Delhi: The Dhillika of Tomars

Delhi, one of the most historic and continuously inhabited cities in the Indian subcontinent, has its earliest known urban identity rooted in the fortified city of Dhillika (or Dhillika Puri), established by the Tomar Rajputs in the early medieval period. The city represents a critical phase in the political, cultural, and architectural evolution of North India before the rise of the Delhi Sultanate. The Tomar foundation of Dhillika marks the beginning of Delhi’s transformation from a regional power centre into the seat of successive imperial capitals.

Background and Early Foundations

The origins of Dhillika trace back to the 9th or 10th century CE, when the Tomar dynasty, a branch of the Kshatriya Rajputs, emerged as regional rulers in the Aravalli foothills along the western bank of the Yamuna River. The Tomars are believed to have founded the fortified settlement of Dhillika, often associated with modern-day Delhi, as their capital. The earliest literary references to Dhillika appear in later Sanskrit texts, such as Prithviraj Raso and Lalita-Vigraharaja Nataka, which attribute the founding of the city to Anangpal Tomar I or II.
Archaeological evidence and inscriptions found near the Qutub complex in Mehrauli, including the Iron Pillar of Delhi, suggest the presence of an advanced settlement in this region even earlier. However, it was under the Tomars that the site assumed a distinct political identity as Dhillika, surrounded by strong stone fortifications and flourishing as a centre of power, trade, and culture.

The Tomar Dynasty and Political Significance

The Tomars, ruling from Dhillika and the adjoining fort of Lal Kot, exercised authority over the fertile plains around the Yamuna and controlled vital trade routes linking the Gangetic Doab, Rajasthan, and Central India. The most prominent Tomar ruler, Anangpal Tomar II, is credited with consolidating the city and strengthening its fortifications around 1050 CE. According to traditional accounts, he installed the ancient Iron Pillar within the city walls, symbolising his rule and the continuity of dharma.
Under the Tomars, Dhillika emerged as a regional capital with considerable autonomy, though it eventually faced pressure from the expanding Chauhans of Ajmer. The strategic location of Dhillika made it a coveted site for future rulers, and this significance continued even after the Tomars’ decline.

Lal Kot and Architectural Legacy

The Tomar capital’s most enduring physical legacy was the construction of Lal Kot, regarded as the first fort of Delhi. Built of red sandstone and rubble masonry, Lal Kot covered a vast area of roughly 2.5 kilometres and enclosed the core of Dhillika. The walls, towers, and gateways of Lal Kot provided formidable defence, reflecting the Tomars’ awareness of Delhi’s geopolitical vulnerability and military potential.
Later rulers, especially the Chauhans, expanded and strengthened Lal Kot, renaming it Qila Rai Pithora after their legendary king Prithviraj Chauhan. Despite these later modifications, the foundations of the original Tomar fortifications remained visible, attesting to the sophistication of early Rajput architecture. Within Lal Kot, excavations have revealed remains of temples, residential complexes, and drainage systems, indicating a thriving urban life.

Cultural and Religious Landscape

The Tomar era in Dhillika witnessed the flourishing of Hindu religious and cultural traditions, marked by the construction of temples dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu, and Shakti. Anangpal Tomar and his successors were known patrons of Sanskrit learning and temple architecture. Many scholars suggest that the Yogmaya Temple in Mehrauli, one of the oldest surviving shrines in Delhi, dates back to this period and symbolises the Tomar devotion to the goddess Yogmaya, considered the presiding deity of Dhillika.
The city also became a melting pot of languages and artistic influences, with its proximity to the Gangetic plains fostering interactions between northern and western Indian cultures. Dhillika’s courtly culture and the Rajput code of honour later influenced early medieval North Indian literature and traditions.

Transition to Chauhan and Sultanate Rule

By the late 12th century, the Tomar power had waned, and Dhillika fell under the control of the Chauhans of Ajmer, who expanded the city and renamed the fortification complex Qila Rai Pithora. Despite this political shift, the Tomar legacy remained integral to Delhi’s identity. When Muhammad Ghori defeated Prithviraj Chauhan in 1192 CE at the Second Battle of Tarain, Delhi and its fortifications became the nucleus of the newly established Delhi Sultanate under Qutb-ud-din Aibak.
Thus, the Tomar-founded Dhillika became the foundation upon which the Sultanate’s capital, Mehrauli, and later medieval cities like Siri, Tughlaqabad, and Shahjahanabad were built. The continuity of urban settlement underscores the enduring importance of the site first recognised by the Tomars.

Historical and Archaeological Importance

Modern archaeological and historical studies confirm the continuity of habitation from the Tomar period through the Sultanate and Mughal eras. Excavations near Qutub Minar, Sanjay Van, and Mehrauli Archaeological Park have revealed artefacts, coins, and pottery dating back to the Tomar age. The Delhi Iron Pillar inscription, though earlier than the Tomars, was deliberately preserved and reinstalled, showing the Tomars’ respect for ancient Indian heritage.
Furthermore, the Tomars’ establishment of a fortified capital in this region contributed to the urban geography of Delhi, which evolved as a cluster of successive walled cities. The legacy of Dhillika continues to define Delhi’s historical topography, representing the earliest nucleus of continuous political power in northern India.

Legacy and Historical Perception

In medieval chronicles and later Rajput lore, the Tomars of Dhillika were revered as the founders of Delhi and as symbols of indigenous Hindu kingship before the onset of Muslim rule. The image of Anangpal Tomar became legendary, often depicted as a just and powerful ruler who laid the spiritual and physical foundations of the future imperial city.
Modern historians view Dhillika as the transitional link between ancient Indraprastha and medieval Delhi, bridging mythic, archaeological, and historical traditions. While the Tomar dynasty eventually faded from political prominence, its contribution to establishing Delhi as a major urban and strategic centre remains indelible.