Forts have been symbols of protection, regal splendour, and even intrigue. They have encaptured within their walls the secrets of the kingdom and the architecture showcasing their culture, taste and style. Let’s look at some of them.
Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur, Rajasthan
Sunrise view of Mehrangarh Fort, one of India's largest forts offers a lift and galleries, plus guided tours & shops from Jodhpur the Blue City, Rajasthan, India
Mehrangarh Fort, one of the largest in the country, looms over Jodhpur from atop a rocky hill. It was built by the Rathore Rajputs. King Rao Jodha began constructing the fort in 1459, when he established his capital in Jodhpur. However, the work was completed only in the 20th century. Because of this long span of years, the fort has diverse architecture. The Mehrangarh fort continues to be maintained by the royal family, as a tourist destination. There are a series of palaces, restaurants, and even museums within the fort. Acclaimed music festivals such as the annual World Sacred Spirit Festival which is held every year in February and the Rajasthan International Folk Festival held in October, are hosted here.
Did you know? A small part of the movie, “The Dark Knight Rises”, was shot in this fort.
Golkonda fort, Hyderabad, Telangana
The original Golconda Fort, known as Mankal, was constructed during the Kakatiya empire, when a shepherd boy discovered an idol on the site. The initial structure was made of mud, and was later expanded by rulers like Rani Rudrama Devi, and the Qutb Shahi Empire. Situated in the western part of Hyderabad, about nine km from the Hussain Sagar Lake, the fort retains its magnificent halls, stables, four drawbridges and mounted cannons. One of its main attractions is the Fateh Darwaza (Victory Gate), named after Mughal emperor Aurangzeb captured the fort after a siege of over eight years. This fort also holds the distinction of having mines that produced the Hope Diamond, Darya-i-noor, and the controversial Koh-i-noor, to name a few. Today, this fort comes to life with the light-and-sound show, every evening, where snippets of its past take us on a fascinating journey.
Did you know? If a person standing near the dome entrance claps, it can be heard at the hilltop pavilion, a km away. This was to warn people of approaching danger.
Kangra Fort, Himachal Pradesh
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Said to be built around 3,500 years ago by Maharaja Susharma Chandra, a descendant of the Katoch dynasty, the fort traces its origins to the Trigarta Kingdom, mentioned in the Mahabharata. The fort is supposed to have had a great quantity of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls ever to be collected in a royal treasury. Little wonder that it was plundered and came under siege innumerable times by Mahmud Ghazni in 1009, Firuz Shah Tughluq in 1360, and Sher Shah in 1540. Akbar laid siege to it but could not conquer it. It would be his son, Jahangir who would have that success. The British took it over in 1846 after the Sikh war.
Did you know? Jahangir believed that he who commanded the fort of Kangra, would control the entire hills. This was probably why he went to war with Kangra many times, and didn’t give up until he had conquered it.
Vellore Fort, Tamil Nadu
This was once the seat of the Aravidu dynasty of the Vijayanagara Empire. The 16th century Vellore Fort was renowned for its wide moat and robust masonry. It passed through many hands — from the Vijayanagara kings, the sultans of Bijapur, the Marathas, the Carnatic Nawabs, to the British, until India became independent.
In 1806, the first uprising against the British broke out here. The British commander-in-chief of the Madras Army had prescribed a new round hat for the sepoys, to replace their turbans. He insisted on the removal of beards, caste markings and jewellery. The sepoys considered these orders to be offensive to their religious beliefs. The situation took a turn for the worse when the hat included a leather cockade, made from cow hide. On July 10, before sunrise, the sepoys stationed in the fort attacked the European barracks, and by late morning killed 15 officers, 100 British soldiers and ransacked their houses.
Did you know? After the death of Tipu Sultan in 1799, the British detained members of his family in this fort. On March 2, 1815, the Kingdom of Kandy, Sri Lanka, was ceded to the British and the last king, Sri Vikrama Rajasinha was deposed and taken as a royal prisoner by the British to Vellore Fort. He and his two wives, lived on a small allowance given to him by the British government.
