#deogiri

Daulatabad Fort

One of the remnants of Yadava decoration surviving at the Deogiri Fort after it was conquered by the Khiljis.

DAULATABAD FORT Daulatabad Fort (19°57' N: 75° 15'E) built on a 200 meter high conical hill, was one of the most powerful forts of the medieval Deccan. The entire ort compex consists of an area measuring approximately 94. 83 hectares, and represents a unique combination of military engineering, amazing town planning with unique water management system and architectural marvels with strong political and religious hold. It was founded by The Yadavas of Deogiri ("The hill of Gods") in 11th Century A.D. After Various attacks, the Khilji Dynasty annexed Daulatabad in 12th Century A.D. Sultan Muhammad-bin Tughluq, renamed Deogiri as Daulatabad ("Abode of Wealth") and got the capital shifted from Delhi to Daulatabad in 1328 A.D. But for various reasons he re-transferred his capital back to Delhi. In a quick succession of political events the area was wrested from the imperial authority and the Bahamani rulers under Hasan Gangu extended their control over Daulatabad as well. By 1499 the Nizam Shahis of Ahmednagar not only captured but also made Daulatabad as their capital in 1607 A.D. Daulatabad was finally captured by Mughals under Akbar and Shah Jahan, after a prolonged siege in 1633 A.D. For a short period Daulatabad was under the control of the Marathas before the Nizams of Hydrabad took control of it in 1724 A.D. The fort is one of the most complex and intricate forts of Deccan, having the honor of the capital of Yadavas for over a Century (1187-1294), capital of India during Tughlaq period (1328), and Capital of Njzamshahis of Ahmednagar (1607 A.D.) Daulatabad is also important in religious point of view, that from here the Sufism spread in Deccan. It is here that the famous medieval saint Janardhana Swami, the Guru of Ekanath attained Samadhi on the top of the hill. The defense system consists of two moats (Dry and Wet Moat) and a glacis, three encircling fortification walls with wall walks, Machicolations Bastions at regular intervals, Zigzag and lofty gates with iron Spinks, Strategic position of gun-turrets and Andheri. The combination of Hill and Land Fort, is divided into small sectors encircled by fortification walls. The fortified Ambarkot is planned for common people. Mahakot area having four distant lines of enclosure walls served the residential area for higher class of the society. The kalakot is the royal residential area with double line of fortifications. The balakot is the pinnacle portion where the pride of honor, the flag flutters. The fort consists of structures like Stepped wells, Reservoirs, Minar, Hammam, Baradari, Various Palaces, Andheri, Temples, Mosques, beside 10 unfinished rock cut caves. The water management system is unique with a network of terracotta pipe lines, drains etc. Because of its strategic location and its strong protective defenses it is aptly called as an impregnable fort and its possession was craved by most powerful dynasties ruling between 12th - 17th Century A.D. Its ownership became a matter of pride and prestige and haughty arrogance.

Daulatabad Fort (19°57' N: 75° 15'E) built on a 200 meter high conical hill, was one of the most powerful forts of the medieval Deccan. The entire fort comlpex consists of an area measuring approximately 94.83 hectares, and represents a unique combination of Military Engineering, Amazing Town Planning with Unique Water Management System and Architectural Marvels with strong Political and Religious hold. It was founded by The Yadavas of Deogiri ("The hill of Gods") in 11th Century A.D. After Various attacks, the Khilji Dynasty annexed Daulatabad in 12th Century A.D. Sultan Muhammad-bin Tughluq, renamed Deogiri as Daulatabad ("Abode of Wealth") and got the capital shifted from Delhi to Daulatabad in 1328 A.D. But for various reasons he re-transferred his capital back to Delhi. In a quick succession of political events the area was wrested from the imperial authority and the Bahamani rulers under Hasan Gangu Extended their control over Daulatabad as well. By 1499 the Nizam Shahis of Ahmednagar not only captured but also made Daulatabad as their capital in 1607 A.D. Daulatabad was finally captured by Mughals under Akbar and Shah Jahan, after a prolonged siege in 1633 A.D. For a short period Daulatabad was under the control of the Marathas before the Nizams of Hydrabad took control of it in 1724 A.D. The fort is one of the most complex and intricate forts of Deccan, having the honor of the capital of Yadavas for over a Century (1187-1294), capital of india during Tughlaq period (1328), and Capital of Nizamshahis of Ahmednagar (1607 A.D.). Daulatabad is also important in religious point of view, that from here the Sufism spread in Deccan. It is here that the famous medieval saint Janardhana Swami, the Guru of Ekanath attained Samadhi on the top of the hill. The defense system consists of two moats (Dry and Wet Moat) and a glacis, three encircling fortification walls with wall walks, Machicolations Bastions at regular intervals. Zigzag and lofty gates with Iron Spikes, Strategic position of gun-turrets and Andheri. The combination of Hill and Land Fort, is divided into small sectors encircled by fortification walls. The fortified Ambarkot is planned for common people. Mahakot area having four distant lines of enclosure walls served the residential area for higher class of the society. The kalakot is the royal residential area with double line of fortifications. The balakot is the pinnacle portion where the pride of honor, the flag flutters. The fort consists of structures like Stepped wells, Reservoirs, Minar, Hammam, Baradari, Various Palaces, Andheri, Temples, Mosques, beside 10 unfinished rock cut caves. The water management system is unique with a network of terracotta pipe lines, drains etc. Because of its strategic location and its strong protective defenses it is aptly called as an impregnable fort and its possession was craved by most powerful dynasties ruling between 12th - 17th Century A.D. Its ownership became a matter of pride and prestige and haughty arrogance.

#DaulatabadFort, also known as #Devagiri or #Deogiri, is a historical fortified citadel located in #Aurangabad, #Maharashtra, India. It was the capital of the Yadava dynasty (9th century–14th century CE), for a brief time the capital of the Delhi Sultanate (1327–1334), and later a secondary capital of the Ahmadnagar Sultanate (1499–1636). Around the sixth century CE, Devagiri emerged as an important uplands town near present-day Aurangabad, along caravan routes going towards western and southern India. The historical triangular fortress in the city was initially built around 1187 by the first Yadava king, Bhillama V. In 1308, the city was annexed by Sultan Alauddin Khalji of the Delhi Sultanate, which ruled over most of the Indian subcontinent. In 1327, Sultan Muhammad bin Tughluq of the Delhi Sultanate renamed the city as "Daulatabad" and shifted his imperial capital to the city from Delhi, ordering a mass migration of Delhi's population to Daulatabad. However, Muhammad bin Tughluq reversed his decision in 1334 and the capital of the Delhi Sultanate was shifted back from Daulatabad to Delhi. In 1499, Daulatabad became a part of the Ahmadnagar Sultanate, who used it as their secondary capital. In 1610, near Daulatabad Fort, the new city of Aurangabad, then named Khadki, was established to serve as the capital of the Ahmadnagar Sultanate by the Ethiopian military leader Malik Ambar, who was brought to India as a slave but rose to become a popular Prime Minister of the Ahmadnagar Sultanate. Most of the present-day fortification at Daulatabad Fort was constructed under the Ahmadnagar Sultanate. https://www.instagram.com/p/CEalJFZBLgL/?igshid=1nx192f8gag70

Relic of the Yadava past of Deogiri still surviving near the Mahakot gate of Daulatabad fort.