After waking up, the next day in Aurangabad, we went to see
i.e. the present "Daulatabad" fort. Devagiri Fort is located at a distance of 13 km from the central part of the city. Rickshaws and buses are available to reach here. Adjacent to the main and traffic roads, this fort easily catches your eyes. The fort was built during the Yadava period and later came to under Muhammad-bin-Tughluq in 1328.
The huge bastions, the wide area of the fort, the moat enclosure around the fort, the height of the fort make the fort easily eye-catching and that is why the fort emerged as the capital, in 1607 AD. Excellent town planning and deep study of Military Engineering are the great features of the architecture of the Fort. The main entrance is called "Aam Khas Dvar". As you enter the main entrance of the fort, it seems that the rows of cannons, on the right and left-hand side, have stopped to greet you.
We can see many such guns of small and big heights, of different sizes, and of different metals. Some of them are simple but some are engraved. It is safe to say that this fort is a collection of cannons.
After that, you will see two huge towers and a heightened gate, with a beautiful arch. The delicate sculptures of elephants on the walls surrounding the bastion are very nice in shape, and we feel that they welcome ours. Oh! How enchanting they are!!. Also, the identical windows built into the bastions add to the beauty of the bastion.
Strong construction, spacious terrain, and the architecture of deceiving the enemy of this Devagiri fort is still a subject of curiosity. The tall red stone tower in the center of the fort is very attractive. The area around the manor was formerly reserved for public gatherings at ancient times.
A little further walk on, you would reach a temple.
Tower
This is the "Temple of Mother India" which is unmatched anywhere else in all of India. The gabhara ( the place where idols are kept) is very small but the courtyard is large. Stone pillars have been erected at regular intervals to allow everyone to stand in the center of the temple. We proceeded, after the darshan of "Mother India" in this quiet and holy place.
Stone pillars in the temple courtyard
As we proceeded to see the fort, the secrets of the fort's structure became more and more revealed. The place we reached is called "Andheri". Due to this special internal structure of the fort, "Devagiri" remained impregnable forever. The "tunnel" is a winding tunnel built with an ingenious plan to encircle the entrances to the fort. As the name suggests, this part is always in darkness.
Bharat Mata Mandir
Finding a road in this area is challenging. The tunnel is long and the stairs are steep. The width and height of these steps are also uneven and difficult. The enemy soldiers who came to this place would find themselves in such a strange labyrinth. According to the guide here, there is only one way to get back to such a soldier and that is a bright road that leads straight to a ditch to kill him. Soldiers would jump to their deaths. This road is currently off-limits and closed. This dark part with many obstacles is the foundation and mystery of the impregnable structure of the fort.
As soon as we pass through such blindness, we reach the "Chinese palace". The king used to live in this palace which is very high. Since the Chinese palace is in the middle of the fort and on the heights, it was easy to observe the entire fort and its surroundings.
Next to the Chinese palace is the "Rang Mahal". The largest palace on the fort was used for special functions. Currently, Rang Mahal is in a dilapidated condition but is worth seeing.
The ramparts and moats of the fort visible from the Chinese palace
Rang Mahal
As mentioned at the outset, the fort is especially famous for its cannons. The "sheep cannon" here is one of them and it is also a wonderful piece of art. It is one of the oldest cannons in India and has a high-quality metalwork.
The cannon was made by Muhammad Hussein Arab and historians believe that the cannon has been engraved with its name as a symbol since it was in the possession of King Aurangzeb. The sentence written on the cannon is as follows - Abul Zafar Muhiddin Muhammad Aurangzeb Bahadur, Alamgiri Badshah Ghazi '. It is believed that the cannon is on the fort as a gift. The mouth of the sheep, its horns, the carvings on it, the metal used for the cannon, the height of the cannon, the weight are all too small to be discussed. What is special is that this cannon, which withstands much sun heat, cold, wind, and rain, is still in excellent condition. What magic!!
Metalwork on the gun
On the way down to the bottom of the fort, you come across a Ganapati temple. This temple is still in good condition today and the idol of Ganesha is enchanting. Seeing this good form of Ganapati, which is very simple but pleasing, all fades had gone away.
After resting on the bench near the temple for some time, we started our way back.
This historical monument with tremendous strength is still standing on the land of Maharashtra, seriously testifying to its history. Please visit this strengthened fort "Devagiri" or "Daulatabad" fort!!
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