It was month of November but this area of Maharashtra was still hot if not very hot. We were looking for water bottles often and the fort inside have very few trees and so fort looks spread in vast area but did not look as elegant as would have been in its peak time. Beauty lacks in fort. Looks like its main purpose was defense. Historically this fort holds many pages in history as many rulers from Yadavas, Tuglaq, Behmani, Mughals, Nizams, Marathas set their foot there. So historically this fort is as important as any other famous forts. Those days it was a matter of proud and honor to own this fort.
Daultabad fort is built on 200 m high conical hill, was one of the most powerful forts of the medieval Deccan.
Where to stay in Aurangabad
The MTDC hotel is in city and has restaurant and in few acres. Lot of food points are available nearby also if you like. MTDC tourist bus is also available from hotel for Ajanta. Hotel is OK and in rage of Rs. 2100 to Rs.3000 per day. From Aurangabad autos are available to go to Daultabad fort, Ellora and Aurangzeb tomb. Booking link – https://www.mtdc.co/en/stays/mtdc-aurangabad
Where to stay in Shirdi
https://www.mtdc.co/en/stays/mtdc-shirdi
Where to stay in Ajanta
There are two MTDC hotels in Ajanta. MTDC Fardapur and MTDC Ajanta T point. MTDC Fardapur is better one but slightly far from Ajanta caves. While T Point is nearer.
Autos are available from Ajanta to these hotels. Hotel is OK and in rage of Rs. 2100 to Rs.3000 per day. Restaurant is available in both. ONLINE booking is mandatory in these.
Booking link – https://www.mtdc.co/en/stays/mtdc-ajanta-fardapur
Booking link – https://www.mtdc.co/en/stays/mtdc-ajanta-t-point
Our itinerary
The fort is very big and is surrounded by 3 layers of high wall which are now almost fallen to earth. Outermost wall was about 4.5 miles and those days Deogiri city was encircled inside the outer wall.
It was November, arrival of cold season but this region of Maharastra is throughout the year hot. When we were walking in fort it was so hot and soil looked too arid and that was the blunder by Mohammed Tuglaq that without proper study of the water scarcity he ordered shifting of the capital from Delhi to Daultabad.
It was founded by Yadavas of Devgiri (City of Gods) win 11th century by Yadava dynasty first king Bhillamma V in 1187 AD. Later it was captured by Tuglaq dynasty (1284 AD AD and remained its capital till 1351 AD. Famous incident of transfer of Delhi to Daultabad and vice versa Mohd. Bin Tuglaq is associated with this. After this this fort was annexed by Bahmani ruler Hasan Gangu. In 1499 it was capturd by Nizam of Ahmednagar and later Mughals Akbar and Shahjahan in 1607. Later it came under siege of Marathas and then Nizams of Hyderabad in 1724 AD.
From religious point of view Daultabad is the place from where Sufism spread in South India.
As first line of defense none of the gates are parallel and spikes are used on gates. The flag mast is on the left hill, which the enemy will try to capitulate, thus will always turn left. But the real gates of the fort are on the right & the false ones on the left, thus confusing the enemy.
As we move forward we come across Hathi Kund ( Elephant pond) and Bharat Mata temple ( ancient).
The fort is maintained well and we see a few garden areas inside the fort maintained in spite of water scarcity.
The fort seems to me in two parts. Old and new. Newer part of the fort is mostly built by Bahmani rulers like Hasan Gangu.
There is a museum coming up recently.
Then we further move forward and come across Chand Minar.
Next was 4th gate and it seems to me that ancient part before 1300 AD starts from this gate.
Andheri (Bhool Bhullayya or Maze)
After seeing the maze we come down and cover few steps to see Medha (Sheep faced) cannon.
From top of this cannon we can see Nizam Mahal. This is almost dilapidated but effort are going on these days to repair it at large scale.
A few good scenes inside this fort.
Epilogue
सब कुछ पा कर भी हासिले ज़िंदगी कुछ भी नहीं
मैंने देखे है एक से एक सिकंदर खIली हाथ जाते हुए I
When you come to see Ajanta and Ellora you would not like to miss to see this fort. This fort was once upon an apple among many rulers and it was matter of proud and high honor to own this fort. It was like gateway to south. Mohammad Bin Tuglaq (Turk-Indian) had ordered to shift his capital to this fort in 1327 AD in order to rule South of India like Behmani, of Bijapur Kaktiya etc. Just few kilometers away are Tomb of Aurangjeb and Ellora.
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