Ahmednagar Fort: Difference between revisions

What links here Related changes Page information Get shortened URL
Created by Bot
Last edited March 19, 2026
VisualWikitext
robot: Create/update articles. If there is a mistake please report on my talk page.
 
No edit summary
 
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Fort in the city of Ahmednagar, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2018}}
{{Infobox Military Structure
{{Infobox Military Structure
|name = Ahmednagar fort
| name         = Ahmednagar fort
|partof =
| partof       =  
|location = [[Ahmednagar]], [[Maharashtra]]
| location     = [[Ahmednagar]], [[Maharashtra]]
|image = Ahmednagar Fort Main Gate.jpg  
| image         = Ahmednagar Fort Main Gate.jpg
|caption =  
| caption       =  
|map_type=India Maharashtra#India
| map_type     = India Maharashtra#India
| map_size = 300
| map_size     = 300
|map_caption = Shown within [[Maharashtra]]
| map_caption   = Shown within [[Maharashtra]]
|type = Land fort
| type         = Land fort
|coordinates = {{coord|19|05|41.3|N|74|45|19.7|E}}
| coordinates   = {{coord|19|05|41.3|N|74|45|19.7|E}}
|materials = Stone
| materials     = [[Basalt]], [[granite]], [[lime mortar]]
|height =
| used         = Capital headquarter of [[Ahmednagar Sultanate]]
|used =
| ownership     = Indian military
|demolished =
| controlledby = [[Ahmadnagar Sultanate]] {{small|(1562–1600)}}<br />{{flagicon image|Alam of the Mughal Empire.svg}}[[Mughal Empire]] {{small|(1600–1724)}}<br />{{flagcountry|Hyderabad State}} {{small|(1724–1759)}}<br />{{flagcountry|Maratha Empire}} {{small|(1759–1803)}}<br />{{flagcountry|United Kingdom}}
|condition = Good
* {{flagicon image|Flag of the British East India Company (1801).svg}} [[East India Company]] ({{small|1803–1857}})
|ownership = Indian Military
* {{flagicon image|British Raj Red Ensign.svg}} [[India]] ({{small|1857–1947}})
|open_to_public = daily 10am to 5pm
{{flagcountry|India}} ({{small|1947–}})
|controlledby =[[Ahmadnagar Sultanate]] {{small|(1562-1600)}}<br />{{flagicon image|Flag of the Mughal Empire (triangular).svg}}[[Mughal Empire]] {{small|(1600-1724)}}<br />{{flagcountry|Hyderabad State}} {{small|(1724-1759)}}<br />{{flagcountry|Maratha Empire}} {{small|(1759-1803)}}<br />{{flagcountry|United Kingdom}}
| garrison     =  
* {{flagicon image|Flag of the British East India Company (1801).svg}} [[East India Company]] ({{small|1803-1857}})
| current_commander =  
* {{flagicon image|British Raj Red Ensign.svg}} [[India]] ({{small|1857-1947}})
| past_commanders = [[Ahmad Nizam Shah]], [[Chand Bibi]], [[Aurangzeb]]
{{flagcountry|India}} ({{small|1947-}})
| occupants     = [[Nana Phadanvis]], [[Jawaharlal Nehru]], [[Abul Kalam Azad]], [[Sardar Patel]]
|garrison =
| battles       = [[Siege of Ahmednagar]]
|current_commander =
|past_commanders = [[Chand Bibi]], [[Aurangzeb]]
|occupants = [[Nana Phadanvis]], [[Jawaharlal Nehru]], [[Abul Kalam Azad]], [[Sardar Patel]]
|battles = [[Siege of Ahmednagar]]
|events =
}}
}}


The '''Ahmednagar Fort''' (''Ahmadnagar Qilaa'') is a fort located near to the Bhingar Nala near [[Ahmednagar]] in<ref>In some older references '''Fort of Ahmednuggur'''</ref> [[Maharashtra]]. It was the headquarters of the [[Ahmednagar Sultanate]]. In 1803, it was taken by the British during the [[Second Anglo-Maratha War]]. It was used as a prison during the [[British Raj]]. Currently, the fort is under the administration of the [[Indian Army Armoured Corps|Armoured Corps]] of the Indian Army.
The '''Ahmednagar Fort''' (''Ahmadnagar [[Qila]]'') is located close to the Bhingar Nala near [[Ahmednagar]] in<ref>In some older references '''Fort of Ahmednuggur'''</ref> [[Maharashtra]] state western India. It was the headquarters of the [[Ahmednagar Sultanate]]. In 1803, it was taken by the British during the [[Second Anglo-Maratha War]]. It was used as a prison during the [[British Raj]]. Currently, the fort is under the administration of the [[Indian Army Armoured Corps|Armoured Corps]] of the Indian Army.


== Major features ==
== Major features ==
 
In 1803, the Ahmednagar Fort was round in appearance, with twenty-four bastions, one large gate, and three small sally ports. It had a [[glacis]], no covered way; a [[ditch (fortification)|ditch]], revetted with stone on both sides, about {{convert|18|ft|m}} wide, with {{convert|9|ft|m}} water all around, which only reached within 6 or {{convert|7|ft|m}} of the top of the [[counterscarp|scarp]]; long reeds grew in it all around. The [[berm]] was only about one yard wide. The rampart was of black hewn stone; the parapet of brick in ''[[chunam]]'', and both together appeared from the crest of the glacis to be only as high as the pole of a field-officer's tent. The bastions were all about {{frac|4|1|2}} feet higher; they were round. One of them mounted eight guns ''en barbet'', pointing eastward; all the rest had jingies,{{typo help inline|date=March 2019}} four in each. In 1803 two guns were visible in each bastion, and 200 were said to be ready in the fort to be mounted.<ref name="Wellesley 1859, p. 100">{{citation-attribution|{{cite book |first=Arthur Richard |last=Wellesley (Duke of Wellington) |title=Supplementary despatches and memoranda of field marshal Arthur duke of Wellington 1797-1819 with a map of India |editor=J. Murray |year=1859 |page= [https://books.google.com/books?id=y9EgAAAAMAAJ&dq=Pettah+of+Ahmednuggur&pg=PA100 100] |chapter=Memorandum of the Ahmednuggur Fort}}}}</ref>
In 1803 the Ahmednagar Fort was round in appearance, with twenty-four bastions, one large gate, and three small sally ports. It had a [[glacis]], no covered way; a [[ditch (fortification)|ditch]], revetted with stone on both sides, about {{convert|18|ft|m}} wide, with {{convert|9|ft|m}} water all around, which only reached within 6 or {{convert|7|ft|m}} of the top of the [[counterscarp|scarp]]; long reeds grew in it all around. The [[berm]] was only about one yard wide. The rampart was of black hewn stone; the parapet of brick in ''[[chunam]]'', and both together appeared from the crest of the glacis to be only as high as the pole of a field-officer's tent. The bastions were all about {{frac|4|1|2}} feet higher; they were round. One of them mounted eight guns ''en barbet'', pointing eastward; all the rest had jingies,{{typo help inline|date=March 2019}} four in each. In 1803 two guns were visible in each bastion, and 200 were said to be ready in the fort to be mounted.<ref name="Wellesley 1859, p. 100">{{citation-attribution|{{cite book |first=Arthur Richard |last=Wellesley (Duke of Wellington) |title=Supplementary despatches and memoranda of field marshal Arthur duke of Wellington 1797-1819 with a map of India |editor=J. Murray |year=1859 |page= [http://books.google.co.uk/books?dq=Pettah+of+Ahmednuggur&pg=PA100&id=y9EgAAAAMAAJ 100] |chapter=Memorandum of the Ahmednuggur Fort}}}}</ref>


A gunshot to the west of the fort was the [[Pettah of Ahmednagar]]. The main gate of the fort faced the pettah, and was defended by a small half-circular work, with one traverse and several little towers for men. There was a wooden bridge over the ditch, which could be taken away in time of war, but it was not a drawbridge. It was reported that an iron trough as large as the bridge, could be placed upon it, or on the supporters of it, and fill with charcoal or other combustibles, to which could be ignited as an enemy approached.<ref name="Wellesley 1859, p. 100"/> The fort is also called as Bhuikot Killa which means it is a land fort and is not constructed on any hill.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.totalsafari.com/travel/places/ahmednagar-fort-bhuikot-fort-ahmednagar-maharashtra|title=Ahmednagar Fort (Bhuikot Fort) - Total Safari}}</ref> It should not be confused with other Bhuikot Killas in Maharashtra like [[Solapur Bhuikot Killa]].
A gunshot to the west of the fort was the [[Pettah of Ahmednagar]]. The main gate of the fort faced the pettah, and was defended by a small half-circular work, with one traverse and several little towers for men. There was a wooden bridge over the ditch, which could be taken away in time of war, but it was not a drawbridge. It was reported that an iron trough as large as the bridge, could be placed upon it, or on the supporters of it, and fill with charcoal or other combustibles, to which could be ignited as an enemy approached.<ref name="Wellesley 1859, p. 100"/> The fort is also called as Bhuikot Killa which means it is a land fort and is not constructed on any hill.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.totalsafari.com/travel/places/ahmednagar-fort-bhuikot-fort-ahmednagar-maharashtra|title=Ahmednagar Fort (Bhuikot Fort) - Total Safari}}</ref> It should not be confused with other Bhuikot Killas in Maharashtra like [[Solapur Bhuikot Killa]].
Line 48: Line 43:


== History ==
== History ==
[[File:GRAY(1852) pg339 AHMEDNUGGUR - DUMREE MUSJID.jpg|thumbnail|250px|Ahmednagar fort (on the left side)]]
[[File:GRAY(1852) pg339 AHMEDNUGGUR - DUMREE MUSJID.jpg|thumbnail|250px|Dumree Musjid, with Ahmednagar Fort in the background on the left side]]
The fort was built by [[Malik Ahmad Nizam Shah I]] (after whom the city of [[Ahmednagar]] is named) in 1427.<ref name="Bombay 1896, 238">{{cite book|title=Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency| publisher=Govt Central Press| date=1896| pages=238| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0bkMAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA238&sig=ZkWH_yLpn-WH3T5BCKE9UFPMn20| accessdate=2009-03-10}}</ref> He was the first sultan of the [[Nizam Shahi]] dynasty and he built the fort to defend the city against invaders from neighbouring [[Idar, Gujarat|Idar]].<ref name="Bombay 1896, 238"/> Initially it was made of mud but major fortification began in 1559 under Hussain Nizam Shah. It took four years and was finally finished in 1562.<ref name="Cowley Chapter IX">{{cite book |last=Cowley |first=Capt Cecil |title=Tales of Ahmednagar |publisher=Thacker and Company Ltd |location=Bombay |date=1919 |chapter=IX |url=https://archive.org/stream/talesofahmednaga00cowlrich/talesofahmednaga00cowlrich_djvu.txt}}</ref>  In February 1596, [[Chand Bibi]] the queen regent successfully repulsed the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] invasion but when [[Akbar]] attacked again in 1600 the fort went to the Mughals.<ref name="Cowley Chapter IX""/><ref name="mtdc">{{cite web|url=http://www.maharashtratourism.gov.in/MTDC/HTML/MaharashtraTourism/Default.aspx?strpage=../MaharashtraTourism/TouristDelight/Forts/AhmadnagarFort.html|title=Ahmednagar fort|publisher=Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation|access-date=2009-03-10}}</ref><ref name="sen2">{{Cite book |last=Sen |first=Sailendra |title=A Textbook of Medieval Indian History |publisher=Primus Books |year=2013 |isbn=978-9-38060-734-4 |pages=164}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Advanced study in the history of medieval India.|last=Mehta, Jaswant L.|date=1990|publisher=Sterling Publ|isbn=9788120710153|pages=271|oclc=633709290}}</ref>  
The fort was built by [[Malik Ahmad Nizam Shah I]] (after whom the city of [[Ahmednagar]] is named) in 1427.<ref name="Bombay 1896, 238">{{cite book|title=Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency| publisher=Govt Central Press| date=1896| pages=238| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0bkMAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA238| accessdate=2009-03-10}}</ref> He was the first sultan of the [[Nizam Shahi]] dynasty and he built the fort to defend the city against invaders from neighbouring [[Idar, Gujarat|Idar]].<ref name="Bombay 1896, 238"/> Initially it was made of mud but major fortification began in 1559 under Hussain Nizam Shah. It took four years and was finally finished in 1563.<ref name="Cowley Chapter IX">{{cite book |last=Cowley |first=Capt Cecil |title=Tales of Ahmednagar |publisher=Thacker and Company Ltd |location=Bombay |date=1919 |chapter=IX |url=https://archive.org/stream/talesofahmednaga00cowlrich/talesofahmednaga00cowlrich_djvu.txt}}</ref>  In February 1596, [[Chand Bibi]] the queen regent successfully repulsed the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] invasion but when [[Akbar]] attacked again in 1600 the fort went to the Mughals.<ref name="Cowley Chapter IX""/><ref name="mtdc">{{cite web|url=http://www.maharashtratourism.gov.in/MTDC/HTML/MaharashtraTourism/Default.aspx?strpage=../MaharashtraTourism/TouristDelight/Forts/AhmadnagarFort.html|title=Ahmednagar fort|publisher=Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation|access-date=2009-03-10}}</ref><ref name="sen2">{{Cite book |last=Sen |first=Sailendra |title=A Textbook of Medieval Indian History |publisher=Primus Books |year=2013 |isbn=978-9-38060-734-4 |pages=164}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Advanced study in the history of medieval India.|last=Mehta, Jaswant L.|date=1990|publisher=Sterling Publ|isbn=9788120710153|pages=271|oclc=633709290}}</ref>
 
[[File:Gateway of Ahmedabad Fort India 1882.jpg|thumb|250x250px|Gateway of Ahmednagar fort India, 1882<ref>{{Cite web |last=Photos |first=Old Indian |title=Gateway of Ahmednagar Fort, India - 1882 |url=https://www.oldindianphotos.in/2016/05/gateway-of-ahmedabad-fort-india-1882.html |access-date=2025-02-21}}</ref>]]
[[Aurangzeb]] died at Ahmednagar fort at the age of 88 on 20 February 1707. After Aurangzeb's death, the fort passed to the Nizams in 1724, to Marathas in 1759 and later the [[Scindia]]s in 1790. During the period of instability in the Maratha Empire following the death of [[Madhavrao II]], [[Daulat Scindia]] had the fort and its surrounding region ceded to him. In 1797, he imprisoned [[Nana Phadanvis]] the Peshwa diplomat at Ahmednagar fort.<ref name="Bombay 1884, p. 408">{{cite book|title=Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency |publisher=Govt. Central Press|date=1884|pages=409|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=j7sMAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA409&sig=0MrqNEwJjYqdbp1q4GGLoKPHtlw#PPA409,M1|accessdate=2009-03-10}}</ref>
[[Aurangzeb]] died near Ahmednagar fort at the age of 88 on 3 March 1707. After Aurangzeb's death, the fort passed to the Nizams in 1724, to Marathas in 1759 and later the [[Scindia]]s in 1790. During the period of instability in the Maratha Empire following the death of [[Madhavrao II]], [[Daulat Scindia]] had the fort and its surrounding region ceded to him. In 1797, he imprisoned [[Nana Phadanvis]] the Peshwa diplomat at Ahmednagar fort.<ref name="Bombay 1884, p. 408">{{cite book|title=Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency |publisher=Govt. Central Press|date=1884|pages=409|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=j7sMAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA409|accessdate=2009-03-10}}</ref>


In 1803 during the [[Second Anglo-Maratha War]], [[Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington|Arthur Wellesley]] defeated the Maratha forces and the East India Company came into possession of the fort.
In 1803, during the [[Second Anglo-Maratha War]], [[Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington|Arthur Wellesley]] defeated the Maratha forces and the East India Company came into possession of the fort.{{cn|date=July 2023}}


==Modern era==
==Modern era==
The fort was known as '''Ahmednagar Fort''' and was used by the [[British Raj]] as a prison and this was where [[Jawaharlal Nehru]], [[Abul Kalam Azad]], [[Sardar Patel]] and nine other members of the [[Indian National Congress - Freedom Era|Indian National Congress]] were detained for almost three years after they passed the [[Quit India Movement#Resolution for immediate independence|Quit India Resolution]].<ref name="mufti">{{cite book|last=Mufti|first=Amir|title=Enlightenment in the Colony|publisher=Princeton University Press| date=2007| pages=129–130| chapter=3| isbn=978-0-691-05732-3| chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y5C1uRIotD4C&pg=PA129|access-date=2009-03-10}}</ref><ref name="tribune"/> Jawaharlal Nehru wrote his popular book -the [[Discovery of India]]- while he was imprisoned at the fort.<ref name="mtdc"/><ref name="tribune">{{cite news|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060903/spectrum/main5.htm|title=Where freedom held fort|last=Gill|first=Himmat Singh|date=3 September 2006|publisher=The Sunday Tribune|access-date=2009-03-10}}</ref><ref name="tele">{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1040815/asp/frontpage/story_3628047.asp|title=Tribute in the thick of toil|date=15 August 2004|publisher=The Telegraph-Calcutta|access-date=2009-03-10}}</ref> During the same time, Congress leader, [[Maulana Abul Kalam Azad]] also compiled his acclaimed "[[Ghubar-e-Khatir]]" (''Sallies of Mind'') ({{lang-ur|غبار خاطر}}) which is considered as the best example of "Epistolary Essays" in Urdu literature.{{cn|date=June 2019}}
The fort was known as '''Ahmednagar Fort''' and was used by the [[British Raj]] as a prison and this was where [[Jawaharlal Nehru]], [[Maulana Azad]], [[Vallabhbhai Patel]] and nine other members of the [[Indian National Congress - Freedom Era|Indian National Congress]] were detained for almost three years after they passed the [[Quit India Movement#Resolution for immediate independence|Quit India Resolution]].<ref name="mufti">{{cite book|last=Mufti|first=Amir|title=Enlightenment in the Colony|publisher=Princeton University Press| date=2007| pages=129–130| chapter=3| isbn=978-0-691-05732-3| chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y5C1uRIotD4C&pg=PA129|access-date=2009-03-10}}</ref><ref name="tribune"/> Jawaharlal Nehru wrote his popular book -the [[Discovery of India]]- while he was imprisoned at the fort.<ref name="mtdc"/><ref name="tribune">{{cite news|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060903/spectrum/main5.htm|title=Where freedom held fort|last=Gill|first=Himmat Singh|date=3 September 2006|publisher=The Sunday Tribune|access-date=2009-03-10}}</ref><ref name="tele">{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1040815/asp/frontpage/story_3628047.asp|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130204101225/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1040815/asp/frontpage/story_3628047.asp|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 February 2013|title=Tribute in the thick of toil|date=15 August 2004|publisher=The Telegraph-Calcutta|access-date=2009-03-10}}</ref> During the same time, Congress leader, [[Maulana Abul Kalam Azad]] also compiled his acclaimed "[[Ghubar-e-Khatir]]" (''Sallies of Mind'') ({{langx|ur|غبار خاطر}}) which is considered as the best example of "Epistolary Essays" in Urdu literature.{{cn|date=June 2019}}


During the same time, Odisha's first Chief-Minister and ex-Governor of undivided Bombay State, [[Harekrushna Mahatab]] also compiled three volumes of [[History of Odisha]] in [[Odia language|Odia]]. This has later been translated and published in [[English language|English]] and [[Hindi]].
During the same time, [[Odisha|Odisha's]] first Chief-Minister and ex-Governor of undivided Bombay State, [[Harekrushna Mahatab]] also compiled three volumes of the [[History of Odisha]] in [[Odia language|Odia]]. This has later been translated and published in [[English language|English]] and [[Hindi]].{{cn|date=July 2023}}


Currently, the fort is under the administration of the Armoured Corps of the Indian Army.<ref name="tribune"/>
Currently, the fort is under the administration of the Armoured Corps of the [[Indian Army]].<ref name="tribune"/>


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed" heights="140px">
<gallery heights="140">
File:Ahmednagar fort.jpg|Ahmednagar fort with the national flag
File:Ahmednagar fort.jpg|Ahmednagar Fort with the national flag
File:Anagar fort main.jpg|Ahmednagar fort fortification
File:Anagar fort main.jpg|Ahmednagar Fort ramparts
File:Anagar fort 10.jpg|Ahmednagar fort interior
File:Anagar fort 10.jpg|Ahmednagar Fort bastion area
File:Ahmednagar fort inside of the fort gate.jpg|Ahmednagar fort inside view of the fort gate
File:Ahmednagar fort inside of the fort gate.jpg|Inside view of Ahmednagar Fort's gate
File:Ahmednagar Fort Ditch.jpg|Part of the [[Moat]] around the fort
File:Ahmednagar Fort Ditch.jpg|Part of the [[moat]] around Ahmednagar Fort
File:Jawaharlal Nehru's room at Ahmednagar fort - 20151226 031536.jpg|[[Jawaharlal Nehru|Jawaharlal Nehru's]] room during his incarceration (1942-'45)
File:Jawaharlal Nehru's room at Ahmednagar fort - 20151226 031536.jpg|[[Jawaharlal Nehru]]'s room during his incarceration (1942–1945)
File:Main entrance passage.jpg|Main entrance passage
File:Bastion and fortification of Ahmednagar fort.jpg|[[Bastion]] and fortification
File:Secondary gate of Ahmednagar fort.jpg|Secondary gate
File:Fortification of Ahmednagar fort.jpg|Fortification
File:Inscription in Persian language at Ahmednagar fort.jpg|Inscription in [[Persian language|Persian]] language
</gallery>
</gallery>


==See also==
==See also==
* [[List of forts in Maharashtra]]
* [[List of forts in Maharashtra]]
* [[Daulatabad Fort|Daulatabad fort (Devgiri)]]
* [[Paranda Fort|Paranda fort]]
* [[commons:Category:Ahmad_Nizam_Shah's_Tomb|Bagh Rauza (Ahmed nizam Shah's tomb)]]
* [[Farah Bagh|Farah bagh]]
* [[Damri Masjid|Damri masjid]]
* [[Tomb of Salabat Khan II|Salabat Khan tomb]]


==References==
==References==
{{Commons category|Ahmednagar fort}}
{{Commons category}}
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


Line 89: Line 95:
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Ahmednagar district]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Ahmednagar district]]
[[Category:16th-century forts in India]]
[[Category:16th-century forts in India]]
[[Category:Ahmadnagar Sultanate]]
[[Category:Architecture of the Deccan sultanates]]

Latest revision as of 17:57, 19 March 2026


Ahmednagar fort
Ahmednagar, Maharashtra
Ahmednagar fort is located in Maharashtra
Ahmednagar fort
Ahmednagar fort
Ahmednagar fort is located in India
Ahmednagar fort
Ahmednagar fort
Coordinates19°05′41.3″N 74°45′19.7″E / 19.094806°N 74.755472°E / 19.094806; 74.755472
TypeLand fort
Site information
OwnerIndian military
Controlled byAhmadnagar Sultanate (1562–1600)
Mughal Empire (1600–1724)
Template:Country data Hyderabad State (1724–1759)
 Maratha (1759–1803)
File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom  India (1947–)
Site history
In useCapital headquarter of Ahmednagar Sultanate
MaterialsBasalt, granite, lime mortar
Battles/warsSiege of Ahmednagar
Garrison information
Past
commanders		Ahmad Nizam Shah, Chand Bibi, Aurangzeb
OccupantsNana Phadanvis, Jawaharlal Nehru, Abul Kalam Azad, Sardar Patel

The Ahmednagar Fort (Ahmadnagar Qila) is located close to the Bhingar Nala near Ahmednagar in[1] Maharashtra state western India. It was the headquarters of the Ahmednagar Sultanate. In 1803, it was taken by the British during the Second Anglo-Maratha War. It was used as a prison during the British Raj. Currently, the fort is under the administration of the Armoured Corps of the Indian Army.

Major features[edit | edit source]

In 1803, the Ahmednagar Fort was round in appearance, with twenty-four bastions, one large gate, and three small sally ports. It had a glacis, no covered way; a ditch, revetted with stone on both sides, about 18 feet (5.5 m) wide, with 9 feet (2.7 m) water all around, which only reached within 6 or 7 feet (2.1 m) of the top of the scarp; long reeds grew in it all around. The berm was only about one yard wide. The rampart was of black hewn stone; the parapet of brick in chunam, and both together appeared from the crest of the glacis to be only as high as the pole of a field-officer's tent. The bastions were all about ​4 1⁄2 feet higher; they were round. One of them mounted eight guns en barbet, pointing eastward; all the rest had jingies,[check spelling] four in each. In 1803 two guns were visible in each bastion, and 200 were said to be ready in the fort to be mounted.[2]

A gunshot to the west of the fort was the Pettah of Ahmednagar. The main gate of the fort faced the pettah, and was defended by a small half-circular work, with one traverse and several little towers for men. There was a wooden bridge over the ditch, which could be taken away in time of war, but it was not a drawbridge. It was reported that an iron trough as large as the bridge, could be placed upon it, or on the supporters of it, and fill with charcoal or other combustibles, to which could be ignited as an enemy approached.[2] The fort is also called as Bhuikot Killa which means it is a land fort and is not constructed on any hill.[3] It should not be confused with other Bhuikot Killas in Maharashtra like Solapur Bhuikot Killa.

A small river came from the northward, round the west side of the pettah, and passed to the southward of the fort. A nullah also passed from the northward, between the fort and a town called Bhingar, about a gunshot to the eastward, and joined the river. A potential defensive weakness was a little hill or rising ground close to and east of Bhingar, from which shot from siege guns could reach the fort.[2]

Two nills or covered aqueducts came from the hills, a mile or more to the north, passed through and supplied the pettah and the town, and then went into the fort, either under or through the ditch, into which the wastewater fell.[2]

There were no passages across the ditch from the sally ports, and no part of the aqueducts appeared above the ditch. The nullah mentioned above had steep banks and passed within 60 yards of the fort; the aqueduct from Bhingar passed under it. There was no bridge or even a prominent crossing point at the nullah and hence no clearly defined route between the fort and the town of Bhingar.[2]

There were many small pagodas and mosques around the pettah and the fort, but none exactly between, or between the fort and Bhingar, or nearer to the fort than those towns.[2]

History[edit | edit source]

Dumree Musjid, with Ahmednagar Fort in the background on the left side

The fort was built by Malik Ahmad Nizam Shah I (after whom the city of Ahmednagar is named) in 1427.[4] He was the first sultan of the Nizam Shahi dynasty and he built the fort to defend the city against invaders from neighbouring Idar.[4] Initially it was made of mud but major fortification began in 1559 under Hussain Nizam Shah. It took four years and was finally finished in 1563.[5] In February 1596, Chand Bibi the queen regent successfully repulsed the Mughal invasion but when Akbar attacked again in 1600 the fort went to the Mughals.[5][6][7][8]

Gateway of Ahmednagar fort India, 1882[9]

Aurangzeb died near Ahmednagar fort at the age of 88 on 3 March 1707. After Aurangzeb's death, the fort passed to the Nizams in 1724, to Marathas in 1759 and later the Scindias in 1790. During the period of instability in the Maratha Empire following the death of Madhavrao II, Daulat Scindia had the fort and its surrounding region ceded to him. In 1797, he imprisoned Nana Phadanvis the Peshwa diplomat at Ahmednagar fort.[10]

In 1803, during the Second Anglo-Maratha War, Arthur Wellesley defeated the Maratha forces and the East India Company came into possession of the fort.[citation needed]

Modern era[edit | edit source]

The fort was known as Ahmednagar Fort and was used by the British Raj as a prison and this was where Jawaharlal Nehru, Maulana Azad, Vallabhbhai Patel and nine other members of the Indian National Congress were detained for almost three years after they passed the Quit India Resolution.[11][12] Jawaharlal Nehru wrote his popular book -the Discovery of India- while he was imprisoned at the fort.[6][12][13] During the same time, Congress leader, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad also compiled his acclaimed "Ghubar-e-Khatir" (Sallies of Mind) (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.) which is considered as the best example of "Epistolary Essays" in Urdu literature.[citation needed]

During the same time, Odisha's first Chief-Minister and ex-Governor of undivided Bombay State, Harekrushna Mahatab also compiled three volumes of the History of Odisha in Odia. This has later been translated and published in English and Hindi.[citation needed]

Currently, the fort is under the administration of the Armoured Corps of the Indian Army.[12]

Gallery[edit | edit source]

  • Ahmednagar Fort with the national flag
    Ahmednagar Fort with the national flag
  • Ahmednagar Fort ramparts
    Ahmednagar Fort ramparts
  • Ahmednagar Fort bastion area
    Ahmednagar Fort bastion area
  • Inside view of Ahmednagar Fort's gate
    Inside view of Ahmednagar Fort's gate
  • Part of the moat around Ahmednagar Fort
    Part of the moat around Ahmednagar Fort
  • Jawaharlal Nehru's room during his incarceration (1942–1945)
    Jawaharlal Nehru's room during his incarceration (1942–1945)
  • Main entrance passage
    Main entrance passage
  • Bastion and fortification
    Bastion and fortification
  • Secondary gate
    Secondary gate
  • Fortification
    Fortification
  • Inscription in Persian language
    Inscription in Persian language

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ In some older references Fort of Ahmednuggur
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Template:Citation-attribution
  3. ↑ "Ahmednagar Fort (Bhuikot Fort) - Total Safari".
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency. Govt Central Press. 1896. p. 238. Retrieved 10 March 2009.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Cowley, Capt Cecil (1919). "IX". Tales of Ahmednagar. Bombay: Thacker and Company Ltd.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Ahmednagar fort". Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation. Retrieved 10 March 2009.
  7. ↑ Sen, Sailendra (2013). A Textbook of Medieval Indian History. Primus Books. p. 164. ISBN 978-9-38060-734-4.
  8. ↑ Mehta, Jaswant L. (1990). Advanced study in the history of medieval India. Sterling Publ. p. 271. ISBN 9788120710153. OCLC 633709290.
  9. ↑ Photos, Old Indian. "Gateway of Ahmednagar Fort, India - 1882". Retrieved 21 February 2025.
  10. ↑ Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency. Govt. Central Press. 1884. p. 409. Retrieved 10 March 2009.
  11. ↑ Mufti, Amir (2007). "3". Enlightenment in the Colony. Princeton University Press. pp. 129–130. ISBN 978-0-691-05732-3. Retrieved 10 March 2009.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Gill, Himmat Singh (3 September 2006). "Where freedom held fort". The Sunday Tribune. Retrieved 10 March 2009.
  13. ↑ "Tribute in the thick of toil". The Telegraph-Calcutta. 15 August 2004. Retrieved 10 March 2009.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)

19°05′41.3″N 74°45′19.7″E / 19.094806°N 74.755472°E / 19.094806; 74.755472

Retrieved from "https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ahmednagar_Fort&oldid=465747"
Discover more