Why in news
A fire at Daulatabad Fort in Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district has prompted the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to initiate damage assessment and plan disaster management.
Daulatabad Fort
Significance:
Originally called Devgiri (Hill of Gods), it was renamed Daulatabad by Muhammad bin Tughlaq when he shifted his capital there in the 14th century.
It served as the capital of several dynasties including Yadavas, Tughlaqs, Bahmanis, Nizam Shahis, Mughals, and briefly the Marathas before the Nizams of Hyderabad.
It is a UNESCO-nominated heritage site, known for its historical, architectural, and ecological importance.
Architectural Brilliance
Daulatabad Fort is fortified in three layers Ambarkot, Mahakot, and Kalakot with moats, bastions, and iron-spiked gates.
It features a deadly tunnel called Andheri, used to trap and attack invaders.
Monuments and Structures Within:
Chand Minar (1435 CE): Indo-Islamic style victory tower modeled after Qutub Minar.
Bharat Mata Mandir, located within the fort, was previously the Jama Masjid during Qutub-ud-din Mubarak's reign (1318 CE).
Chini Mahal, a lavish palace turned prison by Aurangzeb.
Artillery and Cannons
Fort was equipped with ~288 cannons, a notable one is Aurangzeb’s Mendha also called Qila Shikan (fort-breaker), symbolized military power.
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