Daulatabad Fort : The lost kingdom of Aurangabad

On our way back from Ellora caves, we stopped at Daulatabad Fort, which is also known as the Hill of Gods or Hill of Lord Shiva (Devagiri). This 14th centuary Fort was first built and used as a fortification by the Yadava dynasty.

The fort stands on a high conical hill having stood the test of time and harsh weather and is surrounded by big moat and steep hills on all the sides. There are three concentric lines of fortification between the outer wall and the citadel. The entrace has a series of gateways.

One of the interesting features of the Fort is that it has only one gate for entry and exit, which is quite unlikely for a fort. As you enter, you can see a big door and clever architecture built to prevent enemies from attacking the fort.

Daulatabad Fort Gate

A large number of cannons were found at Daulatabad Fort, some in their original places like bastions on fort walls and circular towers while others were collected from various locations and displayed in the courtyard near the entrance gate.

Also lying nearby is the big tank. It  used to be part of the water supply system of the fort.

The next gateway is protected by strong towers. Next up is Chand Minar, a replica of Qutab Minar of Delhi which was constructed by Hasan Goangu Bahmani. It is said that he employed Iranian architects to built the Minar who used Lapis Lazuli & Red Ochre for coloring.

Chand Minar

To the right of the third gate, is the Chini Mahal, a VIP prison built by Aurangzeb . In it, he kept Abdul Hasan Tana Shah of the Qutb Shahi Dynasty of Hyderabad.

Chini Mahal

The third wall is much higher and an entrance with a trench below and a bridge over it. 

The only entrance to the citadel is through a devious tunnel, which in times of siege was rendered impassable by an ingenious contrivance. This sub- terrain passage is indeed mysterious and in spite of several  attempts, all the mystries are not known.

The long ascending tunnel rises rapidly and tortously by a flight of steps, which are uneven in width and height, difficult to climb in the absence of light.The labyrinthine passage coupled with the darkness confuse the enemy army to kill themself along a tunnel containing numourous chambers cut out of solid rock which were used in the olden times as guard rooms and store houses. 

I also learnt that the turns and twists lead to a window, now covered with grills, but was originally a trap set for enemy intruders, who on entering would tumble down the slope to meet a watery grave  in the moat below. The tunnel was impassable when  great obstacles come in the form of darkness, caltrops, barrier of smoke and a splash of hot oil or ater from above.

The steps in the courtyard are newly constructed in 1952 for the convenience of tourists. It is a hard climb up to the top of the fort. It is from this spot that you will get a long view of the fort.  There was a structure from where you can have  a beautiful view of the surroundings.

Daulatabad fort was surrounded  by a moat filled with water in ancient times. Crocodiles were said to have been kept in the moat for protection from enemy attack.

From the top you will get a good view—you’ll be faced with a great vista to the day.   At the  top, there is a pentagonal citadel with a canon.

I ended my trip by walking on the never-ending wall fortifications. I tried to imagine how this place would have been a few centuries ago - during the kindom of Yadava dynasty and later a secondary capital of the Ahmadnagar Sultanate.