India never ceases to amaze me . Recently on a trip to aurangabad i visited ellora caves about which i have blogged two days back . I was awestruck by Ellora .
But if i thought Ajanta and Ellora was the end of the wonders of Aurangabad , i am totally wrong . That came in the form of Daulatabad Fort . Having seen the largest fort in india in Rajasthan , the Chittor fort , i told my driver --- Ok since its part of my itinery take me there i will come back after seeing it in 10 minutes . I took four hours just seeing half of it .
Daulatabad fort is a large fort set atop a hill and surrounded by a valley surrounded by at least ten hills . It is a fort almost 900 years old and was ruled by many kingdoms including Mughals . Daulat the word meaning means wealth shows that this fort was very rich in its active days . The fort had so many defences that it could never be conquered by direct attack in all its time . The strategic position atop a huge hill and surrounded by so many hills gave a great vantage point . And this vantage point was not just for looking . Just on entry into the fort you are greeted by at least a dozen cannons --- for a minute you feel you have come for a cannon exhibition . Cannons made of bronze , cannons of calibre larger than a human torso ( in olden days there was even a punishment of putting criminal in place of cannon ball ) , cannons shaped like modern howitzers is all arranged in the courtyard . Then there is the usual door of the fort , massive is an understatement . Then the walk begins . The entry into the fort is many kilometres long almost without exception steep . Imagine walking a staircase for 15 minutes . Now imagine walking at such gradient for 2-4 hours . I was panting and looked around to check whether any "fit "men were walking past . I saw 3 hotblooded 17 year old gym guys sitting and panting a few metres away . A 14 year old boy was gasping and walking . So i understood my fitness level was adequate for my old age :)
I want to stress this because this was just another defence in their system . Compared to even the Chittor fort this fort has only one entrance and even the fit soldiers will be gasping while they reach half way . And i can rest in 21st century , but at that time the fort was teaming with well rested soldiers guarding the fort who will kill these gasping invaders .
Panting and resting and crawling i trekked for an hour and reached the moat . Nowadays there is an iron bridge accross this moat but during its active days this moat was filled with crocodiles and was very deep . Even now it is filled with water and there were dam systems to flood it to such an extent that the only entry point which was stone bridge would immerse completely . In short the actual bridge was constructed below the level of the incoming road . Kudos to the architecture 900 years back .
Imagine you somehow(i dont know how ) got past this defence . Then there is the dark alley . Pitch black stairway with many secret chambers filled with defending soldiers . When you grope in the dark you will be slaughtered by these defenders and if you have night vision and run ahead there is a place which is a trapdoor which takes you directly into the crocodile infested moat . And still if you escape and walk ahead soldiers above had an opening to pour boiling oil on the unfortunate .
This is half my journey . I had not reached the top . The person who sold me guidebook told that it is at least an hours climb from that point to reach the top . This much trek/climb/cardiovascular fitness exercise was enough for me . I was thrilled by this fort , for it was different . And no wonder it was never conquered during the many centuries by direct attack . Check out the google pics of this fort and when you get time and am sure of your physical fitness ---visit it -- and enjoy the TREK
But if i thought Ajanta and Ellora was the end of the wonders of Aurangabad , i am totally wrong . That came in the form of Daulatabad Fort . Having seen the largest fort in india in Rajasthan , the Chittor fort , i told my driver --- Ok since its part of my itinery take me there i will come back after seeing it in 10 minutes . I took four hours just seeing half of it .
Daulatabad fort is a large fort set atop a hill and surrounded by a valley surrounded by at least ten hills . It is a fort almost 900 years old and was ruled by many kingdoms including Mughals . Daulat the word meaning means wealth shows that this fort was very rich in its active days . The fort had so many defences that it could never be conquered by direct attack in all its time . The strategic position atop a huge hill and surrounded by so many hills gave a great vantage point . And this vantage point was not just for looking . Just on entry into the fort you are greeted by at least a dozen cannons --- for a minute you feel you have come for a cannon exhibition . Cannons made of bronze , cannons of calibre larger than a human torso ( in olden days there was even a punishment of putting criminal in place of cannon ball ) , cannons shaped like modern howitzers is all arranged in the courtyard . Then there is the usual door of the fort , massive is an understatement . Then the walk begins . The entry into the fort is many kilometres long almost without exception steep . Imagine walking a staircase for 15 minutes . Now imagine walking at such gradient for 2-4 hours . I was panting and looked around to check whether any "fit "men were walking past . I saw 3 hotblooded 17 year old gym guys sitting and panting a few metres away . A 14 year old boy was gasping and walking . So i understood my fitness level was adequate for my old age :)
I want to stress this because this was just another defence in their system . Compared to even the Chittor fort this fort has only one entrance and even the fit soldiers will be gasping while they reach half way . And i can rest in 21st century , but at that time the fort was teaming with well rested soldiers guarding the fort who will kill these gasping invaders .
Panting and resting and crawling i trekked for an hour and reached the moat . Nowadays there is an iron bridge accross this moat but during its active days this moat was filled with crocodiles and was very deep . Even now it is filled with water and there were dam systems to flood it to such an extent that the only entry point which was stone bridge would immerse completely . In short the actual bridge was constructed below the level of the incoming road . Kudos to the architecture 900 years back .
Imagine you somehow(i dont know how ) got past this defence . Then there is the dark alley . Pitch black stairway with many secret chambers filled with defending soldiers . When you grope in the dark you will be slaughtered by these defenders and if you have night vision and run ahead there is a place which is a trapdoor which takes you directly into the crocodile infested moat . And still if you escape and walk ahead soldiers above had an opening to pour boiling oil on the unfortunate .
Excellent
ReplyDeleteShaheedo ki chitao par lagenge har baras mele
Vatan par mitne walo ki yahi baqi nihan hoga.
It’s a story of thousands years. Few hrs for visiting less than that for writing and few minutes for reading but a detail story of footstep of those freedom fighters who fight their enemies to save their territories as well as citizens. And leave a grand history which tells us the story of their knowledge and level of understanding of science and technology.
@irfana thanks for the thoughtful comment ... be it daulatabad fort, chittor fort, taj mahal or mysore palace each place is great not only because of architectural marvel but tells about the courage and spirit of indians
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