The Labyrinthine Daulatabad Fort

Who doesn't love the grandeur of the animated Disney Castles? Big palaces, massive doors, secret passages and stairways take us to a Utopian world. Wondering why Disney Castles now? The labyrinthine Daulatabad Fort in the corner of Aurangabad gives a good competition to all other forts.

In fact, the fort itself is known as BhoolBhulaiya (a maze) for its unique construction. A castle, well protected by several levels of compounds (kot) creates a curiosity in everyone.

Chand Minar
Photo Courtesy: Sankarshan Mukhopadhyay

What begins as a normal fort ends up as a hill fort; Daulatabad Fort is built on top of a Pyramid shaped hill which gives a new look to the entire premises.

As you journey through the NH 211 from Aurangabad to Ellora Caves, the outer lining (ramparts) called the Amberkot leads towards this unusual fort. Next stop is the inner level named as Mahakot with the main gate and several other entrances to the fort.

Arch in Daulatabad Fort
Photo Courtesy: Danial Chitnis

That's not it and we are still no where near the actual fort! Massive doors with spiked nails like the one in Shaniwar Wada tells us about the defence strategies.

Right from the start, Daulatabad Fort doesn't fail to entertain the explorers. Though it is flourished under the rule of Mohammed Bin Tughlaq, originally it was built by the Rashtrakuta Kings.

Remains of a palace in Daulatabad Fort
Photo Courtesy: Todd vanGoethem

Put your steps forward to Kalakot, the last kot (compound wall) to enter the fort premises. Interestingly, again it's like an animated fort from here as well. A moat surrounding the pyramid hill has to be crossed to go inside the fort. Dark passageways, curvy staircases, huge iron cannons, ruined buildings, water tanks accompany your voyage till the upper fort.

One interesting detail is about the temples inside the fort. Once known as Devagiri, the fortress was under the rule of several dynasties. Hence, the existence of temples in a Mughal dominated property is not a surprise.

One of the Entrances to the Fort
Photo Courtesy: Danial Chitnis

After exploring the Orange coloured Chan's Minar (a Minaret), head towards the top through the dark alleys which will give you goosebumps. Only after crossing such zig zag passages and many steps that one can reach the top (the Palace).

Phew! Aren't you feeling like Chakravyuha ( a defence strategy to cover enemy from all the sides). Conquering Daulatabad was definitely a task, just imagine the kind of planning they needed to cross one gate!

Cannon inside the fort
Photo Courtesy: Sankarshan Mukhopadhyay

Mohammad Bin Tughalq made Devagiri his capital and renamed it as Daulatabad which remains as one of the architectural wonders in Maharashtra till today.

Don't you want to explore this fort of mazes?