Daulatabad, Maharashtra

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Daulatabad
दौलताबाद
veer
Town
The Devagiri-Daulatabad fort with a tunnel entrance, cannon post, and narrow access bridge
The Devagiri-Daulatabad fort with a tunnel entrance, cannon post, and narrow access bridge
Daulatabad is located in Maharashtra
Daulatabad
Daulatabad
Location of Daulatabad (Devagiri) in Maharashtra
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Country India
State Maharashtra
Region Marathwada
District Aurangabad
Demonym(s) Daulatabadi, Devagirikar
Language
 • Official Marathi
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN 431002
Vehicle registration MH-

Daulatabad also known as Devagiri is a town which includes the Devagiri-Daulatabad fort[1][2][3] It carries the distinction of remaining undefeated in battle. It is a 14th-century fort city in Maharashtra state of India, about 16 kilometers northwest of Aurangabad. The place was originally named Devagiri [4][5] when it was an important uplands city along caravan routes (ca. sixth century AD), but the intervening centuries have reduced it to a village. However it is also considered to be one of the seven wonders of Maharashtra and a developing tourist spot.[6][7][8][9]

Starting 1327, it famously remained the capital of Tughlaq dynasty, under Muhammad bin Tughluq (r. 1325-1351), who also changed its name, and forcibily moved the entire population of Delhi for two years before it was abandoned for lack of water and Tughluq was constantly known to shift the capital from Delhi to Devagiri and Devagiri to Delhi.[10]

There is a belief that Devagiri was built in 1203 AD by a Dhangar or herdsman who acquired vast wealth by his good fortune. He had a brother who was a shepherd named 'Raja Ram' and in correlation with it he assumed the rank of a Raja (King).[11]

Mythological origin

Lord Shiva is believed to have been stayed on the hills surrounding this region. Hence the fort was originally known as Devagiri literally (Hills of Gods).[12][13]

Fort of Daulatabad

The area of the city includes the hill-fortress of Devagiri (Marathi) (sometimes Latinised to Deogiri). It stands on a conical hill, about 200 meters high. Much of the lower slopes of the hill has been cut away by Yadava dynasty rulers to leave 50 meter vertical sides to improve defenses. The fort is a place of extraordinary strength. The only means of access to the summit is by a narrow bridge, with passage for not more than two people abreast, and a long gallery, excavated in the rock, which has for the most part a very gradual upward slope.[14]

About midway along this gallery, the access gallery has steep stairs, the top of which is covered by a grating destined in time of war to form the hearth of a huge fire kept burning by the garrison above.[15] At the summit, and at intervals on the slope, are specimens of massive old cannon facing out over the surrounding countryside. Also at the mid way, there is a cave entrance meant to confuse the enemies.[16]

The City

Devagiri (190 57’ N; 750 15’ E) is located at a distance of 15 km northwest of Aurangabad, the district headquarters and midway to Ellora group of caves.[17] The original widespread capital city is now mostly unoccupied and has been reduced to a village. Much of its survival depends on the tourists to the old city and the adjacent fort.

Devagiri-Daulatabad Fort -- Devagiri (Deogiri).
The Mughal Army captures Devagiri.
Capture of Devagiri Fort in 1633.

History

The site had been occupied since at least 100 BCE, and now has remains of Buddhist temples similar to those at Ajanta and Ellora.

The city is said to have been founded c. 1187 by Bhillama V, a prince who renounced his allegiance to the Chalukyas and established the power of the Yadava dynasty in the west.[18]


The Mughal Governor of the Deccan under Shah Jahan, captured the fortress in 1632 and imprisoned the Nizam Shahi prince Husain Shah.[19]

Monuments

The outer wall, 2.75 miles (4.43 km) in circumference, once enclosed the ancient city of Devagiri and between this and the base of the upper fort are three lines of defences.

Along with the fortifications, Devagiri contains several notable monuments, of which the chief are the Chand Minar and the Chini Mahal.[20] The Chand Minar is a tower 210 ft (64 m). high and 70 ft (21 m). in circumference at the base, and was originally covered with beautiful Persian glazed tiles. It was erected in 1445 by Ala-ud-din Bahmani to commemorate his capture of the fort. The Chini Mahal (literally: China Palace), is the ruin of a building once of great beauty. In it Abul Hasan Tana Shah, the last of the Qutb Shahi kings of Golconda, was imprisoned by Aurangzeb in 1687.[18]

Transport

Road Transport

Devagiri is in the outskirts of Aurangabad, and is on the Aurangabad - Ellora road (National Highway 2003). Aurangabad is well connected by road and 20 km away from Devagiri.[21]

Rail Transport

Daulatabad railway station is located on the Manmad-Purna section of Central Railways[22] and also on the Kachiguda-Manmad section of the Nanded Division of South Central Railway. Until reorganisation in 2012 ,it was a part of the Hyderabad Division Aurangabad is a major station near to Devagiri. The Devagiri Express regularly operates between Mumbai and Secunderabad via Aurangabad, Maharashtra

Gallery

  • Aurangabad - Daulatabad Fort (95).JPG
  • Daulatabad.jpg
  • Daulatabad fortification.JPG
  • Daulatabad Fort.jpg
  • Daulatabad reservoir 2.JPG
  • Daulatabad reservoir 1.JPG
  • Daulatabad fort ruins.JPG
  • Daulatabad entrance dome.JPG
  • Daulatabad entrance archway.JPG
  • Daulatabad entrance 2.JPG
  • Daulatabad Chand Minar topview.JPG
  • Daulatabad entrance 1.JPG
  • Daulatabad Chand Minar fullview.JPG
  • Daulatabad Chini Mahal side view.JPG
  • Daulatabad Chini Mahal front view.JPG
  • Daulatabad Chini Mahal far view.JPG

  • View from Pavilion

  • Canon pointing into distance from Pavilion

  • Pavilion, high up the fort

  • Aurangabad - Daulatabad Fort (30).JPG

    Track within Devgiri Fort

  • Devgiri Fort & Monument therein (i.e. Chand Minar)

See also

References

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External links


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  11. ↑ The Asiatic journal and monthly register for British and foreign India, pg 355. Published in 1827.
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