Daulatabad Fort

Daulatabad Fort, known in earlier times as Devagiri, the Hill of the Gods, is a medieval fortress on a conical hill about 200 metres high, some 15 km from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad) in Maharashtra. Daulatabad Fort was the stronghold of the Yadava dynasty before it fell to the Delhi Sultanate in the late 13th and early 14th centuries.

In 1327 the Delhi sultan Muhammad bin Tughluq made it his capital, renamed it Daulatabad, the Abode of Wealth, and forced much of Delhi's population to move here, more than 1,000 km south. The scheme failed, and within a few years the capital returned to Delhi. Daulatabad Fort later passed to the Bahmani sultans, the Nizam Shahis of Ahmednagar and the Mughals. Its defences made it one of the strongest forts in India: a scarped hillside with sheer sides, moats, spiked gates, and a pitch-dark twisting tunnel near the summit, designed so attackers lost their way and could be driven back with smoke or hot oil.

What to see

• Chand Minar, a tall victory tower built by the Bahmanis in the 15th century
• The Andheri, the dark defensive tunnel through the rock near the summit
• The moat and the bridge that crossed it into the upper fort
• Chini Mahal, where the last Qutb Shahi king of Golconda was imprisoned
• The cannon on the upper bastion and the view over the plains to the Ellora hills

What to wear

Daulatabad Fort is a steep climb of several hundred steps in open sun, so wear comfortable shoes with good grip, light breathable clothing and a hat, and carry water. A small torch or phone light helps in the dark tunnel. Modest clothing is sensible in the villages around the fort. In Maharashtra you will see the pheta turban worn by men at festivals, and older women in the nauvari saree.

Local food to try

Stalls at the foot of Daulatabad Fort sell water, cut fruit, lemon soda and snacks. For a meal, go on to Khuldabad or Ellora, or back to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, known for naan qalia, a spiced mutton curry with flatbread, and Maharashtrian vegetarian food such as misal pav, pithla bhakri and poha. Tahri, a spiced rice dish, is also a local favourite.

Good to know

• Best time: October to February; start early in the morning to avoid the heat
• Open daily, roughly sunrise to sunset
• Entry fee at the gate; foreign visitors pay a higher rate than Indian nationals
• Allow two to three hours for the full climb
• About 15 km north west of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar on the road to Ellora
• The upper fort is not suitable for people with mobility or heart problems

Nearby places

Daulatabad Fort lies on the road between Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and the Ellora Caves, so pair it with Ellora and Grishneshwar Temple. Bibi Ka Maqbara is about 15 km away in the city.