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this must be the highest pony track in the world. almost on top of a huge mountain.
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Daulatabad Fort
Daulatabad also known as Devagiri, is a town which includes the Devagiri-Daulatabad fort It is a 14th-century fort city in Maharashtra state of India, about 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) northwest of Aurangabad. The place was originally named Devagiri when it was an important uplands city along caravan routes (ca. sixth century AD), but the intervening centuries have reduced it to a village. However it is also considered to be one of the seven wonders of Maharashtra and a developing tourist spot.
The historical triangular fort of Daulatabad was built by first Yadava king Bhillama V in 1187.
Starting 1327, it famously remained the capital of Tughlaq dynasty, under Muhammad bin Tughluq (r. 1325-1351), who also changed its name, and forcibly moved the entire population of Delhi for two years before it was abandoned for lack of water and Tughluq was constantly known to shift the capital from Delhi to Daulatabad and Daulatabad to Delhi.
There is a belief that Devagiri was built in 1203 AD by a Dhangar or herdsman who acquired vast wealth by his good fortune. He had a brother who was a shepherd named 'Raja Ram' and in correlation with it he assumed the rank of a Raja (King).
Lord Shiva is believed to have been stayed on the hills surrounding this region. Hence the fort was originally known as Devagiri, literally (Hills of Gods)
The area of the city includes the hill-fortress of Devagiri (sometimes Latinised to Deogiri). It stands on a conical hill, about 200 meters high. Much of the lower slopes of the hill has been cut away by Yadava dynasty rulers to leave 50 meter vertical sides to improve defenses. The fort is a place of extraordinary strength. The only means of access to the summit is by a narrow bridge, with passage for not more than two people abreast, and a long gallery, excavated in the rock, which has for the most part a very gradual upward slope.
About midway along this gallery, the access gallery has steep stairs, the top of which is covered by a grating destined in time of war to form the hearth of a huge fire kept burning by the garrison above. At the summit, and at intervals on the slope, are specimens of massive old cannon facing out over the surrounding countryside. Also at the mid way, there is a cave entrance meant to confuse the enemies.
The fort had the following specialities which are listed along with their advantages :
No separate exit from the fort, only one entrance/exit - This is designed to confuse the enemy soldiers to drive deep into the fort in search of an exit, at their own peril.
No parallal gates - This is designed to break the momentum of theconfusing the invading army. Also, the flag mast is on the left hill, which the enemy will try to capitualte, thus will always turn left. But the real gates of the fort are on the right & the false ones on the left, thus confusing the enemy.
Spikes on the gates - In the era before gunpowder, intoxicated elephants were used as a battering ram to break open the gates. The presence of spikes ensured that the elephants died of injury.
Complex arrangement of entryways, curved walls, false doors - Designed to confuse the enemy, false, but well-designed gates on the left side lured the enemy soldiers in & trapped them inside, eventually feeding them to crocodiles.
The hill is shaped like a smooth tortoise back - this prevented the use of mountain lizards as climbers, because they cannot stick on it.
The site had been occupied since at least 100 BCE, and now has remains of Buddhist temples similar to those at Ajanta and Ellora.
The city is said to have been founded c. 1187 by Bhillama V, a Yadava prince who renounced his allegiance to the Chalukyas and established the power of the Yadava dynasty in the west. During the rule of the Yadava king Ramachandra, Alauddin Khalji of Delhi Sultanate raided Devagiri in 1296, forcing the Yadavas to pay a hefty tribute. When the tribute payments stopped, Alauddin sent a second expedition to Devagiri in 1308, forcing Ramachandra to become his vassal.
In 1328, Muhammad bin Tughluq of Delhi Sultanate transferred the capital of his kingdom to Devagiri, and renamed it Daulatabad. Some scholars ague that it the idea behind transfer of the capital was rational, because it lied more or less in the centre of the kingdom, and geographically secured the capital from the north-west frontier attacks.
In the Daulatabad fort, he found the area arid & dry. Hence he built a huge reservoir for water storage & connected it with a far-away river. He used siphon system to fill up the reservoir. However, his capital-shift strategy failed miserably due to lack of application & other factors. Hence he shifted back to Delhi & earned him the moniker "Mad King".
The next important event in the Daulatabad fort time-line was the construction of the Chand Minar by the Bahmani ruler Hasan Gangu Bahmani, also known as Ala-ud-Din Bahman Shah (r. 3 August 1347 – 11 February 1358).
Hasan Gangu built the Chand Minar as a replica of the Qutb Minar of Delhi, of which he was a great fan of. He employed Iranian architects to built the Minar who used Lapis Lazuli & Red Ochre for coloring. Currently, the Minar is out of bounds for the tourists, because of a suicide case.
As we move further into the fort, we can see the Chini Mahal, a VIP prison built by Aurangzeb. In this prison, he kept Abul Hasan Tana Shah of the Qutb Shahi Dynasty of Hyderabad. The antecedents of Abul Hasan Tana Shah, the last Qutub Shahi king are shrouded in mystery. Although a kinsman of the Golconda royals, he spent his formative years as a disciple of renowned Sufi saint Shah Raju Qattal, leading a spartan existence away from the pomp and grandeur of royalty. Shah Raziuddin Hussaini, popularly known as Shah Raju, was held in high esteem by both the nobility and commoners of Hyderabad. Abdullah Qutub Shah, the seventh king of Golconda was among his most ardent devotees. He died in prison leaving no male heir to the throne.
In this Chini Mahal, Sambhaji, son of Shivaji was kept.
Most of the present-day fortification was constructed under the Bahmanis and the Nizam Shahs of Ahmadnagar. The Mughal Governor of the Deccan under Shah Jahan, captured the fortress in 1632 and imprisoned the Nizam Shahi prince Husain Shah.
Monuments[edit]
The outer wall, 2.75 miles (4.43 km) in circumference, once enclosed the ancient city of Devagiri and between this and the base of the upper fort are three lines of defences.
Along with the fortifications, Devagiri contains several notable monuments, of which the chief are the Chand Minar and the Chini Mahal. The Chand Minar is a tower 210 ft (64 m). high and 70 ft (21 m). in circumference at the base, and was originally covered with beautiful Persian glazed tiles. It was erected in 1445 by Ala-ud-din Bahmani to commemorate his capture of the fort. The Chini Mahal (literally: 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.
Public hookah smoking is common in Kashmir.More often than not it is shared causing spread of respiratory diseases.
The Moghals were masters of architecture using light, shadow and water. Their heritage can be found across much of the sub-continent. Some of their gardens are famous (like those of the Taj Mahal, the Shalimar Gardens in Lahore ....), others much less so.
When I first visited Wah in 1984, the gardens and ruins were almost all buried in undergrowth, and there was little water. But there was an atmosphere that I really loved, and so the next time I was nearby, I asked if we had time to stop by ... and was delighted to see that people had started to clear up the gardens. I try to visit whenever I can -
Not all the area has been cleaned up and restored ... yet! But the gardens are a popular place now for the people of Wah - a good place to relax at the weekend, especially in summer! I've never seen the gardens so alive - people sitting with feet in the water, boys climbing a tree to jump into a pond, girls & boys leaping into the main tank, or lying in the canals, families sitting in the shade - talking, having a picnic ... relaxing
Certainly not a main tourist spot ... and there are zones still not cleaned up at all (in fact, this time the gates to that part were locked.) But a place with a soul, and one I hope I'll see again - maybe with more restored!
#kashmir #dallake #pahalgam #gulmarg #chandanwari #sonmarg #srinagar #jhelum #khilanmarg #wularlake #gilgit #chitral #kongdoori #tanmarg #verinag #yusmarg #jammuandkashmir #india #valley #paradiseonearth #aruvalley #avantipurruins #pampore #wani #saffron #dryfruits #baisaran #miniswitzerland #betaabvalley #parimahal #mughalgardens #tulips #shehnag #jehlum #floods #lidder #river #mountain #chashmeshahi #nishat #shalimar #bagh #shahjahan #comtemporaryart #shikara #gondola #afarwat #nehrupark #blackpavillion #14000 #avantipura #martand #temple #medows #snow #shankaracharya #valleyofflowers #sprint #water #waterfall #artist #papermache #kangri #millitancy #terrorists #anantnag #budgam #shopian #ravinderdutt
The Moghals were masters of architecture using light, shadow and water. Their heritage can be found across much of the sub-continent. Some of their gardens are famous (like those of the Taj Mahal, the Shalimar Gardens in Lahore ....), others much less so.
When I first visited Wah in 1984, the gardens and ruins were almost all buried in undergrowth, and there was little water. But there was an atmosphere that I really loved, and so the next time I was nearby, I asked if we had time to stop by ... and was delighted to see that people had started to clear up the gardens. I try to visit whenever I can -
Not all the area has been cleaned up and restored ... yet! But the gardens are a popular place now for the people of Wah - a good place to relax at the weekend, especially in summer! I've never seen the gardens so alive - people sitting with feet in the water, boys climbing a tree to jump into a pond, girls & boys leaping into the main tank, or lying in the canals, families sitting in the shade - talking, having a picnic ... relaxing
Certainly not a main tourist spot ... and there are zones still not cleaned up at all (in fact, this time the gates to that part were locked.) But a place with a soul, and one I hope I'll see again - maybe with more restored!
Mughal Garden, established in the year 1970, at Karachi Zoo has green lawns with seasonal plants that occupy major part of the garden accompanied with Mughal-style fountains. The garden is famous for different variety of roses and other flowers that are exhibited there.
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The Agra Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage site located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. It is about 2.5 km northwest of its more famous sister monument, the Taj Mahal. The fort can be more accurately described as a walled city.
HISTORY
The present-day structure was built by the Mughals, though a fort had stood there since at least the 11th century. Agra Fort was originally a brick fort known as Badalgarh, held by Raja Badal Singh Hindu Sikarwar Rajput king (c. 1475). It was mentioned for the first time in 1080 AD when a Ghaznavide force captured it. Sikandar Lodi (1488–1517) was the first Sultan of Delhi who shifted to Agra and lived in the fort. He governed the country from here and Agra assumed the importance of the second capital. He died in the fort at 1517 and his son, Ibrahim Lodi, held it for nine years until he was defeated and killed at Panipat in 1526. Several palaces, wells and a mosque were built by him in the fort during his period.
After the First Battle of Panipat in 1526, Mughals captured the fort and seized a vast treasure, including the diamond later known as the Koh-i-Noor. The victorious Babur stayed in the fort in the palace of Ibrahim and built a baoli (step well) in it. The emperor Humayun was crowned here in 1530. Humayun was defeated at Bilgram in 1540 by Sher Shah. The fort remained with Suris till 1555, when Humanyun recaptured it. The Hindu king Hem Chandra Vikramaditya, also called 'Hemu', defeated Humanyun's army, led by Iskandar Khan Uzbek, and won Agra. Hemu got a huge booty from this fort and went on to capture Delhi from the Mughals. The Mughals under Akbar defeated King Hemu finally at the Second Battle of Panipat in 1556.
Realizing the importance of its central situation, Akbar made it his capital and arrived in Agra in 1558. His historian, Abdul Fazal, recorded that this was a brick fort known as 'Badalgarh'. It was in a ruined condition and Akbar had it rebuilt with red sandstone from Barauli area in Rajasthan. Architects laid the foundation and it was built with bricks in the inner core with sandstone on external surfaces. Some 4,000 builders worked on it daily for eight years, completing it in 1573.
It was only during the reign of Akbar's grandson, Shah Jahan, that the site took on its current state. Legend has it that Shah Jahan built the beautiful Taj Mahal for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Unlike his grandfather, Shah Jahan tended to have buildings made from white marble, often inlaid with gold or semi-precious gems. He destroyed some of the earlier buildings inside the fort to make his own.
At the end of his life, Shah Jahan was deposed and restrained by his son, Aurangzeb, in the fort. It is rumoured that Shah Jahan died in Muasamman Burj, a tower with a marble balcony with a view of the Taj Mahal.
The fort was invaded by the Maratha Empire during the mid 18th century. Thereafter, it changed hands between the Marathas and their foes many times. After their catastrophic defeat at Third Battle of Panipat by Ahmad Shah Abdali in 1761, Marathas remained out of the region for the next decade. Finally Mahadji Shinde took the fort in 1785. It was lost by the Marathas to the British during the Second Anglo-Maratha War, in 1803.
The fort was the site of a battle during the Indian rebellion of 1857, which caused the end of the British East India Company's rule in India, and led to a century of direct rule of India by Britain.
LAYOUT
The 380,000 m2 (94-acre) fort has a semicircular plan, its chord lies parallel to the river and its walls are seventy feet high. Double ramparts have massive circular bastions at intervals, with battlements, embrasures, machicolations and string courses. Four gates were provided on its four sides, one Khizri gate opening on to the river.
Two of the fort's gates are notable: the "Delhi Gate" and the "Lahore Gate." The Lahore Gate is also popularly also known as the "Amar Singh Gate," for Amar Singh Rathore.
The monumental Delhi Gate, which faces the city on the western side of the fort, is considered the grandest of the four gates and a masterpiece of Akbar's time. It was built circa 1568 both to enhance security and as the king's formal gate, and includes features related to both. It is embellished with inlay work in white marble. A wooden drawbridge was used to cross the moat and reach the gate from the mainland; inside, an inner gateway called Hathi Pol ("Elephant Gate") – guarded by two life-sized stone elephants with their riders – added another layer of security. The drawbridge, slight ascent, and 90-degree turn between the outer and inner gates make the entrance impregnable. During a siege, attackers would employ elephants to crush a fort's gates. Without a level, straight run-up to gather speed, however, something prevented by this layout, elephants are ineffective.
Because the Indian military (the Parachute Brigade in particular) is still using the northern portion of the Agra Fort, the Delhi Gate cannot be used by the public. Tourists enter via the Amar Singh Gate.
The site is very important in terms of architectural history. Abul Fazal recorded that five hundred buildings in the beautiful designs of Bengal and Gujarat were built in the fort. Some of them were demolished by Shahjahan to make way for his white marble palaces. Most of the others were destroyed by the British between 1803 and 1862 for raising barracks. Hardly thirty Mughal buildings have survived on the south-eastern side, facing the river. Of these, the Delhi Gate and Akbar Gate and one palace – "Bengali Mahal" – are representative Akbari buildings.
Akbar Darwazza (Akbar Gate) was renamed Amar Singh Gate by the British.
POPULAR CULTURE
- The Agra Fort won the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 2004. India Post issued a stamp to commemorate this event.
- The Agra Fort plays a key role in the Sherlock Holmes mystery The Sign of the Four, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
- The Agra Fort was featured in the music video for Habibi Da, a hit song of Egyptian pop star Hisham Abbas.
- Shivaji came to Agra in 1666 as per the "Purandar Treaty" entered into with Mirza Raje Jaisingh to met Aurangzeb in the Diwan-i-Khas. In the audience he was deliberately placed behind men of lower rank. Insulted, he stormed out of the imperial audience and was confined to Jai Sing's quarters on 12 May 1666.
- In the second expansion pack for the videogame Age of Empires 3, the Asian Dynasties, Agra fort is one of five wonders for the Indian civilisation.
WIKIPEDIA
Daulatabad Fort
Daulatabad also known as Devagiri, is a town which includes the Devagiri-Daulatabad fort It is a 14th-century fort city in Maharashtra state of India, about 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) northwest of Aurangabad. The place was originally named Devagiri when it was an important uplands city along caravan routes (ca. sixth century AD), but the intervening centuries have reduced it to a village. However it is also considered to be one of the seven wonders of Maharashtra and a developing tourist spot.
The historical triangular fort of Daulatabad was built by first Yadava king Bhillama V in 1187.
Starting 1327, it famously remained the capital of Tughlaq dynasty, under Muhammad bin Tughluq (r. 1325-1351), who also changed its name, and forcibly moved the entire population of Delhi for two years before it was abandoned for lack of water and Tughluq was constantly known to shift the capital from Delhi to Daulatabad and Daulatabad to Delhi.
There is a belief that Devagiri was built in 1203 AD by a Dhangar or herdsman who acquired vast wealth by his good fortune. He had a brother who was a shepherd named 'Raja Ram' and in correlation with it he assumed the rank of a Raja (King).
Lord Shiva is believed to have been stayed on the hills surrounding this region. Hence the fort was originally known as Devagiri, literally (Hills of Gods)
The area of the city includes the hill-fortress of Devagiri (sometimes Latinised to Deogiri). It stands on a conical hill, about 200 meters high. Much of the lower slopes of the hill has been cut away by Yadava dynasty rulers to leave 50 meter vertical sides to improve defenses. The fort is a place of extraordinary strength. The only means of access to the summit is by a narrow bridge, with passage for not more than two people abreast, and a long gallery, excavated in the rock, which has for the most part a very gradual upward slope.
About midway along this gallery, the access gallery has steep stairs, the top of which is covered by a grating destined in time of war to form the hearth of a huge fire kept burning by the garrison above. At the summit, and at intervals on the slope, are specimens of massive old cannon facing out over the surrounding countryside. Also at the mid way, there is a cave entrance meant to confuse the enemies.
The fort had the following specialities which are listed along with their advantages :
No separate exit from the fort, only one entrance/exit - This is designed to confuse the enemy soldiers to drive deep into the fort in search of an exit, at their own peril.
No parallal gates - This is designed to break the momentum of theconfusing the invading army. Also, the flag mast is on the left hill, which the enemy will try to capitualte, thus will always turn left. But the real gates of the fort are on the right & the false ones on the left, thus confusing the enemy.
Spikes on the gates - In the era before gunpowder, intoxicated elephants were used as a battering ram to break open the gates. The presence of spikes ensured that the elephants died of injury.
Complex arrangement of entryways, curved walls, false doors - Designed to confuse the enemy, false, but well-designed gates on the left side lured the enemy soldiers in & trapped them inside, eventually feeding them to crocodiles.
The hill is shaped like a smooth tortoise back - this prevented the use of mountain lizards as climbers, because they cannot stick on it.
The site had been occupied since at least 100 BCE, and now has remains of Buddhist temples similar to those at Ajanta and Ellora.
The city is said to have been founded c. 1187 by Bhillama V, a Yadava prince who renounced his allegiance to the Chalukyas and established the power of the Yadava dynasty in the west. During the rule of the Yadava king Ramachandra, Alauddin Khalji of Delhi Sultanate raided Devagiri in 1296, forcing the Yadavas to pay a hefty tribute. When the tribute payments stopped, Alauddin sent a second expedition to Devagiri in 1308, forcing Ramachandra to become his vassal.
In 1328, Muhammad bin Tughluq of Delhi Sultanate transferred the capital of his kingdom to Devagiri, and renamed it Daulatabad. Some scholars ague that it the idea behind transfer of the capital was rational, because it lied more or less in the centre of the kingdom, and geographically secured the capital from the north-west frontier attacks.
In the Daulatabad fort, he found the area arid & dry. Hence he built a huge reservoir for water storage & connected it with a far-away river. He used siphon system to fill up the reservoir. However, his capital-shift strategy failed miserably due to lack of application & other factors. Hence he shifted back to Delhi & earned him the moniker "Mad King".
The next important event in the Daulatabad fort time-line was the construction of the Chand Minar by the Bahmani ruler Hasan Gangu Bahmani, also known as Ala-ud-Din Bahman Shah (r. 3 August 1347 – 11 February 1358).
Hasan Gangu built the Chand Minar as a replica of the Qutb Minar of Delhi, of which he was a great fan of. He employed Iranian architects to built the Minar who used Lapis Lazuli & Red Ochre for coloring. Currently, the Minar is out of bounds for the tourists, because of a suicide case.
As we move further into the fort, we can see the Chini Mahal, a VIP prison built by Aurangzeb. In this prison, he kept Abul Hasan Tana Shah of the Qutb Shahi Dynasty of Hyderabad. The antecedents of Abul Hasan Tana Shah, the last Qutub Shahi king are shrouded in mystery. Although a kinsman of the Golconda royals, he spent his formative years as a disciple of renowned Sufi saint Shah Raju Qattal, leading a spartan existence away from the pomp and grandeur of royalty. Shah Raziuddin Hussaini, popularly known as Shah Raju, was held in high esteem by both the nobility and commoners of Hyderabad. Abdullah Qutub Shah, the seventh king of Golconda was among his most ardent devotees. He died in prison leaving no male heir to the throne.
In this Chini Mahal, Sambhaji, son of Shivaji was kept.
Most of the present-day fortification was constructed under the Bahmanis and the Nizam Shahs of Ahmadnagar. The Mughal Governor of the Deccan under Shah Jahan, captured the fortress in 1632 and imprisoned the Nizam Shahi prince Husain Shah.
Monuments[edit]
The outer wall, 2.75 miles (4.43 km) in circumference, once enclosed the ancient city of Devagiri and between this and the base of the upper fort are three lines of defences.
Along with the fortifications, Devagiri contains several notable monuments, of which the chief are the Chand Minar and the Chini Mahal. The Chand Minar is a tower 210 ft (64 m). high and 70 ft (21 m). in circumference at the base, and was originally covered with beautiful Persian glazed tiles. It was erected in 1445 by Ala-ud-din Bahmani to commemorate his capture of the fort. The Chini Mahal (literally: 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.
The Moghals were masters of architecture using light, shadow and water. Their heritage can be found across much of the sub-continent. Some of their gardens are famous (like those of the Taj Mahal, the Shalimar Gardens in Lahore ....), others much less so.
When I first visited Wah in 1984, the gardens and ruins were almost all buried in undergrowth, and there was little water. But there was an atmosphere that I really loved, and so the next time I was nearby, I asked if we had time to stop by ... and was delighted to see that people had started to clear up the gardens. I try to visit whenever I can -
Not all the area has been cleaned up and restored ... yet! But the gardens are a popular place now for the people of Wah - a good place to relax at the weekend, especially in summer! I've never seen the gardens so alive - people sitting with feet in the water, boys climbing a tree to jump into a pond, girls & boys leaping into the main tank, or lying in the canals, families sitting in the shade - talking, having a picnic ... relaxing
Certainly not a main tourist spot ... and there are zones still not cleaned up at all (in fact, this time the gates to that part were locked.) But a place with a soul, and one I hope I'll see again - maybe with more restored!
The Moghals were masters of architecture using light, shadow and water. Their heritage can be found across much of the sub-continent. Some of their gardens are famous (like those of the Taj Mahal, the Shalimar Gardens in Lahore ....), others much less so.
When I first visited Wah in 1984, the gardens and ruins were almost all buried in undergrowth, and there was little water. But there was an atmosphere that I really loved, and so the next time I was nearby, I asked if we had time to stop by ... and was delighted to see that people had started to clear up the gardens. I try to visit whenever I can -
Not all the area has been cleaned up and restored ... yet! But the gardens are a popular place now for the people of Wah - a good place to relax at the weekend, especially in summer! I've never seen the gardens so alive - people sitting with feet in the water, boys climbing a tree to jump into a pond, girls & boys leaping into the main tank, or lying in the canals, families sitting in the shade - talking, having a picnic ... relaxing
Certainly not a main tourist spot ... and there are zones still not cleaned up at all (in fact, this time the gates to that part were locked.) But a place with a soul, and one I hope I'll see again - maybe with more restored!
The Moghals were masters of architecture using light, shadow and water. Their heritage can be found across much of the sub-continent. Some of their gardens are famous (like those of the Taj Mahal, the Shalimar Gardens in Lahore ....), others much less so.
When I first visited Wah in 1984, the gardens and ruins were almost all buried in undergrowth, and there was little water. But there was an atmosphere that I really loved, and so the next time I was nearby, I asked if we had time to stop by ... and was delighted to see that people had started to clear up the gardens. I try to visit whenever I can -
Not all the area has been cleaned up and restored ... yet! But the gardens are a popular place now for the people of Wah - a good place to relax at the weekend, especially in summer! I've never seen the gardens so alive - people sitting with feet in the water, boys climbing a tree to jump into a pond, girls & boys leaping into the main tank, or lying in the canals, families sitting in the shade - talking, having a picnic ... relaxing
Certainly not a main tourist spot ... and there are zones still not cleaned up at all (in fact, this time the gates to that part were locked.) But a place with a soul, and one I hope I'll see again - maybe with more restored!
This photo should be seen as 3rd in a series:
www.flickr.com/photos/anduze-traveller/4741355182/in/phot...
www.flickr.com/photos/anduze-traveller/4741359418/in/phot...
Safdarjung Tomb
Safdarjung was the governor of Awadh and later became the Prime Minister of Muhammad Shah, the Mughal emperor. Safdarjung's tomb represents the last phase of the Mughal style of architecture. The tomb of Safdarjung was built in red sandstone and buff stone. It's a garden tomb with a marble mausoleum in New Delhi, India. It was built in 1754.
Thanks a lot for stopping by and looking
The Moghals were masters of architecture using light, shadow and water. Their heritage can be found across much of the sub-continent. Some of their gardens are famous (like those of the Taj Mahal, the Shalimar Gardens in Lahore ....), others much less so.
When I first visited Wah in 1984, the gardens and ruins were almost all buried in undergrowth, and there was little water. But there was an atmosphere that I really loved, and so the next time I was nearby, I asked if we had time to stop by ... and was delighted to see that people had started to clear up the gardens. I try to visit whenever I can -
Not all the area has been cleaned up and restored ... yet! But the gardens are a popular place now for the people of Wah - a good place to relax at the weekend, especially in summer! I've never seen the gardens so alive - people sitting with feet in the water, boys climbing a tree to jump into a pond, girls & boys leaping into the main tank, or lying in the canals, families sitting in the shade - talking, having a picnic ... relaxing
Certainly not a main tourist spot ... and there are zones still not cleaned up at all (in fact, this time the gates to that part were locked.) But a place with a soul, and one I hope I'll see again - maybe with more restored!
Safdarjung Tomb
Safdarjung was the governor of Awadh and later became the Prime Minister of Muhammad Shah, the Mughal emperor. Safdarjung's tomb represents the last phase of the Mughal style of architecture. The tomb of Safdarjung was built in red sandstone and buff stone. It's a garden tomb with a marble mausoleum in New Delhi, India. It was built in 1754.
Thanks a lot for stopping by and looking
The Shalimar Gardens in Srinagar, on the banks of the Dal Lake are very busy and crowded. The road separating the entrance of the garden and the Dal Lake is fairly wide (wider than it appears in the photo) and supports car parking on the side, right next to the Dal Lake. The parking also offers a variety of mobile vendors selling snacks and drinks (non-alcoholic). The Shalimar Garden is a very beautiful garden located on the right bank of the Dal Lake in Srinagar, the capital of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. It is one of the famous gardens on the banks of the Dal Lake, located on the slope of a mountain. The garden is supposed to have existed from historical times, but became very famous when it was adopted by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir in 1619, built for his wife Nur Jahan. As a result, the garden (along with other gardens) are called Mughal Gardens. Jahangir was so enamored with Kashmir that he spent a large amount of time over here, using Srinagar as a summer capital for his empire. Over a period of time, the garden was extended and electrified. It is one of the high points of the tourist attractions in the city of Srinagar.
The gardens are supposed to be based on a layout called Persian Gardens. However, these gardens were supposed to be built on flat surfaces, while the Shalimar Garden was built on a hill, and hence the garden was split into 3 terraces. The garden covers an area of 31 acres and also provides a great view of the Dal Lake. Running through the center of the Shalimar Garden is a 12 m wide canal that carried water through the garden and flows into the Dal Lake. The garden is full of greenery, with some very beautiful trees.
#kashmir #dallake #pahalgam #gulmarg #chandanwari #ravinderdutt #sonmarg #srinagar #jhelum #khilanmarg #wularlake #gilgit #chitral #kongdoori #tanmarg #verinag #yusmarg #jammuandkashmir #india #valley #paradiseonearth #aruvalley #avantipurruins #pampore #wani #saffron #dryfruits #baisaran #miniswitzerland #betaabvalley #parimahal #mughalgardens #tulips #shehnag #jehlum #floods #lidder #river #mountain #chashmeshahi #nishat #shalimar #bagh #shahjahan #comtemporaryart #shikara #gondola #afarwat #nehrupark #blackpavillion #14000 #avantipura #martand #temple #medows #snow #shankaracharya #valleyofflowers #sprint #water #waterfall #artist #papermache #kangri #millitancy #terrorists #anantnag #budgam #shopian #
The stretch of fallow land to the right is the "Tulip Garden", famous for its bountiful bulbs of Tulip which flower around March- April.
The Moghals were masters of architecture using light, shadow and water. Their heritage can be found across much of the sub-continent. Some of their gardens are famous (like those of the Taj Mahal, the Shalimar Gardens in Lahore ....), others much less so.
When I first visited Wah in 1984, the gardens and ruins were almost all buried in undergrowth, and there was little water. But there was an atmosphere that I really loved, and so the next time I was nearby, I asked if we had time to stop by ... and was delighted to see that people had started to clear up the gardens. I try to visit whenever I can -
Not all the area has been cleaned up and restored ... yet! But the gardens are a popular place now for the people of Wah - a good place to relax at the weekend, especially in summer! I've never seen the gardens so alive - people sitting with feet in the water, boys climbing a tree to jump into a pond, girls & boys leaping into the main tank, or lying in the canals, families sitting in the shade - talking, having a picnic ... relaxing
Certainly not a main tourist spot ... and there are zones still not cleaned up at all (in fact, this time the gates to that part were locked.) But a place with a soul, and one I hope I'll see again - maybe with more restored!
The Amer Fort elephant ride takes approximately 20-30 minutes (depending on elephant traffic!) for the elephant to slowly trudge up the hillside to the main courtyard.
There are approximately 80 elephants, which carry up 900 visitors per day. There is a limit to the total number of journeys each elephant can do in a day and this has been introduced to prevent over working the elephants, and possible animal cruelty.
Amber Fort is located in Amer , 11 kilometres from Jaipur, Rajasthan State, India. It is one of the principal tourist attractions in the Jaipur area, located high on a hill. Amber Fort Was Built By Raja Man Singh I. Amber Fort is known for its artistic style, blending both Hindu and Rajput elements. With its large ramparts, series of gates and cobbled paths, the fort overlooks the Maota Lake, at its forefront.
The Amber Fort was built by ‘Raja Shri Maan Singh JI Saheb’ (Maan Singh I) (December 21, 1550 – July 6, 1614) in 16th century. Man Singh, one of the first war chiefs or the trusted general of the Emperor Akbar. Akbar included him among the ‘Navaratnas’, or the 9 (nava) gems (ratna) of the royal court. Man Singh began the construction of a fortress-palace of white and red sandstone i.e. Amber Fort in 1592. He was the Kacchwaha (Rajput) of King of Amber, a state later known as Jaipur. Nearby he ordered to set a small temple devoted to ‘Sheela Mata’, his patron goddess.
Safdarjung Tomb
Safdarjung was the governor of Awadh and later became the Prime Minister of Muhammad Shah, the Mughal emperor. Safdarjung's tomb represents the last phase of the Mughal style of architecture. The tomb of Safdarjung was built in red sandstone and buff stone. It's a garden tomb with a marble mausoleum in New Delhi, India. It was built in 1754.
Thanks a lot for stopping by and looking
The Moghals were masters of architecture using light, shadow and water. Their heritage can be found across much of the sub-continent. Some of their gardens are famous (like those of the Taj Mahal, the Shalimar Gardens in Lahore ....), others much less so.
When I first visited Wah in 1984, the gardens and ruins were almost all buried in undergrowth, and there was little water. But there was an atmosphere that I really loved, and so the next time I was nearby, I asked if we had time to stop by ... and was delighted to see that people had started to clear up the gardens. I try to visit whenever I can -
Not all the area has been cleaned up and restored ... yet! But the gardens are a popular place now for the people of Wah - a good place to relax at the weekend, especially in summer! I've never seen the gardens so alive - people sitting with feet in the water, boys climbing a tree to jump into a pond, girls & boys leaping into the main tank, or lying in the canals, families sitting in the shade - talking, having a picnic ... relaxing
Certainly not a main tourist spot ... and there are zones still not cleaned up at all (in fact, this time the gates to that part were locked.) But a place with a soul, and one I hope I'll see again - maybe with more restored!
The tranquility of this place will stay with me always, can you imagine what it was like when Prince Dara Shikoh had just built it and how magical it must have been then? .... :-)
The Moghals were masters of architecture using light, shadow and water. Their heritage can be found across much of the sub-continent. Some of their gardens are famous (like those of the Taj Mahal, the Shalimar Gardens in Lahore ....), others much less so.
When I first visited Wah in 1984, the gardens and ruins were almost all buried in undergrowth, and there was little water. But there was an atmosphere that I really loved, and so the next time I was nearby, I asked if we had time to stop by ... and was delighted to see that people had started to clear up the gardens. I try to visit whenever I can -
Not all the area has been cleaned up and restored ... yet! But the gardens are a popular place now for the people of Wah - a good place to relax at the weekend, especially in summer! I've never seen the gardens so alive - people sitting with feet in the water, boys climbing a tree to jump into a pond, girls & boys leaping into the main tank, or lying in the canals, families sitting in the shade - talking, having a picnic ... relaxing
Certainly not a main tourist spot ... and there are zones still not cleaned up at all (in fact, this time the gates to that part were locked.) But a place with a soul, and one I hope I'll see again - maybe with more restored!
#kashmir #dallake #pahalgam #gulmarg #chandanwari #sonmarg #srinagar #jhelum #khilanmarg #wularlake #gilgit #chitral #kongdoori #tanmarg #verinag #yusmarg #jammuandkashmir #india #valley #paradiseonearth #aruvalley #avantipurruins #pampore #wani #saffron #dryfruits #baisaran #miniswitzerland #betaabvalley #parimahal #mughalgardens #tulips #shehnag #jehlum #floods #lidder #river #mountain #chashmeshahi #nishat #shalimar #bagh #shahjahan #comtemporaryart #shikara #gondola #afarwat #nehrupark #blackpavillion #14000 #avantipura #martand #temple #medows #snow #shankaracharya #valleyofflowers #sprint #water #waterfall #artist #papermache #kangri #millitancy #terrorists #anantnag #budgam #shopian #ravinderdutt
A small garden in Mughal style was established in the year 1970 at Karachi Zoo which is called as "Mughal Gardens". The lush green lawns with seasonal scanted plants, occupy major part of the garden. It is one of the finest green floral spots in the city. Different verities of Roses in many shades enhance the beauty of this garden. Centrally located fountains with Mughal structure Baradari further increases its beauty & elegance.
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Doris Duke was inspired by Shalimar Garden in Lahore, Pakistan when she created her Mughal Garden near Diamond Head.
Prince Siddhartha (Buddha)
Such a beautiful day. It was a shame to be at work but I made the most of the spare time I had and spent all my lunch break in the park and the Mughal gardens. They are so peaceful. They looked particularly lovely today and I had them all to myself for an hour in the sunshine.
I shone :)
Tomb of Jahangir, is the mausoleum built for the Mughal Emperor Jahangir who ruled from 1605 to 1627at Subcontinent of Indo-Pak. The mausoleum is located near the town of Shahdara Bagh in Lahore, Pakistan. His son Shah Jahan built the mausoleum 10 years after his father's death. It is sited in an attractive walled garden. It has four 30 meter high minarets. The interior is embellished with frescoes and pietra dura inlay and coloured marble. The mausoleum features prominently on the Pakistan Rupees 1,000 denomination bank note.
Kanji Wala at Jahangir's Tomb selling kanji drink (red carrot drink)
Learn more at:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanji_%28drink%29
Daulatabad Fort
Daulatabad also known as Devagiri, is a town which includes the Devagiri-Daulatabad fort It is a 14th-century fort city in Maharashtra state of India, about 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) northwest of Aurangabad. The place was originally named Devagiri when it was an important uplands city along caravan routes (ca. sixth century AD), but the intervening centuries have reduced it to a village. However it is also considered to be one of the seven wonders of Maharashtra and a developing tourist spot.
The historical triangular fort of Daulatabad was built by first Yadava king Bhillama V in 1187.
Starting 1327, it famously remained the capital of Tughlaq dynasty, under Muhammad bin Tughluq (r. 1325-1351), who also changed its name, and forcibly moved the entire population of Delhi for two years before it was abandoned for lack of water and Tughluq was constantly known to shift the capital from Delhi to Daulatabad and Daulatabad to Delhi.
There is a belief that Devagiri was built in 1203 AD by a Dhangar or herdsman who acquired vast wealth by his good fortune. He had a brother who was a shepherd named 'Raja Ram' and in correlation with it he assumed the rank of a Raja (King).
Lord Shiva is believed to have been stayed on the hills surrounding this region. Hence the fort was originally known as Devagiri, literally (Hills of Gods)
The area of the city includes the hill-fortress of Devagiri (sometimes Latinised to Deogiri). It stands on a conical hill, about 200 meters high. Much of the lower slopes of the hill has been cut away by Yadava dynasty rulers to leave 50 meter vertical sides to improve defenses. The fort is a place of extraordinary strength. The only means of access to the summit is by a narrow bridge, with passage for not more than two people abreast, and a long gallery, excavated in the rock, which has for the most part a very gradual upward slope.
About midway along this gallery, the access gallery has steep stairs, the top of which is covered by a grating destined in time of war to form the hearth of a huge fire kept burning by the garrison above. At the summit, and at intervals on the slope, are specimens of massive old cannon facing out over the surrounding countryside. Also at the mid way, there is a cave entrance meant to confuse the enemies.
The fort had the following specialities which are listed along with their advantages :
No separate exit from the fort, only one entrance/exit - This is designed to confuse the enemy soldiers to drive deep into the fort in search of an exit, at their own peril.
No parallal gates - This is designed to break the momentum of theconfusing the invading army. Also, the flag mast is on the left hill, which the enemy will try to capitualte, thus will always turn left. But the real gates of the fort are on the right & the false ones on the left, thus confusing the enemy.
Spikes on the gates - In the era before gunpowder, intoxicated elephants were used as a battering ram to break open the gates. The presence of spikes ensured that the elephants died of injury.
Complex arrangement of entryways, curved walls, false doors - Designed to confuse the enemy, false, but well-designed gates on the left side lured the enemy soldiers in & trapped them inside, eventually feeding them to crocodiles.
The hill is shaped like a smooth tortoise back - this prevented the use of mountain lizards as climbers, because they cannot stick on it.
The site had been occupied since at least 100 BCE, and now has remains of Buddhist temples similar to those at Ajanta and Ellora.
The city is said to have been founded c. 1187 by Bhillama V, a Yadava prince who renounced his allegiance to the Chalukyas and established the power of the Yadava dynasty in the west. During the rule of the Yadava king Ramachandra, Alauddin Khalji of Delhi Sultanate raided Devagiri in 1296, forcing the Yadavas to pay a hefty tribute. When the tribute payments stopped, Alauddin sent a second expedition to Devagiri in 1308, forcing Ramachandra to become his vassal.
In 1328, Muhammad bin Tughluq of Delhi Sultanate transferred the capital of his kingdom to Devagiri, and renamed it Daulatabad. Some scholars ague that it the idea behind transfer of the capital was rational, because it lied more or less in the centre of the kingdom, and geographically secured the capital from the north-west frontier attacks.
In the Daulatabad fort, he found the area arid & dry. Hence he built a huge reservoir for water storage & connected it with a far-away river. He used siphon system to fill up the reservoir. However, his capital-shift strategy failed miserably due to lack of application & other factors. Hence he shifted back to Delhi & earned him the moniker "Mad King".
The next important event in the Daulatabad fort time-line was the construction of the Chand Minar by the Bahmani ruler Hasan Gangu Bahmani, also known as Ala-ud-Din Bahman Shah (r. 3 August 1347 – 11 February 1358).
Hasan Gangu built the Chand Minar as a replica of the Qutb Minar of Delhi, of which he was a great fan of. He employed Iranian architects to built the Minar who used Lapis Lazuli & Red Ochre for coloring. Currently, the Minar is out of bounds for the tourists, because of a suicide case.
As we move further into the fort, we can see the Chini Mahal, a VIP prison built by Aurangzeb. In this prison, he kept Abul Hasan Tana Shah of the Qutb Shahi Dynasty of Hyderabad. The antecedents of Abul Hasan Tana Shah, the last Qutub Shahi king are shrouded in mystery. Although a kinsman of the Golconda royals, he spent his formative years as a disciple of renowned Sufi saint Shah Raju Qattal, leading a spartan existence away from the pomp and grandeur of royalty. Shah Raziuddin Hussaini, popularly known as Shah Raju, was held in high esteem by both the nobility and commoners of Hyderabad. Abdullah Qutub Shah, the seventh king of Golconda was among his most ardent devotees. He died in prison leaving no male heir to the throne.
In this Chini Mahal, Sambhaji, son of Shivaji was kept.
Most of the present-day fortification was constructed under the Bahmanis and the Nizam Shahs of Ahmadnagar. The Mughal Governor of the Deccan under Shah Jahan, captured the fortress in 1632 and imprisoned the Nizam Shahi prince Husain Shah.
Monuments[edit]
The outer wall, 2.75 miles (4.43 km) in circumference, once enclosed the ancient city of Devagiri and between this and the base of the upper fort are three lines of defences.
Along with the fortifications, Devagiri contains several notable monuments, of which the chief are the Chand Minar and the Chini Mahal. The Chand Minar is a tower 210 ft (64 m). high and 70 ft (21 m). in circumference at the base, and was originally covered with beautiful Persian glazed tiles. It was erected in 1445 by Ala-ud-din Bahmani to commemorate his capture of the fort. The Chini Mahal (literally: 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.
The Moghals were masters of architecture using light, shadow and water. Their heritage can be found across much of the sub-continent. Some of their gardens are famous (like those of the Taj Mahal, the Shalimar Gardens in Lahore ....), others much less so.
When I first visited Wah in 1984, the gardens and ruins were almost all buried in undergrowth, and there was little water. But there was an atmosphere that I really loved, and so the next time I was nearby, I asked if we had time to stop by ... and was delighted to see that people had started to clear up the gardens. I try to visit whenever I can -
Not all the area has been cleaned up and restored ... yet! But the gardens are a popular place now for the people of Wah - a good place to relax at the weekend, especially in summer! I've never seen the gardens so alive - people sitting with feet in the water, boys climbing a tree to jump into a pond, girls & boys leaping into the main tank, or lying in the canals, families sitting in the shade - talking, having a picnic ... relaxing
Certainly not a main tourist spot ... and there are zones still not cleaned up at all (in fact, this time the gates to that part were locked.) But a place with a soul, and one I hope I'll see again - maybe with more restored!
#kashmir #dallake #pahalgam #gulmarg #chandanwari #ravinderdutt #sonmarg #srinagar #jhelum #khilanmarg #wularlake #gilgit #chitral #kongdoori #tanmarg #verinag #yusmarg #jammuandkashmir #india #valley #paradiseonearth #aruvalley #avantipurruins #pampore #wani #saffron #dryfruits #baisaran #miniswitzerland #betaabvalley #parimahal #mughalgardens #tulips #shehnag #jehlum #floods #lidder #river #mountain #chashmeshahi #nishat #shalimar #bagh #shahjahan #comtemporaryart #shikara #gondola #afarwat #nehrupark #blackpavillion #14000 #avantipura #martand #temple #medows #snow #shankaracharya #valleyofflowers #sprint #water #waterfall #artist #papermache #kangri #millitancy #terrorists #anantnag #budgam #shopian #
Daulatabad Fort
Daulatabad also known as Devagiri, is a town which includes the Devagiri-Daulatabad fort It is a 14th-century fort city in Maharashtra state of India, about 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) northwest of Aurangabad. The place was originally named Devagiri when it was an important uplands city along caravan routes (ca. sixth century AD), but the intervening centuries have reduced it to a village. However it is also considered to be one of the seven wonders of Maharashtra and a developing tourist spot.
The historical triangular fort of Daulatabad was built by first Yadava king Bhillama V in 1187.
Starting 1327, it famously remained the capital of Tughlaq dynasty, under Muhammad bin Tughluq (r. 1325-1351), who also changed its name, and forcibly moved the entire population of Delhi for two years before it was abandoned for lack of water and Tughluq was constantly known to shift the capital from Delhi to Daulatabad and Daulatabad to Delhi.
There is a belief that Devagiri was built in 1203 AD by a Dhangar or herdsman who acquired vast wealth by his good fortune. He had a brother who was a shepherd named 'Raja Ram' and in correlation with it he assumed the rank of a Raja (King).
Lord Shiva is believed to have been stayed on the hills surrounding this region. Hence the fort was originally known as Devagiri, literally (Hills of Gods)
The area of the city includes the hill-fortress of Devagiri (sometimes Latinised to Deogiri). It stands on a conical hill, about 200 meters high. Much of the lower slopes of the hill has been cut away by Yadava dynasty rulers to leave 50 meter vertical sides to improve defenses. The fort is a place of extraordinary strength. The only means of access to the summit is by a narrow bridge, with passage for not more than two people abreast, and a long gallery, excavated in the rock, which has for the most part a very gradual upward slope.
About midway along this gallery, the access gallery has steep stairs, the top of which is covered by a grating destined in time of war to form the hearth of a huge fire kept burning by the garrison above. At the summit, and at intervals on the slope, are specimens of massive old cannon facing out over the surrounding countryside. Also at the mid way, there is a cave entrance meant to confuse the enemies.
The fort had the following specialities which are listed along with their advantages :
No separate exit from the fort, only one entrance/exit - This is designed to confuse the enemy soldiers to drive deep into the fort in search of an exit, at their own peril.
No parallal gates - This is designed to break the momentum of theconfusing the invading army. Also, the flag mast is on the left hill, which the enemy will try to capitualte, thus will always turn left. But the real gates of the fort are on the right & the false ones on the left, thus confusing the enemy.
Spikes on the gates - In the era before gunpowder, intoxicated elephants were used as a battering ram to break open the gates. The presence of spikes ensured that the elephants died of injury.
Complex arrangement of entryways, curved walls, false doors - Designed to confuse the enemy, false, but well-designed gates on the left side lured the enemy soldiers in & trapped them inside, eventually feeding them to crocodiles.
The hill is shaped like a smooth tortoise back - this prevented the use of mountain lizards as climbers, because they cannot stick on it.
The site had been occupied since at least 100 BCE, and now has remains of Buddhist temples similar to those at Ajanta and Ellora.
The city is said to have been founded c. 1187 by Bhillama V, a Yadava prince who renounced his allegiance to the Chalukyas and established the power of the Yadava dynasty in the west. During the rule of the Yadava king Ramachandra, Alauddin Khalji of Delhi Sultanate raided Devagiri in 1296, forcing the Yadavas to pay a hefty tribute. When the tribute payments stopped, Alauddin sent a second expedition to Devagiri in 1308, forcing Ramachandra to become his vassal.
In 1328, Muhammad bin Tughluq of Delhi Sultanate transferred the capital of his kingdom to Devagiri, and renamed it Daulatabad. Some scholars ague that it the idea behind transfer of the capital was rational, because it lied more or less in the centre of the kingdom, and geographically secured the capital from the north-west frontier attacks.
In the Daulatabad fort, he found the area arid & dry. Hence he built a huge reservoir for water storage & connected it with a far-away river. He used siphon system to fill up the reservoir. However, his capital-shift strategy failed miserably due to lack of application & other factors. Hence he shifted back to Delhi & earned him the moniker "Mad King".
The next important event in the Daulatabad fort time-line was the construction of the Chand Minar by the Bahmani ruler Hasan Gangu Bahmani, also known as Ala-ud-Din Bahman Shah (r. 3 August 1347 – 11 February 1358).
Hasan Gangu built the Chand Minar as a replica of the Qutb Minar of Delhi, of which he was a great fan of. He employed Iranian architects to built the Minar who used Lapis Lazuli & Red Ochre for coloring. Currently, the Minar is out of bounds for the tourists, because of a suicide case.
As we move further into the fort, we can see the Chini Mahal, a VIP prison built by Aurangzeb. In this prison, he kept Abul Hasan Tana Shah of the Qutb Shahi Dynasty of Hyderabad. The antecedents of Abul Hasan Tana Shah, the last Qutub Shahi king are shrouded in mystery. Although a kinsman of the Golconda royals, he spent his formative years as a disciple of renowned Sufi saint Shah Raju Qattal, leading a spartan existence away from the pomp and grandeur of royalty. Shah Raziuddin Hussaini, popularly known as Shah Raju, was held in high esteem by both the nobility and commoners of Hyderabad. Abdullah Qutub Shah, the seventh king of Golconda was among his most ardent devotees. He died in prison leaving no male heir to the throne.
In this Chini Mahal, Sambhaji, son of Shivaji was kept.
Most of the present-day fortification was constructed under the Bahmanis and the Nizam Shahs of Ahmadnagar. The Mughal Governor of the Deccan under Shah Jahan, captured the fortress in 1632 and imprisoned the Nizam Shahi prince Husain Shah.
Monuments
The outer wall, 2.75 miles (4.43 km) in circumference, once enclosed the ancient city of Devagiri and between this and the base of the upper fort are three lines of defences.
Along with the fortifications, Devagiri contains several notable monuments, of which the chief are the Chand Minar and the Chini Mahal. The Chand Minar is a tower 210 ft (64 m). high and 70 ft (21 m). in circumference at the base, and was originally covered with beautiful Persian glazed tiles. It was erected in 1445 by Ala-ud-din Bahmani to commemorate his capture of the fort. The Chini Mahal (literally: 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.