Gulbarga Fort

Located in the town of Gulbarga in Karnataka, the fort was built by the support of Raja Gulchand in the mid-14th century and is a noteworthy milestone of the Bahamani district. However, the fort got destroyed by Krishnadevaraya, the ruler of the Vijayanagara. But Adil Shah reconstructed the fort later on.

Muhammad Bin Tughlaq of Delhi Sultanate occupied the Deccan in the early 14th century, and this included Gulbarga. The Bahmani Sultanate was founded by the revolt of the Muslim offices who were appointed from Delhi, in 1347 by Alauddin Hassan. Gulbarga was precisely the capital of the Bahmani Kingdom, and during the mid-14th Century, Raja Gulchand built the Gulbarga Fort. However, the fort was demolished by the Vijayanagar Emperor, Krishnadevaraya. During the years 1459-1511, Yusuf Adil Shah, the establisher of the Adil Shah Dynasty, rebuilt the fort after conquering Krishnadevaraya. With the help of the riches of the defeated Vijayanagar Emperor, the fort was restored and refurbished.

The fort encompasses some ancient mosques, buildings, stables and temples. There are structures like towers and ammunition dumps within the fort as well. Jama Masjid and the tomb of Khawa Bande Nawaz are situated within the premises of the fort and many people from around the country visit them to seek blessings. Adding to its charm, the fort has a tranquil lake situated beside it which forms an excellent backdrop. Sit back on the banks of the lake and relax with a breath-taking view of the surroundings in front of your eyes. There’s a treasure trove within the fort which comprises some vintage object d’arts! The tourists often visit Bhima and Krishna, the two rivers that flow close to the Gulbarga Fort and. The fort is a huge one and covers an area of around 38000 sq. Feet.

The fort consists of some of the most sought-after and prized artefacts:

• World’s Longest Canon – It is a matter of great pride for the Indians that the world’s longest canon is situated within the premises of the Gulbarga Fort in Karnataka. It was installed during the reign of the Bahamani sultanate and is purely made up of alloy (Panch Dhatu). The canon is known as the Bara Gazi Toph and is 29 feet long, with a diameter of 2 feet and thickness of 7 inches.
• Arms and Ammunition Storage Go downs – This is one of the most visited parts of the forts. Most of the arms and ammunition used during the battles of the Bahamani Dynasty has been preserved within the fort.
• Elephant and Horse Stables – These are the stables used to keep elephants and horses that belonged to that of Raja Gulchand and later, to the kings of the Bahamani district.
• Mosques – The famous visitors’ attractions are the Haft-Gumbaz, Sultan Hasan’s Tomb, the mausoleum of Feroze Shah, the tomb of Syed Mohammad Gesu Daraz, the famous Sufi saint, built in a typical Indo-Saracenic style, and the magnificent the Jama Majid.

This fort is one of the most beautifully preserved ones among all other forts in India. The Jama Masjid inside actually dominates the fort which sprawls over 38000 sq feet with 250 arches, 75 small and five large domes. Presently, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) manages the fort. Gulbarga Fort was at first the capital of the Bahamani Dynasty till 1424, but it later got transferred to the Bidar Fort for having a better and suitable weather condition. The fort portrays the architectural grandeur of the then architectural style, and it gives a brief of the historical background of the city.

• Khwaja Bande Nawaz Dargah – During the 14th Century, Sufi Khwaja Bande Nawaz played a crucial role in spreading Islam in India. This mosque was built after him. The dargah attracts tourists all over the globe and is one of the major attractions near Gulbarga Fort other than Jama Masjid.
• Jama Masjid – This is one of the first ever mosques in Southern India and is another overly visited places near Gulbarga Fort. This masjid was built to commemorate Gulbarga as the capital of the Bahamani dynasty.
• Sannati – A small village located within the shores of the Bhima River. Archeological Survey of India has done several excavations in this area and a lot of terracotta items, sculptures and tablets have been found. It is also quite famous for the discovery of Buddhist Mahastupa.
• Chandralamba Temple – This is a beautiful forest temple and is visited a lot by the tourists. It is one of the top 5 most-visited places near Gulbarga Fort.

To enjoy sightseeing to the fullest it's best to roam on feet hence pleasant weather is a must. Therefore, it is preferable to visit the fort during winters. Anytime between January-March and then October-December is an excellent time to visit the fort. During these months, the weather remains cool and lets you enjoy your day’s trip to the fort to the fullest as you will even have to climb at the top of the fort to be a spectator of the beauty which lies around it. You can start for the fort right after having your breakfast at the hotel.

Sholapur is the nearest airport from the Gulbarga city. It is situated at a distance of 81 kms from the city. Also, major cities like Hyderabad, Bangalore and Chennai are well-connected to Gulbarga through trains as well as regular flights. From Bangalore and Mysore, you can reach Gulbarga on buses as well that operates regularly. Hyderabad is around 200 kms away from Gulbarga.