Daulatabad Fort — Attraction in Maharashtra

Recently, I had the opportunity to visit Daulatabad Fort, a magnificent structure near Aurangabad, Maharashtra. This fort, with its rich history and breathtaking views, left me in complete awe. From its strategic location to its brilliant architectural design, every corner of the fort spoke volumes about its glorious past. Let me take you through my experience, along with some essential details about the fort’s history, accessibility, and what to expect when you visit.

A Brief History of Daulatabad Fort

Originally known as Devgiri Fort, it was built in the 12th century by King Bhillama V of the Yadava Dynasty. The fort stood strong as a significant military stronghold before it caught the attention of Muhammad bin Tughlaq, the Sultan of Delhi, in the 14th century. In 1327, he renamed it Daulatabad and even shifted his capital from Delhi to this place, though his plan ultimately failed due to lack of water supply and other logistical issues. Over the years, the fort saw the rule of various dynasties, including the Bahmanis, Nizam Shahis, Mughals, and Marathas, each leaving their mark on its architecture. Today, it stands as a symbol of India’s glorious past, drawing history enthusiasts and tourists from all over.

My Journey to Daulatabad Fort

Reaching Daulatabad Fort was quite convenient. The fort is located around 15 km from Aurangabad on the Aurangabad-Ellora highway, making it an easy stopover for those visiting the Ellora Caves. I took a cab from Aurangabad, and the drive was smooth, taking about 30-40 minutes. For those coming from Mumbai or Pune, the best option is to take a train or bus to Aurangabad and then hire a local cab or auto-rickshaw.

Timings & Entry Fee

The fort is open from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM every day. The entry fee is quite reasonable:

Indians: ₹25 per person

Foreigners: ₹300 per person

Children below 15 years: Free

There’s also a parking facility available near the entrance, which is useful for those traveling by private vehicle.

Exploring the Fort

As soon as I stepped inside, I realized that this wasn’t just another historical site—it was an architectural marvel. The fort is built on a 200-meter-high conical hill, making it almost impregnable. The only way up is through a series of steep steps, dark passages, and cleverly designed obstacles to confuse invaders.

One of the most fascinating features of the fort is the Bhool Bhulaiya (maze-like entrance). It consists of tricky passages and hidden traps, making it nearly impossible for enemies to penetrate. The Andheri (dark passage), a pitch-black tunnel designed to disorient intruders, was quite an eerie yet thrilling experience.

The fort also houses various structures such as:

Chand Minar, a 30-meter-high tower built by Alauddin Bahman Shah.

Bharat Mata Temple, originally a Jain temple, now dedicated to the spirit of India.

Baradari (Audience Hall), reservoirs, and canons, which highlight the strategic planning of the fort’s defense system.

The Breathtaking Eagle-Eye View

After climbing for about an hour, I finally reached the summit of the fort, and the view was absolutely worth every step. From the top, I could see miles of lush green fields, nearby villages, and the majestic Ellora caves in the distance. The panoramic view of the entire region made me appreciate why this location was chosen for such a grand fortress.

The sunset view from the fort is particularly mesmerizing. Watching the golden rays paint the fort’s walls while feeling the cool breeze was a perfect ending to my visit.

Final Thoughts

My visit to Daulatabad Fort was an unforgettable experience. The mix of history, adventure, and breathtaking views made it one of the best forts I have ever explored. Whether you're a history buff, a photography enthusiast, or just someone who loves adventure, this fort has something for everyone.

If you’re planning to visit Aurangabad or Ellora, I highly recommend adding Daulatabad Fort to your itinerary. Just remember to wear comfortable shoes, carry water, and...

Doulatabad Fort also called as Devgiri Fort is an unpenetrable fort without a traitor inside. I am writing this review from a tourist point of view and the excitement I felt trek upto the summit. The Fort is built on a hill of around 600 feet and thus trekking to the top is not for the faint hearted. If you have back/knee problem better to take it slow rather than stretching yourself as the pathway is rocky and the stair fit more for horses traversing it than humans

There is a paid parking albeit not maintained at all. The ticket counter is available before the entrance gate. You can pay by cash or scan a QR code or online through the ASI site. As you enter the fort the QR code would be scanned from your handheld device and thus allowed entry. Please note that plastic water bottles are not allowed and if you intend to go all the way to the top you will require water, thus please carry water bottles/sippers as you deem fit.

As you enter through the gate you will be find a small courtyard where ASI have displayed the various forts of Maharashtra and the unique canons in front of them. I just loved it and spent time reading about them to enhance my knowledge. As you pass the courtyard you will reach the Main entrance ( Mahakoot), where you can till date see the wooden doors are spiked with Iron rods to ensure that elephants cannot break in. The other interesting aspects is that as you cross the door there is a right turn with an open passage which ensures that even if someone breaches the gate there would be soldiers awaiting to kill with boulders, rocks, bow and arrow etc.

Once you cross the Mahakoot and continue to walk you will find large Orange structure called Chand Minar which stands around 210 feet in height. It can be reached on top through a spiral staircase however I found it closed at this point of time. On the opposite side please visit the Canon museum. This was conceptualised and executed by one of our archaeologist named Dr Dilip Kumar Khamari. My heartfelt tribute to his idea which allowed me to see 56 different types of Canons of different size and built and for different purposes.

As you continue further you will find the Chini fort, the name derived due to Chinese tiles used. The fort has an architectural style of Anglo Indian and thus caught my attention, Importantly, the spot is amazing to get a few clicks of Chand Minar from this spot. You will soon reach the Sarawati well the Moat which is normally there across any Forts. This is probably the most difficult breach for the enemy if they even reach here. Earlier there were no bridge to cross the moat and I am told that soldiers used to swing in with the help of Leather belts. If you have not taken a guide as the official guide charges around Rs 1800/- speak with the security guard and get to know of the details of Andheri ( Dark) Passage. This was done to ensure that if an enemy breach the moat and enter they would not be able to see anything and soldiers waiting in darkness can eliminate them completely.

As you go up further you will find Baradari a fantastic place for a 360 degree view from the fort. If you decide that you cannot go up further probably this is the place you can stay put for sometime before you start your descend. For others who can continue the best is yet to come. First you will be greeted with Kala Pahad canon and finally gigantic and powerful “Durga Canon” Catch on the air as much as possible and take a few sips of water before you walk back. The coming down is tougher than climbing and thus take it slow so that you don’t hurt your knees.

As you reach your Parking spot turn around and take a long look of the Fort and feel proud of what you have achieved.Bid goodbye with a thought and gratitude for our ancestors for building something so unique and a marvellous structure on a hill with no modern tools...

“Architecture is a visual art, and the buildings speak for themselves.” ......

Exploring Aurangabad Maharashtra.......the unconquered Fort of the world.........

DAULATABAD FORT This fort was built by the Yadava dynasty in 1187 and was known as Deogiri. When Muhammad Tughlak ascended the Delhi throne, he was so taken by the fortress that he decided to move his court and capital there, renaming it Daulatabad, "the City of Fortune". He ordered the entire population of Delhi to move out en masse to the new capital. Some of the prominent structures within the fort complex include the Mahakot which comprises four distinct lines of walls with 54 bastions that surround the fort for a length of nearly 5 kilometres. The walls are between 6 to 9 feet thick and 18 to 27 feet high with ammunition depots and granaries built along the interiors. Another interesting spot is the Hathi Haud a gigantic water tank admeasuring 38 x 38 x 6.6 meters with a capacity of about 10,000 cubic meters.A 5 kilometer strong wall, artificial scarping and a complicated series of defenses made Daulatabad Fort secure. The 30 meter high Chand Minar (Tower) built much later with 3 circular balconies played a defensive and religious role in the Fortress.......

How it was lost.......

Sultan Alauddin Khalji of the Khilji Dynasty annexed the fort in 1308 during his reign over the Delhi Sultanate. When it came under the control of Sultan Muhammad Bin Tughluq in 1327, he renamed it Daulatabad. He further shifted his capital from Delhi to Daulatabad and ordered a mass migration of his subjects from Delhi to the fort city. But in 1334, he shifted his capital back to Delhi.

Shortly after this, the fort came under the Bahmanis who added many structures to it including the Chand Minar, one of the famous minarets in the country. Later in 1499, it was passed on to the hands of the Nizam Shahis of Ahmednagar who also fortified the structure. The Mughals captured the fort in the 17th century and in the next couple of centuries, it passed several hands including the Marathas, Peshwas, and finally, the Nizams of Hyderabad who had it under their control till India gained independence.

Architecture and Defense System Spread across an area of over 94 hectares, the Daulatabad Fort Complex is a fine example of architectural genius. It used to house small fortified sectors that served specific purposes. These included Ambarkot (area for common people), Mahakot (residential area for people belonging to higher social strata), Kalakot (royal residential area), and Balakot (the pinnacle of the fort where the flag fluttered).

The fort complex also housed several structures including palaces, public audience halls, reservoirs, step wells, temples, mosques, court buildings, gigantic tanks, royal baths, and a victory tower, among others. Many of these structures were added to the fort as it passed from one dynasty to another. The citadel also had a unique water management system, several cannons, and ten incomplete rock-cut caves.

Back in the golden days, the fort boasted of a robust defense system comprising of a wet moat, a dry moat, a glacis, and three fortification walls with bastions and gates at regular intervals. A narrow bridge, where only two individuals can walk at a time, was the only means of access to the fort. A rock-cut tunnel, lofty gates equipped with iron spikes, gun-turrets positioned at strategic locations, false doors, stone wall mazes, complex entryways, and curved walls were its other prominent defense features. Unlike other forts, a single doorway acted as the entry and exit point...