Travel Tales 4

Daulatabad Fort

On the way back from Ellora, I visited the Daulatabad Fort. I was exhausted with the long day at Ellora no doubt but the opportunity to see this heavily guarded fort was too much to resist. Daulatabad fort has a special history. It has been occupied by eight kingdoms, viz., Yadava, Khilji, Tughlaq, Bahamani, Nizamshahi, Mughal, Asafjahi and Marathas before it became a part of independent India.

Amberkot

This place was known as Deogiri (the abode of Gods) and ruled by the Yadavas in the 12^th century. Then followed three invasions by the Khiljis which ended the Yadava rule and began the rule of the Sultanate of Delhi.  Mohammad-bin-Tughlaq decided to make this his capital when he shifted the capital from Delhi. He named it Daulatabad. It’s another matter that he had to return back to Delhi very soon.

With the Sultanate growing weak, a power struggle in the Deccan led to Hasan Gangu, a General with the Sultanate, establishing the Bahamani kingdom. This kingdom broke up into five and Daulatabad came under Nizamshahi of Ahmednagar. The Mughals came and Shah Jehan captured this fort. His son, Aurangzeb made it the capital of the Deccan. After the power of the Mughals dwindled, it passed on to the Nizam of Hyderabad, founder of the Asafjahi dynasty. The Marathas occupied the fort for two years during the Nizam’s rule. In 1948, along with Hyderabad, this fort too became a part of independent India.

Ramparts

The fort stands atop a hill, the sides of which are so smooth that it is impossible to climb the fort from the sides. The fort has two moats, one which surrounds the fort and is dry, while the other surrounds the citadel at the top which is filled with water. There are three huge gates or ramparts you have to cross to enter this fort. The rampart, known as Kot are named Amberkot, Mahakot and Kalakot. Each one was heavily guarded.  As you walk from Amberkot towards Mahakot, you cross the area which was once Daulatabad town.

The moat full of water

 You then reach Mahakot, the entry to the citadel and there are 8 gates to cross. These gates are strategically designed so that the enemy cannot simply break open the barrier using elephants. Then you come across the moat filled with water. 

A Cannon guarding the fort

If you do cross the moat and Kalakot, you encounter the dark passage or Andheri. This passage is in complete darkness and the stairs are not symmetrical. More often than not, the enemies slipped and caused a stampede. Light filtering into the cave misled the enemy into thinking that this was the much sought after opening and led them straight into the moat infested with crocodiles. For those looking for another way out, stones were pelted from above. Still others who found their way out, stepped right on to a huge hot pan kept outside the exit. Besides these tactics, there were canons placed strategically. The enemy had no way of escaping. It is said that the fort fell into enemy hands only because of treachery. 

Chand Minar

The Hathi haud (tank)

The fort has several water tanks to look after the water supply which is scarce in this region. The Chand Minar commemorates the rule of Hasan Gangu and is seen rising majestically just before the entry to the citadel.