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Daulatabad Fort
We must have visited many forts, all of which tell various tales from the past. It is one of the most exciting activities ever to delve into the past while visiting these ancient structures. Ancient forts and monuments are like logbooks of past events, and they hold within themselves so much for us to explore. The Daulatabad Fort is no exception when it comes to this. One factor that makes the fort more astonishing is that people often lovingly refer to this fort as one of the Seven Wonders of Maharashtra. Many of us know about the Seven Wonders of the World and the Seven Wonders of India. But when it comes to one of the 7 wonders of Maharashtra, this is a must-visit site.
Moreover, this fort is one of the most visited tourist spots in Aurangabad, and there are obvious reasons for it, too. If you are visiting Maharashtra, the Daulatabad Fort Aurangabad should definitely be in your itinerary. Keep reading this article, as I will mention all the information you might need about Daulatabad Fort here. After reading this article, you can plan a successful trip to this location.
Location of Daulatabad Fort
Daulatabad village, Aurangabad, Maharashtra
Daulatabad Fort Timings
The Daulatabad Fort opening time is 9 am and is open till 6 pm.
Daulatabad Fort ticket price
For Indians, the ticket price is Rs. 10, and for Foreigners, it is Rs. 100. You can take photographs here; however, there is an additional fee for video cameras, which is Rs. 25.
How to reach Daulatabad Fort?
The fort is 17 km from the central city of Aurangabad. If you are travelling by air, the nearest airport is the Aurangabad airport, which is only 27 km away. If you wish to travel by train, the nearest railway station is the Aurangabad Railway Station, which is 19 km away. From both the airport and railway station, you can hire a car or a cab or take local transport to reach the fort.
Daulatabad Fort History
Who built Daulatabad Fort?
At one point, the town of Daulatabad was famous, and the name Devagiri or Deogiri was used. Devagiri means the hills of God. The king of the Yadava dynasty, Raja Bhillamraj Yadav, developed this entire township in 1187. Today, this fort is one of the best-preserved forts in the country. The fort has passed the test of time and still stands tall with all its charm. During the initial years, a township grew around this fort, serving as the capital of the Yadavas until 1296 AD. After that, the fort started witnessing a change of powers. The Sultan of the Khilji dynasty, Alaudding Khijlji, captured this fort in 1308.
Later, the Tughlaq dynasty of Delhi took over this prosperous kingdom of the Yadava clan. Under the leadership of Mohammad Bin Tuglaq, the town of Devgiri, as well as the two forts, came under their rule. At the beginning of 1327, this happened, and Devgiri was under the influence of the Tughlaq Dynasty. Then, the Tughlaq Dynasty forcefully changed the name of Devgiri to Daulatabad.
By 1328, the Sultanate of Delhi had taken entirely over Daulatabad, and they had established Daulatabad as the capital of the Tughlaq Dynasty for the next 2 years. A vast population also moved from Delhi to settle in Daulatabad to set up the new regime of the Tughlaq dynasty. However, in Daultabad, there was a huge scarcity of water supply, which made life for the rulers extremely inconvenient. Soon, they abandoned the town of Daulatabad and decided to shift back to Delhi. After 2 years, the king wanted the Tughlaq Dynasty’s capital to return to Delhi. Also, they left the state of Daulatabad wholly abandoned.
Just after this, the Bahamanis took control of the fort. They are also responsible for adding prominent structures to the fort, including the Chand Minar. Hasan Gangu Bahami built the Chand Minar, a replica of the Qutb Minar of Delhi. Architects from Iran came here to construct this structure. They used Lapis Lazuri and Red Ocher for colouring. Today, Chand Minar is one of India’s most prominent and famous minarets. In 1499, the Nizam Shahis of Ahmednagar took over this fort. They also fortified this structure to a lot of extent.
This fort came under Mughal rule during the 17th century. Another important formation was the Chini Mahal, a prison that Aurangzeb created. He kept the last Qutb Shahi ruler, Abu Hasan Tana Shah, and imprisoned him here in 1687. Later, it also moved from one rule to another, like the Marathas, Peshwas, and the Nizams of Hyderabad. The Nizams of Hyderabad controlled the fort until 1947 when India gained independence.
Architecture of Daulatabad Fort
The Daulatabad Fort is huge, spreading across a massive area of 94 hectares. One of the most exciting features of this fort complex is its architectural brilliance. This fort’s whole premises house small designated areas for different purposes. There was one area for ordinary people, Ambarkot. Then, there was a residential area for the people belonging to the higher strata in the society, Mahakot. Next comes Kalkot, which is the royal residential area. Balakot is the pinnacle of this fort, the place where the flag of the fort fluttered.
Other than that, the fort also houses some other significant structures. Public audience halls, palaces, court buildings, mosques, reservoirs, temples, and step wells existed. Also, there were gigantic tanks, victory towers and royal baths. All these structures were added to the fort as it witnessed the change of powers from one dynasty to another. The unique water management system, multiple cannons and rock-cut caves are also essential formations here.
Another essential feature of this fort is its defence system. There were moats, both wet and dry. These moats had dangerous crocodiles that protected the fort from the entry of the enemies. Also, there were walls with bastions and massive gates. The walls were almost 5 km to preserve the fort well. All of these guarded the fort and prevented the enemies’ attacks. There is also a narrow bridge here that only allows two people to pass simultaneously.
The defence features in the fort were much ahead of their time. There were rock-cut tunnels, gates with iron spikes, stone wall mazes, curved walls and more. The mazes and puzzles were especially enough to trap and confuse the enemies, further preventing unknown entry into the fort. Also, this fort only has one proper entrance for both the entry and exit, which is unique from all other forts. An enemy who might enter through the entry gate would get trapped inside as there were no separate exit gates. Intoxicated elephants were one of the ways the rulers used to open fort gates. To avoid that situation, the spikes on the gates helped. If any animal tries to push open the gates, it will instantly get hurt or die due to those spikes.
The serpentine entryways were another unique feature of this fort. Its peculiarly curved walls and false doors were created to confuse the enemies. The wall structure was also curved and smooth so that mountain lizard climbers could not climb it. This intelligent placement of various engineering techniques helped in the defense of the fort’s rulers.
At present, the Daulatabad Fort is one of the most significant protected forts in India. The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation declared this fort one of Maharashtra’s Seven Wonders. The fort still stands in its full glory even after so many attacks. Many portions of this fort are in ruins, yet it is one of the most well-preserved forts in the country.
Major structures inside the Daulatabad Fort
- Chand Minar or Moon Tower
One of the major attractions of this fort is the tower, which is 64 metres high. It has multiple circular balconies, a mosque, and various chambers inside. It is a replica of the famous Qutub Minar in Delhi.
- Bharat Mata Temple
This temple inside the fort is one of the oldest structures here. During the pre-independence period, a statue of Bharat Mata was installed here, and the structure’s layout is that of a mosque.
- Aam Khas Building
This one is a vast public audience hall for the general public.
- Baradari
This is a structure with 13 halls. It is a luxurious octagonal building that dates back to the 17th century. This royal palace came into being during Shah Jahan’s visit.
- Saraswati Bawdi
This is a huge step well that you can find near the main entrance.
- Andheri
This is another interesting structure here: a dark passage. It has various turns, which the rulers took to confuse and trap the enemies.
- Hathi Haud
Also popular as the Elephant Tank, this is one of the massive water tanks in this fort. It could hold about 10,000 cubic meters of water.
Other famous structures here are Chini Mahal, Rang Mahal, Kacheri, a two-story structure with a courtyard, Rock Cut Caves, which belonged to the Yadava rule, etc. Also, check out the cannons here, like the giant cannon, Durga Tope, Kala Pahad, Mendha Tope, etc.
Wrapping Up!
If something can draw you towards this fort, it is the perfect architecture and defence system here. It would undoubtedly be highly intriguing to learn about how the rulers executed their engineering to save them from the attack of the enemies. Forts like these are the best examples of artistic and clever mastery, and you should not miss visiting this fort. This fort is among the most popular tourist spots in Maharashtra and Daulatabad. The Daulatabad Fort is built on a 200-meter conical hill, and the massiveness of the structure will leave you spellbound. So make sure you visit this fort once you are there. Let me know if this article is helpful for you when planning a trip to this location.
