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ASAD GAD FORT

Commonly known as AKOLA FORT

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 LOCATION
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ASAD GAD FORT is located in old city also known as juna shehr besides
MORNA RIVER near famous RAJ RAJESHWAR MANDIR

Coordinates 20°42′22″N 76°59′24″E

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 Site information
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OUTSIDE Master title style Owner Government of
India
Controlled by Mughal Empire
Open to Yes
the public
Condition Dilapidated
Site history
Built 1697
Built by Asad Khan
Materials Stone
Garrison information
Past Asad Khan, 
commanders Arthur Wellesle
y

Akola fort (also called Asadgad) along with the Narnala and Akot forts forms the
major fortifications of the Akola district, Maharashtra, India
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 ENTRANCE
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The main grand entrance made up of cement
contrete, having a flag post on which hosting of flag
is performed on every republic and independence
day. Infront of the grand entrance, there are large
steps as it is a hill fort.

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 Photos
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The only portion of original walls & structures still standing,

Akola Fort.
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Hutama Samarak Chatri 6 6

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HISTORY

Its earliest form of mud was made by one Akol Singh to protect the
village. He saw a hare chasing a dog and considering this to be an
auspicious sign, he built an earthen wall here to protect the village.
Akola was heavily fortified in 1697 CE during the reign of Aurangzeb by
Asad Khan,[1] from whom the fort took its name (Asadgad). While at The
time of Chatrapati sambhaji Maharaj Maratha army had chased Mughal
troop up to Akola and Murtijapur to terror over mughal for the safety of
people. In 1803, Arthur Wellesley camped here before proceeding to win
the Battle of Argaon in the Second Anglo-Maratha War.[2] The fortress
was dismantled by the British Raj in about 1870. It was reported in 1910
in a district gazetteer that the central part of the fort (the hawakhana)
was used as a school.[

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MAJOR FEATURES
Akola fort is notable in that it is bereft of any
decorative embellishments.
There are several inscriptions on the fort. An
inscription on the Dahi handa gate gives its date of
construction as 1114 AH (1697 CE)deepak, ‘during the
reign of emperor Aurangzeb when Nawab Asad Khan
was minister.’ Another on the Fateh Buruj bastion has
no exact date. It too mentions the same minister but a
different emperor (Shah Alam).One on the Eidgah
contains texts and a statement that the building was
finished by Khawja Abdul Latif in 1116 AH (1698
CE)..On the Agarves gate an inscription in Marathi
reads that Govind Appaji in 1843 CE constructed the
fort. The latter statement contradicts all the other
inscriptions.
FOLKLORE
While King Akolsingh was living in the Asadgad Fort, there is a
famous story associated with this payas temple. Every night his
queen went to this temple to worship Shiva at midnight. Once King
Akolsingh thought that his queen was going out at midnight for
illicit reasons, so he followed her with a sword; the queen came to
know that King Akolsingh was following her. She felt gloomy and
guilty and went straight to the Shiva temple and pleaded to the god
that her husband the king was thinking wrong about her, and that it
was insulting that he was having no faith in her loyalty and her
character. So she pleaded to be allowed into Shiva’s Pind (Shiva
Ling) (a stone of God Shiva that is worshipped)”. The Shiva ling
broke in two parts and the queen jumped in, and then it was closed.
The king understood his mistake and could not forgive himself. Still
the Shiva ling in this temple has a little crack which is said to
corroborate this story. This temple is the base aastha of this Akola
city. There are 2 bridges: the first one is the dagadi pool (stone
bridge) (also known as ‘chota pool’ meaning smaller bridge) and
the other is lokhand pool (iron bridge) (also known as ‘motha pool’
meaning bigger bridge). This iron bridge was built at the time of
British rule.
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FEEDBACK

Its no more a fort , just plain land above normal surface and having wall
surrounding it.
• Its no more a fort. Just a barren land on top with a broken tower..still one can
see the fortification from the other side of the river.
• Very much neglected place by local people..Govt put railings on edges,
however people stole those bars.Smokers and tobacco chewing people
gather for their timepass at monument...No security personal to stop them
though te police station is next to it..Appreciate govt atleast to took the
initiative to create garden area for locals

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“
“HE WHO DENIES HIS HERITAGE, HAS
NO HERITAGE”
- Author : KHALIL GIBRAN

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Thank You

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