Monday, November 5, 2012

Devgiri Fort

The formidable 14th century hill fort is at Daulatabad, 15 kms from Aurangabad. The fort is 190 meters conical hill that rises from a plain. This fort is visible from a very far distance and dominates the landscape. This fortress was constructed by Raja Bhillamraj, of Yadav Dynasty, who was a great general of his time. 




As the time passed the fortress was under the control of several dynasties such as Thuglaqs, Delhi Sultans, Bahmanis, Marathas. Each of them developed and strengthened the fort in their own way. The outer wall is 4.43 km in circumference. The entrance through the fort is a huge gate guarded by strong outer door. The door studded and spiked against elephant attack, is still in position. 



The fortification comprises of triple line of fort walls surounded by moats preventing easy access to the summit. To reach the top of the fort one has to pass through successive lines of gateways and courtyards.



The third line of defense is called Kalakot (fort of the Death), due to provision of deep rock cut moat, strong thick fortifications having bastions zigzag gateways, wide wall-walk with battlements and the strategic position gun-turrets. 




This fortress enclosed an area occupied by the ruins of the palaces once used by the kings and queens. The outer part has also numerous ruined buildings – palaces, temples and mosques. 



The important structures that still present are:

44 comments:

Cloudia said...

formidable & fascinating! Thanks



Aloha from Waikiki,
Comfort Spiral

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Al said...

Impressive fort, I wouldn't want to be in the attacking army. Great shots!

SandyCarlson said...

What a place! Your posts always challenge my notions of time.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

That really is/was an impenetrable fortress! Massive..its so interesting to think about its being open to tourists now.

lorik said...

I didn't realise there were forts with moats in India...or if I did know I have forgotten:)
Interesting pics... I visited Aurangabad years ago but i am sure i didn't know about this fort.
I enjoy looking at your India pics:)

SmilingSally said...

Thanks for sharing. I feel as if I've visited this secure place.

Happy Blue Monday, Rajesh.

SwedishCorner ~ DownUnder...Pernilla said...

Happy Blue Monday! Looks interesting. Must be a big tourist attraction :)

Liz said...

Amazing structures.

Mine's here.

R Niranjan Das said...

That is a majestic fort. Nice shots.

http://www.rajniranjandas.blogspot.in

Akshay Kumar G said...

Nice to see the pictures of the fort and read a little about its history. Nice ones, Rajesh. :)

Vineeta Yashsavi said...

Lovely and very informative...

Panchali said...

Very interesting details, Rajesh. Great shots...but, sad that these precious structures are slowly turning into ruins..:((
Thanks for sharing..

Lowell said...

That place would be harder to break into than our Fort Knox! Wow. Great photos, Rajesh!

Rakesh Vanamali said...

Marvelous pictures, every single one of them.

XoXo said...

very wonderful and excellent structures...

Indrani said...

We were there some years back. So glad to see the pics, revives my memories.

Sylvia K said...

Wonderful, fascinating post as always, Rajesh! I do so enjoy learning more about your part of our world! Terrific captures as always!!

Anonymous said...

What a great place. That door or floor with the spikes looks terrifying though.

Leovi said...

Delicious photos. Yes, I love this magnificent fort. Greetings.

Joyful said...

Beautiful images and interesting history ;-)

Sudhir R said...

Impressive fort Rajesh, was this one of the reason for the shift of the capital?

Jeevan said...

Sounds much protected fort! Great photos and details, Rajesh.

George said...

Thank you for these interesting photos of this fort. It would be wonderful to actually visit this historic site in person.

Fashion Momma said...

Beautiful photos.

My Blue Monday.

photowannabe said...

Quite a fort to protect the Queen.
Amazing architecture.

Karen said...

Terrific shots and interesting commentary!

Carver said...

Interesting history and shots. Carver, ABC Wed. Team

Roger Owen Green said...

ah made for QUEENS (oh, and kings). Indeed.

ROG, ABC Wednesday team

Pearl said...

amazingly well-preserved after so many centuries!

Meoww said...

Wow! What a lot of info and amazing pics...History is easy to study if we study it this way, isnt it?

Sridharan said...

Magnificent..!

Kim, USA said...

It is amazing how people from those time can make a magnificent fort like this. They do not have cranes nor heavy machine before but there works stunned me. Love it!

Visiting from Water World Wednesday
Kim,USA

Thomas Lee/Lee Lip Pang said...

Wow! Looks more like an old European castle to me.

Monica S Engell said...

Great post with wonderful photos!
:)

Joy said...

What a vast defensive structure. I had never knew elephants were used for battering through doors

Anonymous said...

Good morning from as Autumn morning in Brookville, Ohio. I have not been able to find you for a long time. It was nice to see your name in a comment you left somebody. Now I have you tuned back in to my space on the Internet and I shall, from time to time, return to see what you have posted that is equally as interesting as this treat on the fort. Fascinating information — the great studded door — protection from elephant attacks. Who else would know that except somebody who lives there or who has read about it here. Nice post. Good job all around. Your photo skills are something to be appreciated.

Rajesh said...

Thank you all for appreciating the ancient fort.

Eden said...

Beautiful photos with great information. Thank you for sharing.

Maniparna said...

Have heard about this fort..really fascinating !

Anonymous said...

Majestic fort ...

Anonymous said...

beautiful. heard about this fort but never visited it. good to visit it through your blog. nice clicks.

Words Kraft said...

Good read...

Tomichan Matheikal said...

Looks grand and inviting.

Anonymous said...

Very Nicely Presented.. :)