FORTS
IN UTTAR PRADESH |
AGRA (Uttar Pradesh)
The Fort -The Mughal splendor in Agra began from the period of Humayun but the real
building and establishment began when Akbar succeeded Humayun. In 1565 Akbar pulled down
the brick fort of Lodi at Sikandra and started his new fort on riverside in red sandstone.
Shah Jehan who succeeded Jahangir destroyed some of Akbar 's simple sandstone buildings to
build a cluster of rich building with inlaid marble palace rooms along the river
front(1628 -37). The exquisite Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque) was started in 1646, just 2
years before his new city at Delhi was ready. There are many fascinating buildings within
the massive walls which stretch for 2.5 km, surrounded by a moat over 10 meters wide.
Inside, the fort is really a city within a city. Shah Jahan's beautiful marble Moti Masjid
(known as the Pearl Mosque) is an example of perfect proportion. Some of the beautiful
buildings within the fort are Diwan-i-Am(hall of public audience), Diwan-i-Khas(hall of
private audience) and the Musamman Burj.  |
Fatehpur Sikri (Uttar Pradesh)
Forty kilometers south-west from Agra lies a deserted sandstone city, Fatehpur Sikri. In
the 16th century Salim Chisti, a mystic, came to this little community of stone-cutters
and spent his days meditating in a grotto. Legend soon grew around him and word came to
the Emperor Akbar who set out on a pilgrimage to ask the holy man the blessing of an
heir.When a son was born the king named him after the mystic and decided to shift his
capital to Sikri. Within a period of six years a complex of forts, palaces and mosques
sprang up. But Akbar was forced to abandon his new capital and Fatehpur Sikri became a
ghost town. It is haunted today by memories of an resplendent era. |
MAHOBA & CHARKHARI (Uttar Pradesh)
The Chandella Kings desired two earthly things after the safe possession of Bundelkhand :
to build temples for their gods and to bring water to their land. These two desires find
perfect union at Mahoba, the Bundela capital. The Chandellas made four lakes by damming
valleys. Madan Sagar,Vijay Sagar, Kalyan Sagar & Kirat Sagar only due to the defence
consideration and the Chandella's giri durg or hill fort at Charkhari is surrounded on
three sides by water. In In the 18th century a new Bundela chief, Chattrasal rose up and
his grandson,Khuman Singh,founded Charkhari state in 1765 . The view from Charkhari's
ramparts is spectacular, across the lakes to marvelous wild-fowling country. |
JHANSI (Uttar Pradesh)
Jhansi Fort has become the chattri(Umbrella) of the woman who headed the Indian troops
here during the Mutiny of 1857-58, The Rani Lakshmi Bai. The nucleus of the present fort
was built in 1613 by Bir Singh Deo of Orchha.In 1853 Raja Gangadhar Rao of Jhansi died
without a direct heir. His adopted son was not recognized and his widow, the Rani Lakshmi
Bai, reluctantly at first and then with fiery courage took on the British in the unsettled
years leading upto the Mutiny. In a fierce fight on the 18th June 1858, at Kotah-ki-Sarai
near Gwalior, Lakshmi Bai, dressed like a man using her sword with both hands and holding
the reins of her horse in her mouth was killed. After the Mutiny Jhansi was occupied by
the British. It was handed over in 1861 to Scindia of Gwalior, but returned again to the
British in 1886. |
FORTS
IN ANDHRA PRADESH |
GOLCONDA (Andhra Pradesh)
It is 11.5 km from Hyderabad. A magnificent deserted fort-city of the Qutub Shahi Kings,
built on a steep, granite hill. In the 14th century the Hindu Kakatuya kings of Warangal
gave the modest hill fort to the Muslim Bahmani Kings whose capitals were Gulbarga, then
Bidar. Sultan Quli Qutab Shah (1512-43), the first of seven Qutab Shahi rulers, and his
two successors, the brothers Jamshed Quli built the fort which was lost to Emperor
Aurangzeb after his long siege of 1687. It followed the pattern of Gulbarga and Bidar
fortifications but was larger and more impregnable.The legendary diamond bazaars lined the
road up to the Fateh Darwaja guarded by Abyssinians. A curtain wall across the gateway
made it difficult for enemy elephants to gather momentum. Inside the fort, there is a
sophisticated Persian-wheel water system, hot and cold water pipesetc.Nearby are the more
complete and just as impressive Persian-style, bulbous -domed tombs of the royals,
silhoutted against the clear blue Deccan sky. |
FORTS
IN KARNATAKA |
BIDAR ( Karnataka )
It is 110 km north-west of Hyderabad, 40 km north-east of Gulbarga. Described by historian
Simon Digby as a sensational stone fort built on a natural bluff rising from the plain.
Bidar was the capital of the Bahmani kingdom from 1428 to 1489. It was besieged by
Aurangazeb in 1656 and remained under a series of Mughal governors until 1724 when it was
swallowed up by the Nizams.The tombs on the plains outside the town are magnificient. The
inner fort, mostly built by Mohammad Shah (1482-1518), is entered through a massive double
gateway. Beyond lies a complete fort. Inside the entrance on the left is the Rangin Mahal
whose rooms are exquisitely decorated with coloured tiles, inlaid with mother of pearl. |
BIJAPUR ( Karnataka )
The golden period of Bijapur started during the reign of Ali Adil Shah I (1557 -79). He
expanded and consolidated the kingdom, laid the water works, built the Citadel of halls,
palaces, pavilions and gardens. He also encouraged the arts and built the Jama Masjid to
commemorate the Talikota Victory.Under his successor, Ibrahim Adil Shah II (1580-1626),
Bijapur reached its political, cultural and territorial zenith. The kingdom stretched
right to Mysore. Mark Zebrowski compares Ibrahim to Akbar and calls him 'The greatest
patron of the arts the Deccan produced'. Ibrahim Rauza, the exquisite walled tomb and
mosque of the ruler and his family, is just one of the sublime buildings he constructed.
The exterior is covered with faded floral murals and carved Arabic calligraphy. Romantic
silhouettes are enhanced by the bulbous Turkish domes here, as at Golconda instead of the
straight-necked Persian shapes. His son Mohammad Adil Shah (1626-56), built the
huge-domed, ponderous Gol Gumbaz for his mausoleum. |
GULBARGA (Karnataka)
This town was the Bahmani capital from 1347 until its transfer to Bidar in 1428. Later the
kingdom broke up into a number of smaller kingdoms - Bijapur, Bidar, Berar, Ahmednagar and
Golconda. The last of these, Golconda, finally fell to Aurangzeb in 1687. Gulbarga's old
moated fort is in a much deteriorated state, but it has a number of interesting buildings
insideincluding the Jama Masjid, reputed to have been built by a Moorish architect during
the late 14th or early 15th century who imitated the great mosque in Cordoba, Spain. The
mosque is unique in India, with a huge dome covering the whole area, four smaller ones at
the corners,and 75 smaller still all the way around. The fort itself has 15 towers.
Gulbarga also has a number of imposing tombs of Bahmani Kings, a shrine to an important
Muslim saint and the Sharana Basaveshwara Temple. |
SERINGAPATAM - (Karnataka)
16 kms from Mysore on the Bangalore one km east of the fort, across the other side of the
main road, stands the Daria Daulat Bagh, set in well-maintained ornamental gardens. It
also has 'artists' impressions of the last battle, drawn by employees of the British East
India company. All around the internal walls of the ground floor are paintings depicting
Tipu's campaigns, with the help of French mercenary assistance,against the British. |
VIJAYANAGAR ( Karnataka )
The palatial capital of Vijaynagar was once the largest empire in south India. The city
rivalled Rome in splendour during the reign of Krishnadevaraya (1509-29), Prince Harihara
made a victory over the Hoysalla kings and established the new city Vijaynagar (city of
victory) and made it his capital in 1343. The ruins, which have been described as "
virtually a vast open-air museum of Hindu monuments in the Dravidian style of
architecture" , cover 16km and are of unusual interest. The story of the rise and
fall of this "forgotten" empire is one of the fascinating romances of Indian
history. |
FORTS
IN MADHYA PRADESH |
DATIA (Madhya Pradesh)
The fortress palace at Datia is described as one of the most interesting buildings
architecturally in the whole of India. It is an examplary alliance of the Rajput and
Mughal building arts and bears the clear stamp of one man upon it, the Bundela chief, Bir
Singh Deo.Built in 1620 on a rocky elevation, the five-storeyed palace appears much taller
than its actual 130 feet. Its balconies,bridges and oriel windows provide attractive
panoramas from any viewpoint.In 1818 Datia played host to the British Governer-General,
Lord Hastings and a splendid durbar was held in 1902 for the Viceroy, Lord Curzon. But by
then the princes had long found it impossible to maintain such state and Datia had already
lain deserted for more than 60 years. |
DEOGARH & CHANDERI (Madhya Pradesh)
Deogarh - Fort of the Gods - and Chanderi stand either side of the Betwa river on the main
route to the Deccan. For nine centuries, armies with caravans in their wake have moved
through this region, power shifting back and forth between Hindu and Muslim, each breaking
and building a new. Within its ancient, broken curtain walls lie the remains of over 30
Jain temples, dating back mostly to the 9th and 10th centuries but in one case, a Varaha
temple dedicated to the boar incarnation of Vishnu, probably dating as far back as the 5th
century. Just below the fort in a field by a well, not far from the banks of the Betwa, is
the jewel of Deogarh. Here a gigantic black-painted statue of Shantinath, one of the Jain
pontiffs whose symbol, as at Gwalior, is an Antelope. Worshippers still make the
pilgrimage to venerate the gods of Deogarh, as they have done for 1500 years. Babur, first
of the Mughal Emperor, took this title when he took Chanderi in 1528. The outer walls of
the fort are granite formations : the breach made by Babur's guns is clearly visible.
Chanderi had been well established as a strategic holding by the 10th century, when it was
controlled by the Pratihara kings. |
GWALIOR (Madhya Pradesh)
Gwalior is dominated by its fort which tops the long hill to the north of Lashkar, the new
town The old town clings to the hill, north-east of the fort.Gwalior fort rises 100 metres
above from the town and the fort hill is about three km in length. Its width varies from
nearly a km to less than 200 metres. The walls, which encircle almost the entire hilltop,
are 10 metres high and imposingly solid. Within the fort walls are several interesting
temples and ruined palaces such as jain sculptures, Teli ka mandir, Sasbahu temples,Man
Singh Palace, etc.The dramatic and colourful history of the great fort goes back over 1000
years. |
KALINJAR (Madhya Pradesh)
There are many legends about this fort. One of them ascribes the fort of Kalinjar to the
son of king Bharata from whom India took its ancient name i.e., Bharat. The other claim it
to be the aboard of Lord Shiva-Kal means death and Jar means decay: thus the name exalts
the god of destruction.But Kalinjar is inextricably linked to the fortunes of the
Chandella Kings of Jijhoti or Bundelkhand. The history of Kalinjar moves in half-light
till the second half of the 10th century. In 1182 the Chandella forces were defeated by
the Hindu Chauhan Emperor. In1203Kalinjar fell to the Muslim hosts of Qutub-ud-din
Aibak.It was taken back by the Hindus after defeating Afghan King Sher shah Suri in 1545.
Mughal Emperor Akbar captured the fort of Kalinjar in 1569 . It remained a part of the
Panna state untill surrendered to the British in 1812. The journey up the fort is very
straineous and hard and very few courageous can climb and explore the wonders of the fort.
The journey downward is also very precarious. |
MANDU (Madhya Pradesh)
Its other name Shadibad means ' City of Joy '. Former magnificent and courtly capital of
the Central Indian Kingdom of Malwa is now a romantic ghost city spread over an area of 12
sq. kms. hilltop. Wonder around some of the 70 or so fine Muslim and Hindu monuments built
during its heydays from 11th to 16th centuries specially under Mahmud Shah (1436 -69) and
Ghiasuddin (1469 -1500 ) who was devoted to women - his harem was reputed to have 15000
pretty maids. The 500 elephant parade heralding the entry of Mughal Emperor Jahangir in
1617 was one of Mandu 's last great spectacles. Visit the magnificent Jama Masjid and
wander in the ruins of Jahaz Mahal and indulge in a sunset at the palace of Baz Bahadur
and his Rani Rupmati (India's Romeo & Juliet). Baz Bahadur was defeated by Emperor
Akbar and he had to flee in the face of Mughal defeat. Rupmati captured for the general's
future pleasure committed sucide by swallowing ground diamonds. |
FORTS
IN MAHARASTRA |
DAULATABAD (Maharastra)
Halfway between Aurangabad & Ellora caves is the magnificent hilltop fortress of
Daulatabad. Built by Bhilama Raja of the Yadava Dynasty in 1187. It was named 'Devagiri'
or 'Hill of the Gods'. It gained fame later as the place selected by Mohammad Tughlak 'the
mad Sultan of Delhi' who wanted to shift his capital here and thus renamed it 'Daulatabad'
or 'City of Fortune'. He force-marched all his subjects here and 17 years later marched
them back to Delhi.Perched on top of a high hill, it is surrounded by thick walls, spiked
gates, steep gravelled slide ways and a deep moat. Just inside the entrance gate is the 60
m. high Chand Minar tower, overlooking a small mosque built from the remains of a Jain
temple. Higher up is the blue-tiled Chini Mahal where the last king of Golconda was
imprisoned for 13 years until his death. |
THE MARINE FORTS ( Maharastra )
JANJIRA : It was the strongest marine fort in all India, built by Abyssinians in 1511 on
an island south of Ailbagh below Portuguese Bombay. On the coast about 160 km due south of
Bombay, the majestic island fortress of Murud-Janjira was the 16th-century capital of the
Siddis of Janjira, descendants of sailor/traders from the Horn of Africa. It is without
doubt one of Maharashtra's most commanding coastal forts, stretched along an island a
short distance from the tranquil fishing town of Murud and only accessible by local
sailing boat. The fort's 12 metre high walls made it impregnable to everyone, even the
Marathas - Shivaji tried to conquer it by sea and his son, Sambhaji, attempted to tunnel
to it. |
FORTS
IN RAJASTHAN |
BUNDI (Rajasthan)
Taragarh Fort - Bundi only 39 km north-west of Kota,was the capital of a major princely
state during the heydays of Rajputs.The town's Rajput legacy 75 is well preserved in the
shape of the massive Taragarh fort.The star fort was built in 1354. It is reached by a
steep road leading up the hillside to its enormous gateway, topped by rampant elephants.
Inside are huge reservoirs carved out of solid rock and the Bhim Burj, the largest of the
battlements, on which is mounted a famous cannon. Views over the town and sorrounding
countryside are excellent. |
BIKANER (Rajasthan)
Junagadh Fort - Akbar's contemporary , Raja Rai Singh, began building Bikaner's Junagadh
Fort in 1587. It is one of the finest of Rajput monuments, even though it lacks the
commanding hilltop site of the forts at Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Amber and Chittor. Junagadh is
one of the few forts in India which has never been conquered, though it was often
attacked. Thirty-seven palaces, pavilions and temples built by different kings stand
protected by massive ramparts and round towers. For four centuries Junagadh was the heart
of an important autonomous kingdom where the public came daily, as a matter of right, to
lay their problems and petitions before their Maharaja, or to eat at the communal kitchen
from which no one could be turned away hungry. |
CHITTORGARH (Rajasthan)
The hilltop fortress of Chittorgarh epitomises the whole romantic, doomed ideal of Rajput
chivalry. Three times in its long history, Chittor was attacked by a stronger enemy. The
men donned the saffron robes of martyrdom and rode out from the fort to certain death,
while the women and children immolated themselves on a huge funeral pyre. Honour was
always more important than death. The fort stands on a 280-hectare site on top of a
180-metre-high hill, which rises abruptly from the surrounding plain. Until 1568, the town
of Chittor was also on the hilltop within the fort walls but today's modern town, known as
Lower Town, sprawls to the west of the hill.There are many palaces within the fort like
Rana Kumbha Palace, Fateh Prakash Palace,Tower of victory & Padmini's Palace. |
JAIPUR - ( Rajasthan )
Amber Fort situated about 11 km out of Jaipur on the Delhi - Jaipur road, Amber was once
the ancient capital of Jaipur state. Construction of the fortress palace was begun in 1592
by Raja Man Singh, the Rajput commander of Akbar's army. It was later extended and
completed by the Jai Singhs before they move to Jaipur on the plains below. The fort is a
superb example of Rajput architecture, stunningly situated on a hillside and overlooking a
lake which reflects its terraces and ramparts. |
Jaigarh Fort (Rajasthan)
Jaigarh Fort was built by Jai Singh II in 1726. Romantic legend fills its palatial
rooms,courtyards and reservoirs. For Jaigarh housed the legendary Kachchwaha treasury. The
loyal Mina tribe, former rulers of Amber, guarded it, using their skills as archers and
mountain fighters. The massive Jaiwaan cannon, one of the largest in Asia, gave added
protection. |
JODHPUR - (Rajasthan)
Mehrangarh fort was founded by Rao Jodha in 1459 when he shifted his capital from
Mandore.The fort is situated about 400 ft above the city and has 68 ft wide and 117 ft
high walls which dominates the sorrounding plain.The palaces in the fort were constructed
by Rao Jodha Singh from 1459 onwards.The various buildings inside the fort now serve as
Mehrangarh museum.The Moti Mahal has stained glass windows that create a colorful mosaic
with the play of light and shade on the glowing colors.The Mughal influence is evident in
the miniature paintings of Shahjehan and Aurangzeb.The other important palaces like
Chandan Mahal,the Darbar Takhat or Throne Room,the Rang Mahal,the Umaid Vilas etc are also
worth visiting. |
JAISALMER - (Rajasthan)
Sonar Kila: The foundation of the fort was laid in 1156 A.D on Trikuta hill by the Bhatti
Chief Jaisal. The fort also called Sonar Kila- A Golden Fort, made of yellow sandstone,
seems to ignite into a golden flame when scorched by the desert sun. About a fourth of the
old city's population resides within the fort walls. Numerous bastions of upto 325 ft are
made accessible through gates-Ganesh Pol, Akshya Pol, Suraj Pol and Hawa Pol. There is a
cross cultural merging of Rajput and Islamic building styles. Within the fort are there
are a group of beautifully carved Jain temples built between 12th to 15th centuries and
are dedicated to Rikhabdevji and Sambhavanthji. There are also beautifully carved Havellis
of rich merchants and nobles. |
JAISALMER - (Rajasthan)
Kumbhalgarh fort is 84 km and is one of Rajasthan's principal fortifications, it was built
by Maharana Kumbha in the 15th century. Range upon range of the Aravalli hills protect
this impregnable fortress, the second most important citadel of Mewar. Surrounded by
thirteen mountain peaks, guarded by seven great gates and seven ramparts, strengthened by
rounded bastions and immense watch towers, this mountain fortress has witnessed many
battles. Within the fort are many temples and palaces. Seven majestic gates lead to Badal
Mahal which encloses beautiful rooms with pleasant color schemes of green, turquoise and
white, which provides a fascinating contrast to the raw, earthy and grim fortress. |
JAISALMER - (Rajasthan)
KHIMSAR (Rajasthan) Perched on the edge of the Great Thar Desert in the heart of rural
India lies this unique fort offering a wide range of experiences. The battle-scarred walls
& turrets remind of the glorious past. In mid-18th Century the royal family moved in
and a new "zenana" or ladies residence was built with finely carved windows in
stone grills to provide "purdah" or veil for ladies in waiting. Subsequently, in
the 1940's, Thakur Onkar Singh built for himself a regal wing. Today Welcomegroup Khimsar
fort ranks amongst the premier classified Heritage Hotels of India. |
RANTHAMBHORE - (Rajasthan)
The well preserved fortress of Ranthambore built in the 10th century is unique for its
style and is concealed within hill ranges and dense forest & is not visible from
outside.It is defended by strong gates. The fort is worth visiting and there are superb
views over the park from the ramparts.The lower laying ground alternates between open
bushland and fairly dense forest and is peppered with ruined chattris and 'hides - the
area was formely a hunting preserve of the Maharajas. |
FORTS
IN DELHI |
DELHI
RED FORT : The red sandstone walls of Lal Qila meaning the Red Fort, extend for two km and
vary in height from 18 metres on the river side to 33 metres on the city side. Shah Jahan
started construction of the massive fort in 1638 and it was completed in 1648. The chief
attraction of the Red Fort, is some very beautiful palaces and handsome public buildings,
such as the Lahore gate - the main gate of the fort,the Diwan-i-Am (hall for public
audiences), Diwan-i-Khas (hall for private audiences), Rang Mahal (water-cooled apartment
of royal ladies), and the Pearl Mosque, built of white marble.There is a small museum on
the fort's premises and a small shopping arcade. |
PURANA QILA (DELHI)
Just south-east of New Delhi lies the Old Fort or Purana Qila. This is supposed to be the
site of Indraprastha, the original city of Delhi. The Afghan ruler, Sher Shah, who briefly
interrupted the Mughal Empire by defeating Humayun, completed the fort during his reign
from 1538-45, before Humayun regained control of India. The fort has massive walls and
three large gateways and a small octagonal red sandstone tower ,the Sher mandal,later used
by Humayun as a library from where he fell and later died. Just beyond it is the
Qila-i-Kuhram Mosque,or the Mosque of Sher Shah. |
TUGHLAQABAD
Tughlaqabad constitutes the third city of Delhi. The ruined fortress is 8 km east of the
Qutub Minar. The tomb of Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlak, founder of the dynasty who built the city,
is across the road from the main entrance to the fort which is supposedly under a curse
from the Sufi Saint, Azam-ud-din. Tughlaqabad became a ghost city 15 years after its
birth. The fort of Adilabad, south of Tughlaqabad , was built by Ghiyas-ud-din's son and
successor, Muhammad bin Tughlak. |
FORTS
IN TAMIL NADU |
TIRUCHIRAPALLI ( Tamilnadu )
Rising abruptly from the plains to a height of 83 metres is Rock fort, the famous land
mark ofTiruchirapalli. Tiruchirapalli's historic associations stretch from Chola times to
the 18th century Karnatak wars, when Britain and France espoused the cause of rival
princes. Four hundred and thirty-four steps down into the rockside and interspersed with
shrines and landings lead the pilgrim to an ancient temple dedicated to Ganapati. A tank
and a pavilion at the foot of the Rock fort is the scene of the temple's float festival. |
VELLORE (Tamilnadu)
Vellore is one of the finest examples of military architecture in South India. It is a
perfect specimen of a jala durg, water fort. Vellore was built towards the end of the 14th
century by the Hindu Vijaynagar kings and held by them until their defeat in 1565. A
self-styled Raja of Vellore had, on the fall of Vijaynagar, taken control of what had
become an important provincial capital. In 1677, when Shivaji, the great Maratha
chieftain, began his campaign in the Deccan to gain a foothold in the Karnatic, he did so
by investing Vellore. The most impressive building within the fort is the Jalakantesvara
Temple, dedicated to Shiva, remarkably it was almost undamaged during the Muslim tenure of
Vellore. The British built a bridge over the moat and most of the buildings now in use
within the fort walls. |
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