Daulatabad (City of Prosperity), is a 14th century fort

city in Maharashtra, India, about 16 kilometers northwest of Aurangabad. The place, was once as known as Devgiri, (circa the sixth century AD)
Starting 1327, it famously remained the capital

of Tughlaq dynasty, under Muhammad bin Tughluq (1325-1351), who also changed its name, and forcibily moved the entire population of Delhi here, for two years, before it was abandoned due to lack of water.

 Devagiri was founded by the Yadav King Bhillan V in

1187 A.D, the original fort was constructed during the rule of Singhana II (1210-46 A.D). Later Ala-ud-Din Khiliji conquered it in 1294 A.D. and this established the Muslim control in the region. In 1318 Malik Kaffur killed the last Yadava king Raja Harapal. During 1327 A.D. its name was changed in Daulatabd by Mohammed-Bin-Tughlaq who decided to transfer the entire population of Delhi. The fort was under the dominance of Mughals till the death of Aurangzeb in 1701 A.D. after which it was handed to the Nizam of Hyderabad.

 This magnificent 11th century fortress stands on a hill just

17 km. from Aurangabad.

One of the world's best preserved fort of medieval times. Surviving virtually unaltered, Daulatabad yet displays the

character that made it invincible.

Arguably amongst the best constructed forts all over the

world, this fort never in its lifetime witnessed a battle. Only once was the power transferred on this fort, and that too was by treachury(betrayal).

The fort area is surrounded by three concentric walls or fortifications. The outer one called Amberkot covers a diameter of about 1.5 Kilometers and it includes the half kilometer long Daulatabad town.

 The second fortification is Mahakot which enclosure

the Chand Minar and the foot of the hill. Mahakot has eight gates around it and is surrounded by a deep gully which is dry right now. (The car park and the visitor entrance to the fort are located at one of these gates facing east)

 Kalakot, the final fortification resembles the shape of a

beer bottle and is built around the huge rock hill. Kalaot is surrounded by a deep moat which is said to have been filled with crocodiles.(were fed with captured enemy men.)

 Those who cross the fortification has to pass through a

pitch dark zig-zag cave passage known as Andhari.

It is connected to several caves inside , which lead back to

the moat.
The army hiding inside the dark enclosure used to kill the

stuck enemy soldiers using spears.

The dark passage is followed by about five hundred odd

shaped steps which leads up the hill. The conquest of the fort is almost impossible without the help of a treachery.

 Chand Minar is at Daulatabad. It was built in the Turkish style in

1435 by Ala-ud-din Bahmani to celebrate his occupation of the fort. This 30-metre high tower is divided into four storeys. It has 24 chambers and a small mosque at its base. It is covered with the Persian blue tiles that make the Chand Minar outstanding.

Path passes bastions; studded gates, a drawbridge and the Chini

Mahal, where Abdul Hasan Tana Shah, the last King of Golconda, was imprisoned in 1687 for 13 years are the important attractions of the tomb. There is also a 6.6m long 'Kila Shikan' (Fort Breaker) iron cannon on the bastion. There are 100-steps stairs that lead to the 'Baradari' (pavilion) at the end of the tunnel inside the citadel (fortress).

There is another cannon at the top with a ram's head on the butt. Around the muzzle of the cannon, it is inscribed in Persian as "Creator of storms".

 The Chini Mahal, or China Palace, is the ruin of a

building once of great beauty. In it Abul Hasan Tana Shah, the last of the Qutb Shahi kings of Golconda, was imprisoned by Aurangzeb in 1687.