CHOR MINAR- the Tower of Thieves

After months of busy COVID duties, finally we got time to explore the lesser known parts of Delhi. Thus our Heritage Walk has begun with our trip to Chor Minar.

This 13^th century minaret is situated at the center of a residential round about in Padmini Enclave, Hauz Khas.

It is a tapering tower made out of rubble (rough, uncut stones, irregularly set in mortar) with 225 holes in it. It was built under Alauddin Khalji in thirteenth Century. 

The Tower is set on a platform of 30’ square and 7’ height. Each of 4 sides of the platform has 3 arched recesses. The central one on the east is a doorway which leads to a spiral staircase. There is a grilled gate which is kept locked.

It was a tower of beheading. The holes sunk in the walls were allegedly used to display severed heads of criminals on spears.

According to Local legends, it is said that Alauddin Khalji, slaughtered a settlement of Mongol people here.

Surprisingly, there is no mention of this building in any medieval era historical works and one can only guess at its purpose. This technique of using severed heads of prisoners as deterrent is also practiced in Medieval Europe.

Ebba Koch’s Mughal Architecture (1990) says that such hunting towers in India were set up in imitation of Iranian models based on ancient tradition. It has an image of a similar Minar at Isfahan, Safavid Dynasty.

From Ebba Koch's Mughal Architecture

Catherine B. Asher in her book Architecture of Mughal India mentions Hiran Minar, a Hunting Minar in Fathepur Sikri.

from Catherine Ashers's Architecture of Mughal India

Historian Rana Safvi, mentions another similar tower in Malda Eastern Bengal (Present day Bangladesh)- Nim Sarai Minar which according to her could have been used for hanging of severed heads by Mughal Governor or as a watch tower in her book The Forgotten Cities of Delhi.

From Ebba Koch's Mughal Architecture

Rana also speaks about a similar tower in Lindau Germany which was also called Thieves Tower and used as a prison.

Thieves Tower- Lindau, Germany 

This centuries old monument is now under ASI protection. Do make time for visiting it.

My companion in Heritage Walks- Dr Roopali

A detailed account on skull towers of various dynasties starting from Sassian king Bahram Chobin of Persia (6th century)to Mughal king Akbar of India is given by Manimugdha Sharma in his book Allahu Akbar- Chapter 3- Out of the Shadows, into the Light.