- Zenia Karanjia
A fort that has been in use since 100 BCE, the Daulatabad fort has a fascinating history. It is one of the only forts that has never been captured in battle; however, it was captured once only due to treachery from within.
Daulatabad fort, also known as Deogiri fort or Devagiri fort is located on a hill close to Aurangabad in Maharashtra. The majestic and intricate fort has been the capital to some famous dynasties that once ruled in West India. Having stood through various periods of time, the fort has a fascinating history surrounded by facts, myths and legends. According to ancient belief, Lord Shiva lives in the hills surrounding the fort.
Daulatbad fort has fascinating defences. It stands high on a hill and only grants access to the summit across a narrow bridge. The lower slopes of the hill have been cut to create steep sides and strengthen defenses. The fort was surrounded by a deep moat infested with crocodiles which has since dried up.
There is said to be only one route to the upper reaches of the fortress, through a tunnel that is in a rock. In times of a siege, an iron barrier at the end of the long spiraling tunnel would be heated to such a point that no one could touch it. Thus successfully pushing back any attackers, who had managed to reach this far. What is most interesting however is that the Fort had been cleverly planned in such a way that it was possible to live within its walls for long stretches of time. One can also see a large area of storage space for food and a huge water tank, built within the fortified walls that would be able to provide water for an entire army for over six months, in case of a siege.
Four walls have enclosed the fort with a high mechanism to defend it against enemies. To protect people in times of war or other emergencies, different structures have been built all across the fort in different locations.
The walls of the structure are massive in length and thickness. The thickness of each wall is about six to nine feet, whereas the length extends to about 18-27 feet. Other walls of the fort, too, are specially equipped to hold within themselves certain arms and ammunition.
But, there were other smaller details that made the fort impenetrable. The fort had well-designed false gates on the left with a flag mast but the real gates were on the right side. This was done to confuse attacking armies. Since the hill was shaped as the smooth back of a tortoise, enemy armies could not utilize mountain lizards as climbers to access the fort. The fort even had spiked gates to prevent attack by elephants.
Besides the beautiful location and fascinating history, there are many spectacular structures inside the fort that make it unforgettable.
One of the most beautiful structures is the Chand Minar or the Moon Tower, which is modeled on the famous Qutub Minar and has a height of about 64 meters and features circular balconies, several chambers, and a small mosque at the base.
The Chini Mahal, a double-storied building where Aurangzeb kept the king of Golconda, Abul Hasan Tana Shah, imprisoned for 12 years also lies within the fort.
Besides structures, Andheri, a dark passage with twists and turns was built into the fort to confuse and trap intruders; and several Cannons including Durga Tope, Mendha Tope (the largest one in the fort), Kala Pahad, and many others are strategically placed all around the fort.
The fort continues to be in remarkably good shape and is a popular attraction in Aurangabad. The cunning maze of false passages and misdirections shows us why the fort was never captured and how in turn the invaders would get trapped inside the fort itself. Visiting the fort is like stepping into the past, and is a sight that must be seen at least once in a lifetime.
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