Palakkad Fort also known as Tipu's Fort is an old fort situated in the heart of Palakkad town of Kerala
state, southern India. It was built by Haider Ali in 1766 ACE and remains one of the best preserved forts
in Kerala.
History[edit]
The Palakkad Fort is said to have existed from very ancient times, but believed to be constructed in
present form in 1766 A.D, but little is known of its early history. The local ruler, Palakkad Achchan, was
originally a tributary of the Zamorin, but had become independent before the beginning of the eighteenth
century.
[1]
In 1757 he sent a deputation to Haider Ali seeking help against an invasion threatened by the
Zamorin. Haider Ali seized upon the opportunity to gain possession of a strategically important location
such as Palghat, and from that time until 1790 the fort was continually in the hands of the Mysore Sultans
or the British. It was first taken by the latter in 1768 when Colonel Wood captured it during his raid
on Haider Alis's fortresses, but it was retaken by Haider a few months later. It was recaptured by Colonel
Fullarton in 1783, after a siege that lasted eleven days but was abandoned the following year. It later fell
into the hands of the Zamorins troops. In 1790 it was finally captured by the British under Colonel Stuart.
It was renovated and was used as a base for operations that ended with the storming of Srirangapatnam.
The fort continued to be garrisoned until the middle of 19th century. In the early 1900s it was converted
into a taluk office.
[2]
The fort is also known as Tipu's Fort (after Tipu Sultan, the son of Hyder Ali).
Current status[edit]
There is a large ground between the Fort and the Palakkad Town hall, known as Kota Maidanam (Fort
Grounds). The ground, which had once served as a stable for the elephants and horses of Tipu's army, is
now used to stage cricket matches, exhibitions and public meetings. An open
airauditorium called "Rappadi", currently under the preservation of the Archaeological Survey of India, is
also located within the spacious grounds of the Fort. Additionally, there is a children's park on one side of
the Fort.
Interior[edit]
The Palakkad Special Sub Jail is also located within the fort.
Asirgarh Qila (Hindi: , Urdu ) is an Indian fortress (qila) situated in the Satpura Range,
about 20 km north of the city ofBurhanpur, in Burhanpur District of Madhya Pradesh state. Because the
fortress commands a pass through the Satpuras connecting the valleys of the Narmada and Tapti rivers,
one of the most important routes from northern India to the Deccan,it was known as the "key to the
Deccan". During Mughal Era, it was considered that Deccan starts from here: the empire from Asirgarh
to Delhi was considered as Hindustan. The fort was built by Asa Ahir of the Ahir dynasty.
[1][2]
History[edit]
The ancient inscriptions in the Pali Buddhist character have been discovered in various parts
of Rajasthan of the race of Taxak or Tak,Taka, Dhaka relating to the tribe Mori and Parmara are their
descendants. Taxak Mori was the lord of Chittor from very early period.
[3][4]
The Huna Kingdom of Sialkot (of Mihir Kula 515540 AD), destroyed by Yashodharman, was
subsequently seized by a new dynasty of kshatriyas called Tak. The Taxak Mori as being lords
of Chittor from very early period and few generations after the Guhilots supplanted theMoris, this
palladium of Hindu liberty was assailed by the arms of Islam. (725-35) we find amongst the numerous
defenders who appear to have considered the cause of Chittor their own the Tak from Asirgarh. This
race appears to have retained possession of Asirgarh for at least two centuries after this event as its
chieftain was one of the most conspicuous leaders in the array of Prithvi Raj. In the poems of Chandar he
is called the "Standard, bearer, Tak of Asir."
[5]
In 1536, the Mughal Emperor Humayun, after his conquest of Gujarat, had visited Burhanpur and
Asirgarh, travelling via Baroda, Broach (Bharuch) and Surat. Raja Ali Khan (15761596), also known as
Adil Shah, was asked to submit to Akbar, when the latter had sent an expedition to Khandesh, in the
summer of 1577 A.D. The former, to avoid an unequal contest with Akbar, dropped his royal title of
"Shah" and pledged suzerainty to Akbar. This was a significant achievement of the Mughals, for
Khandesh was used as a base for the future conquest of the Deccan. Raja Ali Khan constructed many
buildings: Jama Masjid in the upper portion of the fort of Asir in 1588, Jama Masjid at Burhanpur in 1590,
Idgah at Asir, mausoleums and serai at Burhanpur, and serai and a mosque at Zainabad.
Bahadur Khan (15961600), successor of Raja Ali Khan, declared his independence and refused to pay
homage to Akbar and his sonPrince Daniyal, which enraged Akbar, who marched towards Burhanpur in
1599 and occupied the city on 8 April 1600 without opposition.Akbar visited Asirgarh to inspect it
personally, staying for four days before returning to his headquarters at Burhanpur.
Gohad Fort (Hindi: Gohad Qila) is situated at Gohad city in Bhind district of Madhya
Pradesh, India. It is located at 26 25' 34N and 78 26' 41E. The town is situated at a distance of 45 km
from Gwalior.
[1]
History[edit]
According to Alexander Cunningham and William Cook
[disambiguation needed]
, people of the Jat caste from
village Bamrauli (near Agra) settled the town of Gohad in 1505. This later developed into an important Jat
stronghold. The Jat rulers of Gohad were awarded the title of rana. The Rana Jat ruler Singhandev II
founded Gohad fort and the Gohad state in 1505. Gohad state had 360 forts and fortresses all around for
the protection of their people. Out of these Gohad fort is most important and unique example architecture
of Jat rulers.Umara-i-Uzzam Maharaja Mahendra GOPAL SINGH Bhadauria, a Rajput Maharaja of
Bhadawar 1707/1730, was appointed governor of Narwar in 1707. In 1708 he captured the Jat fort of
Gohad and in 1712 stormed the fort of Rampura. It had the same style of architecture as used by the Jat
rulers in Bharatpur Fort.
[2]
Some old stories also mention that this fort was gifted to the Wazir of Scindia's
Court, Shivaddin Pakhre for his years of service to the emperor. Currently the fort is under tha ASI.
The site of fort[edit]
The site of Gohad fort was selected strategically on the Vaisli River where it takes a circular turn. The
Gohad fort is in circular shape. It is protected by the rampart constructed around the fort in a length of
5 km. The river was dug and flow of river was extended up to the fort to take a semi circular shape.
[3]
The fort has 11 gates named after the villages to which they face and the way they lead to. These are
Itayli (in south), Barthara (in west), Gohadi (in northwest), Birkhari (in northeast), Kathwan (in east),
Kharaua (in southeast) and Saraswati.
[4]
Gwalior Fort (Hindi: Gwalior Qila) is an 8th-century hill fort near Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh,
central India. The fort consists of a defensive structure and two main palaces, Gurjari Mahal and Man
Mandir, built by Man Singh Tomar. The fort has been controlled by a number of different rulers over time.
The Gurjari Mahal palace was built for Queen Mrignayani. It is now an archaeological museum.
Etymology[edit]
The word Gwalior is derived from one of the Hindu words for saint, Gwalipa.
[1]
Topography[edit]
The fort is built on an outcrop of Vindhyan sandstone on a solitary, rocky, long, thin, steep hill called
Gopachal. The geology of the Gwalior range rock formations is ochre coloured sandstone covered
with basalt. There is a horizontal strata, 342 feet (104 m) at its highest point (length 1.5 miles (2.4 km)
and average width 300 yards (270 m)).The stratum forms a near perpendicular precipice. A small river,
the Swarnrekha, flows close to the palace.
[2]
Rulers[edit]
Legend tells that Suraj Sen Kachwaha, chieftain of the nearby Silhonia village was on a hunting trip. He
came upon the hermit, Gwalipa (Galava) who gave the chieftain healing water from the Surajkund
reservoir. In gratitude for the healing of leprosy, the chieftain founded Gwalior, naming it after Gwalipa.
The earliest record of the fort is 525 AD where it is mentioned in an inscription in the temple of the Hun)
emperor, Mihirakula (510 AD). Near the fort is an 875 AD Chaturbhuj temple associated with Telika
Mandir.
[3]
Pal dynasty of Kachawaha[edit]
The Pal dynasty of 86 kings ruled for 989 years. It began with Budha Pal and concluded with Suraj Pal.
Budha Pal's son was Tej Karan (1127 - 1128). Gwalipa prophesied that the Pal dynasty would continue
while the patronym, Pal was kept. Tej Keran married the daughter of Ran Mul, ruler of Amber (Jaipur) and
received a valuable dowry. Tej Keran was offered the reign of Amber as long as he made it his residence.
He did so, leaving Gwalior under Ram Deva Pratihar.
[4]
Narwar Fort is situated atop a hill, at Narwar in Madhya Pradesh, about 500 feet above ground level
spread over an area of 8 km, which stands on a steep scarp of the Vindhya
Range. KachwahaRajputs are said to have built (or rebuilt) the fort when they occupied Narwar in the
10th century. Kachwaha, Parihara, and Tomara Rajputs held Narwar successively from 12th century
onwards, until its capture by the Mughals in the 16th century. It was conquered by
the Maratha chief Scindia in the early 19th century.
It is now in a dilapidated condition, but the remains suggest that, in the flourishing days, it might have
been only second to the Gwalior Fort in magnificence. The interior of the fort is divided by cross walls into
four 'ahata' and 'dholaahata'. The architecture of the fort and palaces is basically Rajput in style with flat
ceiling, fluted columns and multifold arches. The inner walls of the palaces have been decorated with
bright paint and glass beads. Near the fort are the Jai Stambha, Sati monument, Ladu bungalow, Chhip
Mahal, Makardwaj Tal, Kacheri mahal, Sikandar Lodi's Mosque,Shehenshah Anas Khan Joshi's Tomb
and Jail Kambha. Traditionally said to have been the capital of Raja Nala of the Sanskrit epic
Mahabharata, the town was called Nalapura until the 12th century. Outside the walled town are memorial
pillars of the Tomar chiefs.
