Naldurg Fort | |
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Naldurg, tuljapur taluka Dharashiv, Maharashtra,By Road 35 km from Tuljapur, 50 km from Osmanabad, 50 km from Solapur. | |
![]() Main entrance of the Naldurg Fort | |
Coordinates | 17°49′N76°18′E / 17.82°N 76.3°E |
Site information | |
Owner | ![]() |
Open to the public | Yes |
Naldurg Fort is a historic fort in Naldurg town of Osmanabad district in Maharashtra state of India. [1] Naldurg Fort is named after Nalraja who built the fort in medieval architectural style. The unique feature of the fort is that it encloses a knoll of basalt rock which juts out into the valley of the small Bori River and a long fortification wall with many bastions. [2] [3] [4] The Naldurg fort is one of the important ground forts in the Marathwada region.
It exemplifies medieval architectural style, enclosing a basalt knoll jutting into the valley of the river Bori. The fort is fortified on three sides with bastions built from sturdy basalt, capable of supporting heavy guns. Its circumference spans about a mile and a half, with ruined walls and a wide road leading to the center. Notable bastions within include Upli Buruj, Paranda Buruj, Nagar Buruj, Sangram Buruj, Bands Buruj, and Poone Buruj. Despite the ruins, remnants like Barood Kotha, Baradari, Ambarkhana, Rangaan Mahal, and Jali hint at past grandeur. The fort features two tanks, with notable cannons including the "Hathi Toph" and "Magar Toph." Key entrances include the Hathi Darwaza and Hurmukh Darwaza. A notable structure linking the fort and Ranmandala is the dam across the Bori river, with the "Pani Mahal" constructed within. This was built during Ibrahim Adil Shah II's reign in 1613.
It is believed that the fort was constructed by Nalaraja (King Nala) and subsequently named after him, along with the city. Erected during the Western Chalukya Empire's reign, the fort later saw control shifts under various rulers. From 1351 to 1480, it fell under the Bahmani Sultanate, and in 1558, it came under the Adil Shahi dynasty. After the Adil Shahi Kingdom's downfall in 1686 AD, Naldurg passed into the hands of the Mughal Empire. Nizam-ul-Mulk, Asaf Jah I, appointed as Governor of the Entire Deccan region, including Central India and Gujarat up to Kanyakumari. Following Aurangzeb's demise, Nawab Nizam ul Mulk Asif Jah Bahadur established the Nizam Dominion. During his time, a rebellion led to the appointment of Nawab Mohammed Dulah Khan Bahadur as Governor. Later, his son, Nawab Amir Nawazul Mulk Bahadur, ruled successfully, displaying generosity by donating gold to compensate for a theft from Tulja Bhawani Temple. Noteworthy historical events include the marriage of Chand Bibi Sultana at Naldurg Fort and the burial sites of Nawab Amir Nawazul Mulk Bahadur and Princess Fakharunnisa Begam, daughter of Nizam ul Mulk II. Following the Nawab's demise, his successors governed until 1948, with the current heirs residing in Hyderabad, Telangana, showing sentimental attachment to Naldurg and its people. Strategically located en route from Solapur to Bijapur-Bidar, the fort boasts medieval architecture and engineering techniques, reflecting the era's signature styles. [5] [6]
Naldurg which was formerly a district headquarter is situated about 50 Kms south-east of Osmanabad. It is accessible through the Pune-Hyderabad highway (National Highway 65 (India)). [7]
Mir Qamar-ud-din Khan Siddiqi also known as Chin Qilich Qamaruddin Khan, Nizam-ul-Mulk, Asaf Jah and Nizam I, was the first Nizam of Hyderabad. He was married to the daughter of a Syed nobleman of Gulbarga. He began his career as a favourite of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, who made him a general. Following the death of Aurangzeb in 1707, Asaf Jah refused to favour any one of Aurangzeb's warring sons and as such remained neutral. When Aurangzeb's third son Bahadur Shah ultimately emerged victorious, Asaf Jah was rotated as governor of multiple Mughal provinces until 1714, when he was created Viceroy of the Deccan with authority over six Mughal provinces in southern India from 1714 to 1719. From 1719 onwards he was involved in combating the intrigues of the Sayyid Brothers. From 1720 to 1722 he helped the new Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah eliminate the Sayyed brothers and was rewarded by being elevated to the grand viziership from 1722 to 1724.
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Nizam of Hyderabad was the title of the ruler of Hyderabad State. Nizam is a shortened form of Niẓām ul-Mulk, which means Administrator of the Realm, and was the title bestowed upon Asaf Jah I when he was appointed Viceroy of the Deccan by the Mughal Emperor Farrukhsiyar. In addition to being the Mughal Viceroy (Naib) of the Deccan, Asaf Jah I was also the premier courtier of the Mughal Empire until 1724, when he established the independent monarchy of Hyderabad and adopted the title "Nizam of Hyderabad".
Asaf Jah VI, also known as Sir Mir Mahboob Ali Khan Siddiqi Bayafandi, was the ninth Nizam of Hyderabad. He ruled Hyderabad State, one of the princely states of India, between 1869 and 1911.
Paigah family was a noble family from the former Hyderabad State. The family maintained their own court, individual palaces, and a standing army of about fourteen thousand infantry and cavalry troops.
Sikander Jah, Asaf Jah III, was the 6th Nizam of Hyderabad, India from 1803 to 1829. He was born in Chowmahalla Palace in the Khilwath, the second son of Asaf Jah II and Tahniat un-nisa Begum.
Mir Farqunda Ali Khan commonly known as Nasir-ud-Daulah, was seventh Nizam of Hyderabad, a princely state of British India, from 24 May 1829 until his death in 1857.
The Jewels of the Nizams of Hyderabad State are among the largest and most expensive collection of jewels in present-day India. The jewels belonged to the Nizams. After the annexation of their kingdom by Union of India, the Nizam and his heirs were barred by the Indian government from taking the collection, claiming that it was a national treasure. After much litigation, the diamond was purchased by the Government of India from the Nizam's trust for an estimated $13 million in 1995, along with other jewels of the Nizams, and is held at the Reserve Bank of India vaults in Mumbai.
Sir Viqar ul-Umara, Iqtidar ul-Mulk, Iqbal ud-Dowla, Secundar Jung, Nawab Muhammad Fazl-ud-din Khan Bahadur, was the Prime Minister of Hyderabad from 1893 to 1901, and also served as the Amir e Paigah from 1881 to 1902.
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The Sultanate of Ahmednagar or the Nizam Shahi Sultanate was a late medieval Indian Muslim kingdom located in the northwestern Deccan, between the sultanates of Gujarat and Bijapur, ruled by the Nizam Shahi or Bahri dynasty. It was established when Malik Ahmed, the Bahmani governor of Junnar after defeating the Bahmani army led by general Jahangir Khan on 28 May 1490 declared independence and established the Nizam Shahi dynasty of the Sultanate of Ahmednagar.
Bidar Fort is located in old city area, Bidar, Karnataka, India. The fort, the city and the district are all affixed with the name Bidar. Sultan Ahmad Shah I of the Bahmanid dynasty shifted his capital from Gulbarga to Bidar in 1427 and built his fort along with a number of Islamic monuments. There are over 30 monuments inside Bidar fort.
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Sham Raj II, ,, was an Indian noble who served as a member of H. E. H the Nizam's Executive Council. He was the first Hindu member in the executive council. Some of the ancestors of Sham Raj Bahadur were themselves peshkars and diwan to the Nizams and still earlier their family served at various points in their career to Shah Jahan, the Mughal Emperor. A member of the powerful Rai Rayan family, Sham Raj built a magnificent personal library inside his palace containing 45,000 rare books, which he later generously opened to public.