Located on a pyramid shaped hilltop to the north - west of Aurangabad,
Daualabad fort is considered as one of the most spectacular forts in Maharashtra. Overshadowed
by a rock that rises 183 m above the plain, Daulatabad Fort is considered
as one of the most coveted forts of India.
Built by the Rashtrakuta kings who built the world famous
Kailas caves, the fort was ruled by the Yadavas between 1187 to 1318 AD.
In 1924, Allaudin Khilji stormed Daulatabad. Previously known as Deogiri,
it was renamed Daulatabad 'City of Fortune' by Mohammed-bin-Tuglak who
shifted his capital from Delhi to the impregnable fort 1100 km away (He
thinks that Delhi is too far north for his ambition to capture the whole
of Hindustan). It was here in 1347, Hasan Gangu Bahamani established the
Bahamaini kingdom, shifting soon after to Gulbarga and they ruled here
over 150 years. The fort was held as a fine fortress by successive dynasties
in the Deccan until it was taken over by the Nizams of Hyderabad in 1724
A.D. which was under their control till independence.
The Daulatabad fort, built on a 200 metre high conical
hill, has beautiful buildings and an ingenious defense systems. The fort
area is divided into three zones.
The outer one, 5-km long Amberkot covers
the Modern town of Daulatabad. Besides these, there are few ancient builidngs
including a hammam, wells and religious sites. The National Highway 211,
connecting Aurangabad to Ellora passes through the area covered by Amberkot.
The second one, Mahakot, enclosing an
area with a radius of half a km is currently the boundary of the fort
for all practical purposes. It consists of a double wall with number of
bastions. Around Mahakot, surrounding the fort is a water body. Out of
the eight gates, the first gate is the main visitor's entrance. The third
one is Balakot which is protected by a rock-cut trench
has a splendid entrance gate leading to the ancient caves. A number of
cannons can still be found on the bastions of the fort. A stairway into
the rock leads leads to a Mughal Baradari, built for Shah Jehan's visit
in 1636.
Inside the fort there are royal and religious structures
that are now in ruins. The main structures at Daulatabad are the Jami
Masjid and Chand Minar. The fort's central pink
minaret, Chand Minar (the Tower of the Moon) looked down over the approach
from the north and east and laid a defensive as well as religious role
in Daualatabad Fort. Sultan Ala-ud-din Bahmani (Sultan Ahmed Shah II),
a king of the Bahmani Dynasty built this in memory of his capture of the
fort. The 110 ft Chandminar is the second tallest tower in India after
the Qutb Minar. Stands atop the 200 m high hill, the minar has four storeys
with Gorgeous Persian glazed tiles and carved motifs. A brass crescent
moon crowns the top of this Minar.
Jama Masjid, the oldest Islamic monument at Daualatabad.
Built by the Khilji ruler of Delhi, Qutubuddin Mubarak in 1318, it is
located immediately south of the east-west path leading from the main
gate to the fort. Jami Masjid consists of a spacious courtyard considered
as the largest in Southern India. One can enter the mosque through domed
chambers approached by a flight of steps. The prayer hall consists of
106 carved columns arranged in 25 walkways, is said to have been recycled
from Hindu and Jain temples. Now the mosque converted into the temple
of Shri Bharata Mata.
The royal quarters feature pavilions, and courts which
are now in a ruined condition. One of the few well-preserved structures
is the 'Chini Mahal' or Chinese Palace. It is located
within the Kalakot just past the gate. The last king of Golconda, Abdul
Hasan Tana Shah was imprisoned here for 12 years until his death by the
Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. The blue Chinese tiles that once covered this
palace earned it the name Chini Mahal. The other preserved structure
in the fort is Elephant tank. It was the water supply
system of the Fort. The water was channeled through two large terracotta
pipes channel from the hills to the fruit and vegetable gardens of Daulatabad.
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Monuments 
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