Daulatabad, Medieval fort in Sambhajinagar district, India
Daulatabad is a fort in Aurangabad district, India, that sits on a conical hill protected by multiple defensive rings. The complex spreads across different levels with towers, gates, and a series of underground passages.
The Yadava dynasty built the site in 1187 under the name Deogiri as the capital of their kingdom. Sultan Muhammad bin Tughlaq moved his capital here in the early 14th century and gave the place its current name.
The name means "City of Wealth", and many of the remaining structures show how rulers adapted earlier Hindu designs to serve new purposes. The tall minar still dominates the skyline and visitors can see how the site evolved through centuries of occupation.
The site opens daily and the climb involves steep stairs and narrow passages that require sturdy footwear. Visitors should plan several hours for the full tour as the route passes through different defensive levels.
The Andhari tunnel system was built to confuse intruders through abrupt turns and hidden traps. Some sections lie completely in darkness and were once filled with fire and smoke to repel attackers.
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