Daulatabad Fort

About Daulatabad Fort, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

Fourteenth-century hill fortress with ingenious defensive mazes

• Daulatabad Fort is a medieval hill stronghold built during the twelfth century by Yadava king Bhillama V and later renamed by Sultan Muhammad bin Tughlaq in 1327.
• The fortification rises two hundred meters above the Deccan plains on a conical hill, protected by three concentric stone ramparts and a sheer, water-filled moat cut directly into granite rock.
• Visitors cross a single drawbridge before climbing through the Andhari, a dark, disorienting labyrinth designed with dead ends and smoke traps to confuse attackers.
• Further up, the pink-terracotta Chand Minar pillar stands opposite an open court containing antique iron cannons.
• Reaching the summit takes around two hours of steady climbing.
• Plan your visit between October and February, ideally starting near the 6:00 AM opening to avoid midday heat.
• The fort closes daily at 6:00 PM.