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{{Use Indian English|date=July 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox military installation
|name = Warangal Fort <br />Orugallu Fort
|partof =
|location= [[Warangal]], [[Telangana]], India
|image = Shiv Linga at Warangal Fort Complex.jpg
|caption = View of the Shiva Lingam at the Fort complex
|map_type = India Telangana
|map_size = 250
|map_caption =
|type = [[Fort]]
|coordinates = {{coord|17|57|21|N|79|36|52|E|type:landmark|display=inline}}
|code =
|built = 13th century
|builder = [[Prataparudra II]]<br />[[Musunuri Nayakas|Musunuri Kapaya Nayaka]]
|materials = Stone and mud
|height =
|used =
|demolished =
|condition = Ruins
|open_to_public = Yes
|controlledby =
|garrison =
|current_commander =
|commanders =
|occupants =
|battles = [[Siege of Warangal (1310)]] <br /> [[Siege of Warangal (1318)]]<br /> [[Siege of Warangal (1323)]]
|events =
|image2 =
|caption2 =
}}
'''Warangal Fort''' is located in [[Warangal|Warangal District]], [[Telangana]], [[India]]. It was the capital city of [[Kakatiyas|Kakatiya dynasty]] and [[Musunuri Nayakas]]. It appears to have existed since at least the 12th century when it was the capital of the [[Kakatiya dynasty|Kakatiyas]]. The fort has four ornamental gates, known as [[Kakatiya Kala Thoranam]], that originally formed the entrances to a now ruined great Shiva temple. The Kakatiyan arch has been adopted and officially incorporated into the [[emblem of Telangana]] after the bifurcation of [[Andhra Pradesh]].<ref name=Symbol>{{Cite web|url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/140530/nation-current-affairs/article/kakatiya-arch-charminar-telangana-state-logo|title= Kakatiya arch, Charminar in Telangana state logo|access-date=1 July 2015|date= 30 May 2014|work=Deccan Chronicle}}</ref> The fort is included in the "[[List of World Heritage Sites in India#Tentative list of Heritage sites|tentative list]]" of [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]] and was submitted by the Permanent Delegation of India to UNESCO on 10/09/2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5573/|title= Qutb Shahi Monuments of Hyderabad Golconda Fort, Qutb Shahi Tombs, Charminar - UNESCO World Heritage Centre|first=UNESCO World Heritage|last=Centre|website=whc.unesco.org}}</ref><ref>http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Layout/Includes/EDU/ArtWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=EDU&BaseHref=TOIM%2F2012%2F06%2F24&ViewMode=HTML&PageLabel=22&EntityId=Ar02201&AppName=1 {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2022}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Rudrama devi vigraham.JPG|upright|thumb|260px|Statue of [[Rudrama Devi]], one of the rulers of the [[Kakatiya dynasty]] and builder of the fort complex]]
Initially, [[Warangal]] was under the rule of the [[Rashtrakuta dynasty]] in the 8{{nbsp}}century AD and [[Western Chalukya Empire]] in 10th{{nbsp}} century AD; in the 12th{{nbsp}}century, it came under the control of the sovereign [[Kakatiya dynasty]].{{Sfn|Satt(h)|Satt(h)u|2004|p=85}} Although precise dating of its construction and subsequent enhancements is uncertain, historians and archaeologists generally agree that an earlier brick-walled structure was replaced with stone by [[Ganapatideva]] (1199 AD-1262 AD), and was completed by his daughter [[Rudrama Devi]], who ruled until 1289, and further strengthened by her grandson [[Prataparudra II|Prataparudra II II]], whose reign came to be known as a "Golden Age". Twenty years later, the kingdom was conquered by the [[Delhi Sultanate]]. {{Sfn|Eaton|2005|p=17}}

Ganapatideva, Rudrama Devi, and Prataparudra II II all added to the fort's height, building gateways, square [[bastion]]s, and additional circular earthen walls. This places the construction towards the end of the [[Kakatiya]] period.{{Sfn|Sardar|2007|pp=25–26}}

In 1309, [[Malik Kafur]], the general of [[Alauddin Khalji]], [[Siege of Warangal, 1310|attacked the fort]] with a large force of 100,000 men{{Sfn|Texas|2001|p=153}} and surrounded it. Prataparudra II{{nbsp}}II and his people secured themselves within the formidable stone-walled fort and battled bravely for several months with the invading army. As the siege was unable to be lifted for more than six months, Prataparudra II{{nbsp}}II agreed to a truce with Kafur, as the latter had unleashed massive destruction on the neighboring towns and villages. This truce included the notable [[Koh-i-Noor]] diamond along with various precious treasures, which he took it back to Delhi.{{Sfn|Puri|Das|2003|p=41}}

This siege was chronicled by [[Amir Khusrow]], who described how the fortifications consisted of a strong outer hardened mud structure with a deep ditch in front that had to be filled with dirt before the army could surmount it. The inner fortress was built of stone and surrounded by a moat that the Muslim soldiers swam across. The fort as described by Khusrow corresponds to the two inner circles of fortifications that exist today, and is visible from above.{{Sfn|Texas|2001|p=153}} When Kafur finally left the fort in March 1310, he carried away the bounty on 2,000 camels.{{Sfn|Puri|Das|2003|p=41}} The conditions of forging peace with the [[Delhi Sultanate]] included a clause that Prataparudra II II would pay an annual tribute and that he would bow every day towards Delhi as a tributary king denoting his subordinate status to the Sultan of Delhi.

Again in 1318, Warangal Fort was attacked by the Sultanate army of [[Qutbuddin Mubarak Shah]] commanded by [[Khusro Khan]], a son of Alauddin Khalji and was held in a siege. The invaders put up a {{convert|450|ft}} earthen ramp across the moat which enabled them to breach the stone walls of the fort and capture it. Prataparudra II II again paid a huge tribute to the Sultan in the form of a contingent of horses and elephants, which became an annual fee to be paid to the Delhi Sultanate.

In 1320, the then ruler of Delhi who had replaced Khalji, Sultan [[Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq]], sent his son [[Ulugh Khan]] to attack Warangal fort once again, as Prataparudra II had not accepted the Tughluqs as overlords and refused to pay the tribute. For a third and final time, the fort was attacked by Sultan [[Muhammad bin Tughluq]] ({{Reign}}{{nbsp}}1325–1351), who held siege over the fort. Due to internal dissension, Ulugh Khan had to retreat to [[Devagiri]]. After a temporary respite of 4–6 months, Ulugh Khan came back in 1323 with 63,000 mounted soldiers carrying archery, [[Siege of Warangal, 1323|attacked the fort]] and used brutal tactics to breach the walls for 5 months with huge loss of men, possible only due to a doggedly attempt by Prataprudra II who manned the fort with only a few thousand troops as many of them were sent away across the countryside, and food supplies which were thrown open to the citizens to celebrate their victory over the Tughlaqs. He resorted to massacre of the population outside the fortress, which forced Prataparudra II to accept surrender and opened the fort gates. The Sultanate forces then plundered and destroyed the capital within and outside the stone wall, depriving it of its beautiful temples, royal enclosures, water tanks, palaces, farmlands and other important structures, leaving it completely in a state of ruin. In keeping with that tradition, Ulugh Khan ordered the destruction of the great Swayambhusiva Temple where the state deity, the Swayambhu (self-manifested) Chaturmukhalinga Swamy (linga with four faces of [[Shiva|Lord Shiva]]), had been deified since early 11th{{nbsp}} century AD under the rule of [[Prola II]]. All that is now visible of the temple are remnants scattered around the centre of the fort, reminding visitors of its once charming presence, and the splendid architectural beauty combined with excellent stonework and sculptural value of the period that leaves everyone in awe. Then, the Tughluqan authorities built an enormous mosque to one side of the fort, which was demolished by the local Nayaka chieftains in 1335.{{when|date=August 2019}} Prataparudra II, who had surrendered and was sent to Delhi, perished en route on the banks of the [[Narmada River]]. It is said that he committed suicide in 1323.{{Sfn|Eaton|2005|p=20}} The city of Warangal was then renamed as Sultanpur, and from 1324 to 1332 imperial coins were minted there. The Delhi Sultanate managed to hold Sultanpur until 1335, when the local [[Nayak (title)|Nayakas]] (72 of the chieftains)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.telanganastateofficial.com/warangal-district-complete-details-telangana-state/|title=Information about Warangal District: History of Warangal District| access-date=2 July 2015|date=24 May 2015|publisher= telanganastateofficial.com}}</ref> formed a union and took control.{{Sfn|Eaton|2005|p=26}} The fort then came under the control of the [[Bahmani Sultanate]], [[Qutb Shahi dynasty]] of [[Golconda]] and later under the rule of the [[Nizam of Hyderabad]].{{Sfn|Satt(h)|Satt(h)u|2004|p=85}}

Subsequent modifications to the fort were made between the 15th and 17th{{nbsp}}centuries, mainly with the addition of [[Barbican]]s to the four gates in the stone wall and the creation of gates in the outer earthen wall.{{Sfn|Sardar|2007|p=25}} Remnants of the structure can be seen today near Warangal. The [[Archaeological Survey of India]] has listed the ruins as a [[Monument of National Importance]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_alphalist_andhra.asp |publisher=Archaeological Survey of India |title=Alphabetical List of Monuments - Andhra Pradesh|access-date=23 November 2012}}</ref>

[[File:Kaapaneedu.jpg|200px|right|thumb|Musunuri Kapaya Nayaka]]

Musunuri Kapaya Nayaka was a very prominent [[South India|South Indian]] ruler in the 14th century. He made several modifications to the fort walls and defended it until the Bahmani Sultanate took over it in the mid 15th{{nbsp}} century AD from the [[Recherla Nayakas]] of [[Rachakonda]].<ref>Forgotten Chapter of Andhra History, Mallampalli Somasekhara Sharma</ref>

==Features==
<gallery widths="220" heights="220">
Khush Mahal, Warangal fort.JPG|The Kush Mahal
Warangal fort pillars 01.jpg|Pillared [[mandapa]] with a [[Nandi (bull)]] in the fort complex
File:Architechture Warangal Fort(2).jpg
File:Architechture Warangal Fort.jpg|Architecture Warangal Fort
</gallery>
Warangal Fort is laid out in three concentric circular walls with defensive fortifications.{{Sfn|Eaton|2005|p=17}} The first structure, built during the reign of Rudrama Devi, was in the form an earthen embankment {{convert|1.5|mi}}{{Sfn|Eaton|2005|p=17}} in diameter. A moat of about {{convert|150|ft}} width {{Sfn|Eaton|2005|p=17}} was dug around this wall, forming the outer limits of the fort during the reign of the Kakatiya rulers. Another wall built to protect the fort after the earthen wall and the moat was a fortified inner stone wall of about {{convert|0.75|mi}} in diameter.{{Sfn|Eaton|2005|p=17}} It was the central part of the Kakatiya capital, called the fort.{{Sfn|Michell|2013|p=296}} This wall was built with dressed huge granite stone blocks of very large dimensions. These stones were not in any regular shape, but were closely fitted without using any type of mortar. During the reign of Rudrama Devi, the height of the wall was increased to {{convert|29|ft}}{{Sfn|Eaton|2005|p=17}} from the structure which had been built earlier by Ganapatideva. The wall has been fortified with 45 large rectangular [[bastions]],{{Sfn|Eaton|2005|p=17}} which measure {{convert|40|–|60|ft}} on a side;{{Sfn|Eaton|2005|p=17}} they extend beyond the face of the wall up to the waters of the moat. There are also 18 stone steps{{Sfn|Eaton|2005|p=17}} laid over a gradual slope built on the inner slopes of the earthen wall as an access to the [[Rampart (fortification)|ramparts]]. These steps permitted the soldiers quick and easy access in times of war from any location in the fort, including the top of the ramparts. The king, Prataparudra II, had used these steps to go to the rampart in 1318, clad in a [[qaba]] to bow towards [[Delhi]], in honor of the Sultan.{{Sfn|Eaton|2005|p=17}}

The third ring of fortification is in the form of an earthen wall of {{convert|12.5|km}} diameter that encloses the present city of Warangal.{{Sfn|Michell|2013|p=297}}

===Ruins in the fort===
<gallery widths="220" heights="220">
Warangal IMG 4250.JPG|Ruins within the main fort complex
Kakatiya Kala Thoranam (Warangal Gate) and Ruins.jpg|The Warangal gates within the fort complex
</gallery>
[[File:A few Tourist attraction spots in Warangal Tri-Cities.jpg|thumb|260px|A few Tourist attraction spots in Warangal Tri-Cities.]]
The area within the fort has an axial road laid in an east–west direction where there is now some human habitation. The central part of the fort has been identified as the archaeological zone where the ruins of a great Shiva temple are now seen with only the freestanding "entrance portals" or gates on the four sides. Each gate has twin pillars with [[Bracket (architecture)|angled brackets]] over which lies the huge [[lintel]]; the height of this gate is {{convert|10|m}}. The gates have extensive intricate carvings of "lotus buds, looped garlands, mythical animals, and birds with foliated tails". The carvings do not include any religious symbols, which is said to be the reason for its preserved condition and not getting destroyed by the Muslim invaders.{{Sfn|Michell|2013|p=296}} Of the four gateways (local name ''charkamou''), the northern and southern ends are {{convert|480|ft}} apart. The eastern and western gates are a distance of {{convert|433|ft}} from each other.{{Sfn|Cousens|1900|p=47}}

While the Shiva temple had been completely destroyed, there are many ruins of "wall slabs, brackets and ceiling panels", some of which are exhibited now in an outdoor museum. There are still some standing pillars ("temple spoilia") that the Bahmani Sultanate (14th-16th century) earlier {{when|date=August 2019}} used to build a [[mosque]], which remained incomplete.

The original deity of the temple was a [[linga]] with the four faces of Shiva, which is now deified in a separate shrine to the south of the fort complex, where regular worship is offered. Archaeological excavations in the area have also unearthed many small shrines, built in a series, deified with a [[votive]] linga.{{Sfn|Michell|2013|p=297}}

Seen within {{convert|150|m}} of the archaeological zone is the Kush Mahal, which is a public hall built in the 14th century by the Delhi Sultans, who had captured the fort. The [[Mahal (palace)|mahal]], which is rectangular in shape, is built with huge sloping walls, sliced by six arched openings on each of its sides. There was once a timber roof over this mahal, supported by five transverse arches built of stones. There are approach steps on the northeast corner that provide access to the top of the structure, which has scenic views of the entire fort complex.{{Sfn|Michell|2013|p=297}}

Within the southern quarter of the archaeological zone is a big water tank. Inside this tank is a distinctive natural rock formation that protrudes above the water surface. This was called as ''Orugallu'' (meaning: single rock) in [[Telugu language|Telugu]], giving the name "Warangal" to the fort. A small temple has been built over this rock. There are many other temples and water ponds in the entire fort complex. There are also three large granaries close to the south gate of the fort.{{Sfn|Michell|2013|p=297}}

Just outside the central fort, the earthen wall, which is the second circle of the fort complex in the northwestern part, has within it the ''Linga gudi'' ('gudi' means "shrine"), which consists of three small temples; but the linga deities have been removed and are seen scattered nearby.{{Sfn|Cousens|1900|p=47}}

There are many inscriptions on the ruins of the wall of the main temple recording the gift of a Kakatiya king, on pillars, on a stone outside the fort, and at many more places, all in Telugu.{{Sfn|Cousens|1900|p=47}}

== Ruling dynasties ==
*[[Kakatiyas]]
*[[Musunuri Nayakas]]

==See also==
*[[Golconda Fort]]
*[[Bhongir Fort]]
*[[Telangana]]
*[[List of Monuments of National Importance in Telangana]]
*[[Papadu]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
*{{cite book|last= Cousens |first=Henry |title=Lists of antiquarian remains in His Highness the Nizam's territories|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R1hBAQAAIAAJ&pg=PR5|year=1900|publisher=Office of the superintendent of government printing, India}}
*{{cite book|last=Eaton|first=Richard M. |title=A Social History of the Deccan, 1300-1761: Eight Indian Lives|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DNNgdBWoYKoC|year=2005|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-25484-7}}
*{{cite book|last= Michell |first=George |title=Southern India: A Guide to Monuments Sites & Museums|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GdBbBAAAQBAJ&pg=PT297|year= 2013|publisher=Roli Books Private Limited|isbn=978-81-7436-903-1}}
*{{cite book|last1= Puri |first1=B.N. |last2= Das |first2=M.N. |title=A Comprehensive History of India: Comprehensive history of medieval India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y7fUHMEDAyEC|year=2003|publisher=Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd|isbn=978-81-207-2508-9}}
*{{cite book|last= Sardar |first=Marika |title=Golconda Through Time: A Mirror of the Evolving Deccan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q8zERtJWtSUC|year=2007|isbn=978-0-549-10119-2}}
*{{cite book|last1= Satt(h) |first1=Raj Mohan |last2= Satt(h)u |first2=Raja Mohan |title=Environmental Administration|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=I_D84EU_y_kC&pg=PA85|year=2004|publisher=APH Publishing|isbn=978-81-7648-783-2}}
*{{cite book|last= Texas |first=Austin Cynthia Talbot Assistant Professor of History and Asian Studies University of |title=Precolonial India in Practice : Society, Region, and Identity in Medieval Andhra: Society, Region, and Identity in Medieval Andhra|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pfAKljlCJq0C&pg=PA153|year= 2001|publisher=Oxford University Press, USA|isbn=978-0-19-803123-9}}

==External links==
{{commons}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite journal |title=From Delhi to the Deccan: Newly Discovered Tughluq Monuments at Warangal-Sult̤ānpur and the Beginnings of Indo-Islamic Architecture in Southern India |first1=Phillip B. |last1=Wagoner |first2=John Henry |last2=Rice |journal=Artibus Asiae |volume=61 |issue=1 |year=2001 |pages=77–117|jstor=3249963 |doi=10.2307/3249963}}{{subscription required}}
*{{cite journal |journal=South Asian Studies |volume=27 |issue=1 |year=2011 |title=The Early Foundations of Golconda and the Rise of Fortifications in the Fourteenth-Century Deccan |first=Marika |last=Sardara |pages=25–50 |doi=10.1080/02666030.2011.554267|s2cid=162325416 }}{{subscription required}}

{{Forts in Telangana}}
{{Warangal topics|state=expanded}}

[[Category:Forts in Telangana|W]]
[[Category:History of Telangana]]
[[Category:Tourism in Telangana]]
[[Category:Cultural heritage of India]]
[[Category:World Heritage Sites in India]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Warangal]]

Warangal Fort - Revision history

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