diwan-e-Aam ==
To the right of the royal gate is the ''Diwan-e-Aam'', or audience chamber. It is an L-shaped [[liwan]], {{convert|5|to|6|m|ft}} high, with a [[Vault (architecture)|vaulted]] ceiling under a flat roof and an open courtyard. The ''Lat ki Masjid'' is within the courtyard, and the [[Ashoka pillar]], or ''lat'', is in the middle. An L-shaped ablution pool lies in the south corner of the courtyard.

Three rows of 50 red stone pillars line the longer western arm of the L-shaped liwan, which has 18 vaults in the ceiling. Ten pairs of double pillars face east, opening into the courtyard and forming seven doorways. A row of ten single pillars runs down the middle of the hall. A row built into the back wall to the west also has ten pillars. Each chamber in this back wall has three red sandstone niches on the lower half, one outer rectangular niche, and two arched niches inside. The upper portion of the liwan is built with rubble masonry covered with white lime mortar. The flat roof of the longer arm of the liwan is topped with two [[false dome]]s, one each on the north and south sides.<ref name=RH1/><ref name=HT-JK1/>

The shorter north-facing arm of the liwan has three vaulted chambers on three pillars at the front, opening south into the courtyard, and three pillars built into the back wall on the north side.<ref name=RH1/><ref name=HT-JK1/>

In the north-west corner of the liwan is a raised ''Takht-i-shahi'' or ''Muluk-khana'' platform on four smaller red stone pillars, where the throne of the king used to be. The throne can be reached by five red sandstone steps. Under the platform is a dried-up well. This platform also has a north-west facing [[qibla]] wall (towards [[Kaaba]] in [[Mecca]]) in the [[mihrab]].<ref name=RH1/><ref name=HT-JK1/>

== Lat ki Masjid ==
{{Infobox religious building
|name = Lat ki Masjid
|native_name = लाट की मस्जिद
|native_name_lang = Hindi
|image = Lat ki masjid.jpg
|religious_affiliation = [[Islam]]
|location = [[Hisar (city)|Hisar]], [[Haryana]], [[India]]
|established = 1354
|ownership = [[Archaeological Survey of India]]
|architecture_type = Mosque
|architecture_style = [[Seljuk architecture|Seljuk]]
|minaret_height = 20 feet
|materials = [[Sandstone|Red sandstone]]
|website =
}}

At the south-east end of the complex is the square Lat ki Masjid, a one-story, one-domed mosque made of red sandstone. Doors pave the way to each direction, with a stone [[jali]] (a perforated latticed stone screen) above each door. The roof has stone brackets that can be seen from outside the building. The roof has been altered with the later addition of a brick wall. The ceiling is vaulted and the roof is flat, with a single lime-plastered dome.<ref name=RH1/><ref name=HT-JK1/> To the south of the dome lies an above-ground masonry pond with an underground narrow passage connecting it to the basement of the Lat ki Masjid.<ref name="RH1" /><ref name="HT-JK1" />

Unlike the other structures inside the complex, the mosque was designed using [[Seljuk architecture]]. The [[Qibla|qibla]] has been carved inside the prayer hall of the adjacent liwan hall.<ref name=RH1/><ref name=HT-JK1/>

=== Structures ===
The mosque is divided into three parts: the central dome, the pillar, and the prayer hall. An L-shaped ablution tank is also located south of the mosque, a couple of feet away. To the southwest, the square mosque building has an exterior staircase to the roof. The mosque also has a narrow underground staircase in its northern wall, which emerges on the south-western edge of the ablution tank in the courtyard.<ref name=RH1/><ref name=HT-JK1/>

=== Hisar Ashokan pillar ===
{{ anchor | Pillar | Ashoka | Ashokan | Ashokan pillar | Ashokan Pillar }}
{{ see also | Edicts of Ashoka | Bodh Stupa | Topra | History_of_Haryana#Buddhism | l4= Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Haryana | Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India | Buddhist pilgrimage sites }}

The mosque got its name from ''Lat'', a column located in the northeast part of its courtyard. The ''Lat'' was once a part of an [[Ashokan pillar]], one of the rock-cut [[edicts of Ashoka]] dating to 250–232 BCE. This has been proven by the inscriptions in [[Brahmi]] script on the pillar, deciphered in 1837 by [[James Prinsep]], an archaeologist, philologist, and official of the [[East India Company]].<ref>[http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_whs_sanchi_detail.asp More details about Buddhist monuments at Sanchi] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721165126/http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_whs_sanchi_detail.asp# |date=21 July 2011 }}, Archaeological Survey of India, 1989.</ref> The Ashokan pillar, likely taken from its nearby original location at the [[Agroha Mound]], was cut for ease of transportation. Four of the pieces were rejoined here, and the remaining bottom portions are at the [[Fatehabad, Haryana|Fatehabad]] mosque. The four upper portions of the Ashokan pillar here are [[Tapering (mathematics)|tapering]] registers with a [[finial]] topped by an iron rod.<ref name=RH1/><ref name=HT-JK1/>

== Indus Valley civilization mound ==
Close to the mosque lies a mound which most likely houses the ruins of an older [[Indus Valley civilization]] town.<ref name=RH1/><ref name=HT-JK1/>

==Bastions==
Underground apartments can be found inside the complex in good condition. A passage is embedded in the western wall of the palace leading to the terrace. Archery holes can still be observed in the bastion wall, once surrounded by a water-filled protective ditch, now filled in.<ref name=hsrjano>{{Cite web |url=http://www.hisarjano.com/sylabs.pdf |title=Hisar jano |access-date=2 June 2012 |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6878ttFm3?url=http://www.hisarjano.com/sylabs.pdf |archive-date=2 June 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Gurjari Mahal ==
{{Infobox monument
|monument_name = Gurjari Mahal
|native_name = गुर्जरी महल
|image =
|caption =
|location = [[Hisar (city)|Hisar]], [[Haryana]], [[India]]
|designer =
|type =
|material = [[Rubble]] and [[Mortar (masonry)|Mortar]]
|length =
|width =
|height =
|begin = 1354
|complete = 1356
|open =
|dedicated_to = Gurjari (Mistress of [[Firoz Shah Tughlaq]])
|map_image =
|map_width =
|coordinates =
|lat =
|long =
|extra = The palace is a part of Firoz Shah Palace Complex
}}

''Gurjari Mahal'' is the name of the palace built by [[Firoz Shah Tughlaq]] for his mistress ''Gurjari''. The palace is located outside the fort complex to the east and was built as an outlying portion of it. Between the Gurjari Mahal and the main fort complex there was once an Islamic garden, which now marks the location of modern-day [[Jindal park]], which flies a {{convert|207|ft|m|abbr=on}} high [[Flag of India]].<ref name=RH1>{{Cite web |url=http://revenueharyana.gov.in/html/gazeteers/gazetteer_india_hisar.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=22 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140501213030/http://revenueharyana.gov.in/html/gazeteers/gazetteer_india_hisar.pdf |archive-date=1 May 2014 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

=== History ===
Gurjari, the mistress of Firoz Shah Tughlaq, was a local resident of [[Hisar (city)|Hisar]] and belonged to a pastoral community. When Firoz asked her to accompany him to the throne at [[Delhi]], she refused. So instead, he built a palace for her in Hisar and built his own palace complex around it. {{cn|date=April 2022|reason=Where is this piece of history attested?}}

=== Architecture ===
The palace was built using [[rubble]] and [[mortar (masonry)|mortar]].

=== Structures ===

==== Palace ====
Only a small portion of the Gurjari Mahal palace main building remains. The palace is built on a rectangular platform and can be approached using a ramp that leads to the upper level. The building has been declared a Centrally Protected Monument by the [[Archaeological Survey of India]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_alphalist_haryana.asp |title=List of Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains of Haryana - Archaeological Survey of India |access-date=22 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161026021933/http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_alphalist_haryana.asp |archive-date=26 October 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> To the north, there were once gardens, but they no longer exist and modern houses took their place. The palace is closed to the public. {{cn|date=April 2022|reason=Relevant for potential visitors or those interested in visiting}}

==== Baradari ====
The most visible part of what still remains of the palace is the ''[[Baradari (building)|baradari]]'' on the upper level, so named for the twelve doorways, three on each side. It was used for social gatherings. Four pillars inside the chamber support the roof.

==== Underground Hammam ====
Three underground apartments are located below the platform. One of them is a tank and is believed to have served as a ''hammam''.<ref name="hisarjano.com"/>

==== Graves ====
On the upper level are a total of nine graves. Five are [[sarcophagi]] on an open-air platform nearly three feet higher, and two are sarcophagi on a separate nearby open-air lower platform (less than {{convert|1|ft|m|abbr=off}} from the bottom). The last two are brick shrines inside a brick structure that no longer has a roof. All of them date back to the 17th or 18th century [[Mughal empire]] era.<ref name="hisarjano.com"/>

==== Secondary Apartment ====
On the upper level, there is a small secondary apartment in the corner of the structure.

==Jahaj Kothi Museum==

{{main article|Jahaj Kothi Museum}}
{{see also|Haryana Rural Antique Museum|Rakhigarhi Indus Valley Civilisation Museum}}
[[Jahaj Kothi Museum]], a later era building that was originally a [[Jain temple]] which was later used as residence by [[George Thomas (soldier)|George Thomas]], is located inside the Firoz Shah palace complex and is maintained by [[Archaeological Survey of India]].<ref name="HT-JK1"/>

Nearby [[Haryana Rural Antique Museum]] is in Gandhi Bhawan, and exhibits the evolution of agriculture and vanishing antiques.<ref name=HT-JK1/> The [[Rakhigarhi Indus Valley Civilisation Museum]] is located in [[Rakhigarhi]], which is an [[Indus Valley civilisation]] site {{convert|60|km|mi|abbr=on}} away, and is established by the state government.<ref name=RGM1>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Harappan-museum-at-Rakhigarhi/articleshow/50971406.cms Harappan museum at Rakhigarhi]</ref>

==Residence of Superintendent of Livestock Farm==
A large [[British raj]] era historic building in the complex, to the northeast, was used as a residence for the [[:wikt:superindentent|superintendent]] of the [[Government Livestock Farm, Hisar]] (c. 1809).<ref name="HT-JK1"/>

==See also==
* [[Asigarh Fort]]
* [[Pranpir Badshah tomb]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [http://asichandigarhcircle.in/photo_gallery_image.php?gall_name=Firoz%20Shah%20Palace%20and%20Tehkhana,%20Hisar Images of Firoz Shah Palace Complex on ASI website]{{Dead link|date=December 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

{{ Forts of Haryana|Forts in Haryana }}
{{ Hisar, India topics }}

[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1354]]
[[Category:Architecture of the Tughlaq dynasty]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Hisar (city)]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Hisar district]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Hisar (city)]]
[[Category:Forts in Haryana]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Haryana]]
[[Category:History of Hisar district]]

Firoz Shah palace complex - Revision history

Bot at 05:55, 23 August 2022