Gawilghur - Revision history

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			{{short description\|Historic fortress in Maharashtra, India}}
	{{Infobox military installation		{{Infobox military installation
	\|name =Gawilghur fort		\|name =Gawilghur fort
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	\|caption = Gavilgad fort walls		\|caption = Gavilgad fort walls
	\|map_type=India Maharashtra		\|map_type=India#India Maharashtra
	\|map_size = 300		\|map_size = 300
	\|map_caption = Shown within Maharashtra		\|map_caption = Shown within Maharashtra
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	'''Gawilghur''' (also '''Gawilgarh''' or '''Gawilgad''') was a well-fortified mountain stronghold of the [[Maratha Empire]] north of the [[Deccan Plateau\|Deccan]] Plateau, in the vicinity of [[Melghat Tiger Reserve]], [[Amravati District]],<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.fortsofsahyadri.friendsofforts.com/list_of_maharashtraforts.htm \|title=Friends of forts \|accessdate=2009-02-02 \|url-status=dead \|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090405125744/http://www.fortsofsahyadri.friendsofforts.com/list_of_maharashtraforts.htm \|archivedate=2009-04-05 }}</ref> Maharashtra. It was [[Capture of Gawilghur\|successfully assaulted]] by an Anglo-Indian force commanded by [[Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington\|Arthur Wellesley]] on 15 December 1803 during the [[Second Anglo-Maratha War]]. The campaign to take Gawilghur ~~forms the background of~~ the novel ''[[Sharpe's Fortress]]'' by [[Bernard Cornwell]], the third in a series of books covering ~~the hero~~'s ~~time~~ in the British army in India during the [[Napoleonic era]].		'''Gawilghur''' (also, '''Gavalgadh''', '''Gawilgarh''' or '''Gawilgad''', Pronunciation: [[Help:IPA/Marathi\|[ɡaːʋilɡəɖ]]]) was a well-fortified mountain stronghold of the [[Maratha Empire]] north of the [[Deccan Plateau\|Deccan]] Plateau, in the vicinity of [[Melghat Tiger Reserve]], [[Amravati District]],<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.fortsofsahyadri.friendsofforts.com/list_of_maharashtraforts.htm \|title=Friends of forts \|accessdate=2009-02-02 \|url-status=dead \|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090405125744/http://www.fortsofsahyadri.friendsofforts.com/list_of_maharashtraforts.htm \|archivedate=2009-04-05 }}</ref> Maharashtra. It was [[Capture of Gawilghur\|successfully assaulted]] by an Anglo-Indian force commanded by [[Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington\|Arthur Wellesley]] on 15 December 1803 during the [[Second Anglo-Maratha War]]. The campaign to take Gawilghur is portrayed in the novel ''[[Sharpe's Fortress]]'' by [[Bernard Cornwell]], the third in a series of books covering [[Richard Sharpe (character)\|Richard Sharpe]]'s service in the British army in India during the [[Napoleonic era]].

	== History ==		== History ==

	The fort takes its name from the [[Gawli]] (cow herds) who inhabited the Berar (modern day Amravati) for centuries. Earlier the fort was likely just made of mud as were several such areas in the region. The exact date of construction is not known but the Persian historian, [[Firishta]], records that Ahmed Shah Wali, the ninth king of the ~~Muzaffarid~~ dynasty built Gawilgarh when he was encamped at Ellichpur in 1425.<ref name="landmark">{{cite book\|last=Haig\|first=Wolseley\|title=Historic Landmarks of the Deccan\|publisher=Pioneer Press\|year=1907\|pages=[https://archive.org/details/historiclandmar00haiggoog/page/n156 146]–160\|url=https://archive.org/details/historiclandmar00haiggoog\|quote=gawilgarh.\|accessdate=2009-02-18}}</ref> Likely this was the date when major fortification was carried out.		The fort takes its name from the [[Gawli]] (cow herds) who inhabited the Berar (modern day Amravati) for centuries. Earlier the fort was likely just made of mud as were several such areas in the region. The exact date of construction is not known but the Persian historian, [[Firishta]], records that Ahmed Shah Wali, the ninth king of the Bahamani dynasty built Gawilgarh when he was encamped at Ellichpur in 1425.<ref name="landmark">{{cite book\|last=Haig\|first=Wolseley\|title=Historic Landmarks of the Deccan\|publisher=Pioneer Press\|year=1907\|pages=[https://archive.org/details/historiclandmar00haiggoog/page/n156 146]–160\|url=https://archive.org/details/historiclandmar00haiggoog\|quote=gawilgarh.\|accessdate=2009-02-18}}</ref> Likely this was the date when major fortification was carried out.

	In 1803 during the [[Second Anglo-Maratha War\|2nd Maratha War]] the fort was besieged by Arthur Wellesley (later [[Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington\|Duke of Wellington]]).<ref name=Naravane>{{Cite book \|last=Naravane \|first=M.S. \|title=Battles of the Honorourable East India Company \|publisher=A.P.H. Publishing Corporation \|year=2014 \|isbn=9788131300343 \|pages=72–73}}</ref> After two failed attempts at the main gate by British and Sepoy companies, and many casualties, Captain Campbell led the 94th ~~Scottish Brigade~~ (light company) up the ravine dividing the inner and outer forts and into the inner fort by [[escalade]]. The Scots then forced the northern gatehouse and opened the many gates, allowing the remaining British forces entry. The British suffered few casualties in the final assault (approx. 150). The fortress was returned to the Marathas after making peace with the British but they abandoned it.		In 1803 during the [[Second Anglo-Maratha War\|2nd Maratha War]] the fort was besieged by Arthur Wellesley (later [[Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington\|Duke of Wellington]]).<ref name=Naravane>{{Cite book \|last=Naravane \|first=M.S. \|title=Battles of the Honorourable East India Company \|publisher=A.P.H. Publishing Corporation \|year=2014 \|isbn=9788131300343 \|pages=72–73}}</ref> After two failed attempts at the main gate by British and Sepoy companies, and many casualties, Captain Campbell led the 94th Highlanders (light company) up the ravine dividing the inner and outer forts and into the inner fort by [[escalade]]. The Scots then forced the northern gatehouse and opened the many gates, allowing the remaining British forces entry. The British suffered few casualties in the final assault (approx. 150). The fortress was returned to the Marathas after making peace with the British but they abandoned it.

	== Major features ==		== Major features ==

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2021-06-15T19:20:21Z

Restored revision 958780833 by WikiCleanerBot (talk): Deep rv to the last best version.

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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2017}}
{{Infobox military installation
|name =Gawilghur fort
|partof =
|location = [[Amravati District]], [[Maharashtra]]
|image = [[File:Gawilgarh Fort - C.SHELARE.jpg|300px]]
|caption = Gavilgad fort walls
|map_type=India Maharashtra
|map_size = 300
|map_caption = Shown within Maharashtra
|type = Hill fort
|coordinates ={{coord|21|22|56|N|77|20|2|E|display=inline,title}}
|code =
|built = 1425-26 AD
|builder = [[Ahmed Shah of Gujarat|Ahmed Shah I]]
|materials = Stone
|height = {{convert|1103|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} ASL
|used = 1425-1803 AD
|demolished =
|condition =
|ownership = Government of India
|open_to_public = Yes
|controlledby = [[Muzaffarids (Gujarat)|Muzaffarid dynasty]], [[Marathas]], [[East India Company]]
|garrison =
|current_commander =
|commanders =
|battles =
|events =
|image2 =
|caption2 =
}}
'''Gawilghur''' (also '''Gawilgarh''' or '''Gawilgad''') was a well-fortified mountain stronghold of the [[Maratha Empire]] north of the [[Deccan Plateau|Deccan]] Plateau, in the vicinity of [[Melghat Tiger Reserve]], [[Amravati District]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fortsofsahyadri.friendsofforts.com/list_of_maharashtraforts.htm |title=Friends of forts |accessdate=2009-02-02 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090405125744/http://www.fortsofsahyadri.friendsofforts.com/list_of_maharashtraforts.htm |archivedate=2009-04-05 }}</ref> Maharashtra. It was [[Capture of Gawilghur|successfully assaulted]] by an Anglo-Indian force commanded by [[Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington|Arthur Wellesley]] on 15 December 1803 during the [[Second Anglo-Maratha War]]. The campaign to take Gawilghur forms the background of the novel ''[[Sharpe's Fortress]]'' by [[Bernard Cornwell]], the third in a series of books covering the hero's time in the British army in India during the [[Napoleonic era]].

== History ==

The fort takes its name from the [[Gawli]] (cow herds) who inhabited the Berar (modern day Amravati) for centuries. Earlier the fort was likely just made of mud as were several such areas in the region. The exact date of construction is not known but the Persian historian, [[Firishta]], records that Ahmed Shah Wali, the ninth king of the Muzaffarid dynasty built Gawilgarh when he was encamped at Ellichpur in 1425.<ref name="landmark">{{cite book|last=Haig|first=Wolseley|title=Historic Landmarks of the Deccan|publisher=Pioneer Press|year=1907|pages=[https://archive.org/details/historiclandmar00haiggoog/page/n156 146]–160|url=https://archive.org/details/historiclandmar00haiggoog|quote=gawilgarh.|accessdate=2009-02-18}}</ref> Likely this was the date when major fortification was carried out.

In 1803 during the [[Second Anglo-Maratha War|2nd Maratha War]] the fort was besieged by Arthur Wellesley (later [[Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington|Duke of Wellington]]).<ref name=Naravane>{{Cite book |last=Naravane |first=M.S. |title=Battles of the Honorourable East India Company |publisher=A.P.H. Publishing Corporation |year=2014 |isbn=9788131300343 |pages=72–73}}</ref> After two failed attempts at the main gate by British and Sepoy companies, and many casualties, Captain Campbell led the 94th Scottish Brigade (light company) up the ravine dividing the inner and outer forts and into the inner fort by [[escalade]]. The Scots then forced the northern gatehouse and opened the many gates, allowing the remaining British forces entry. The British suffered few casualties in the final assault (approx. 150). The fortress was returned to the Marathas after making peace with the British but they abandoned it.

== Major features ==

The fort has several inscriptions in Persian recording the date of building of each of its seven gates. It has two water tanks (''Devtalav'' and ''Khantalav''),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/AMRAVATI/places_Gavilgad.html|title=Amravati District Gazetteer|accessdate=2009-02-20}}</ref> which would have been the main water source in case the fort was besieged. Within the fort the ruins of a mosque are the most conspicuous. It stands at the highest point in the inner fort and is built in the [[Pathan]] style of architecture. The mosque has a square canopy with intricate stone lattice work and a seven arched façade. The mosque originally had two minarets, only one of which is intact today.<ref name="mtdc">{{cite web|url=http://www.maharashtratourism.gov.in/MTDC/HTML/MaharashtraTourism/Default.aspx?strpage=../MaharashtraTourism/TouristDelight/Forts/GavilgarhFort.html|title=Maharashtra Government Tourism |accessdate=2009-02-20}}</ref>

Gafur Ahmed, a jaglia (tenant) of the [[Narnala]] fort, tried to determine whether the chambers built into the fort of [[Narnala]] had any use by driving 20 sheep into them. One of the sheep turned up at Gawilgarh which is more than 20 miles away.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://akola.nic.in/Gazetteers/maharashtra/places_Narnala.html|title=Akola District Gazetteer|accessdate=2009-02-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410084847/http://akola.nic.in/Gazetteers/maharashtra/places_Narnala.html|archive-date=10 April 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> So, probably there is a tunnel connecting the two forts.

There are several unrepaired breaches made by British guns, which remain to this day. The gun that killed five attackers with a single shot still stands, although now with graffiti running the length of the barrel.

==See also==
*[[Capture of Gawilghur]]
*[[List of forts in Maharashtra]]

== References ==
{{commonscat}}
{{reflist}}

{{Forts in Maharashtra}}
{{Forts in India}}
{{Berar}}

[[Category:Berar]]
[[Category:Forts in Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Amravati district]]
[[Category:Forts in Vidarbha]]
[[Category:Historical places Vidarbha ]]