Gawilgad Fort, Chikhaldara, Maharashtra

Gawilgad Fort, Chikhaldara, Maharashtra

Gawilgad Fort is an ancient fort situated in Chikhaldara Hill Station in Chikhaldara Taluk in Amravati District in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Gawilgad is also known as Gawilghur / Gawilgarh. Gawilgad was a well-fortified mountain stronghold of the Maratha Empire north of the Deccan Plateau, in the vicinity of Melghat Tiger Reserve.

History

The fort derives its name from the Gawli (cow herds) who inhabited the Berar (modern day Amravati) for centuries. It is believed that the rulers of Gawlis built this fort in the 12^th century CE. As per the Persian historian, Firishta, records that Ahmed Shah Wali, the ninth king of the Bahamani dynasty reconstructed Gawilgarh when he was encamped at Ellichpur in 1425 CE. The fortress was one of the major strongly fortified defensive structures of the Maratha Empire north of the Deccan Plateau. The fort was besieged by Arthur Wellesley (later Duke of Wellington) in 1803 CE during the second Anglo Maratha war.

After two failed attempts at the main gate by British and Sepoy companies, and many casualties, Captain Campbell led the 94^th Highlanders (light company) up the ravine dividing the inner and outer forts and into the inner fort by escalade. The Scots then forced the northern gatehouse and opened the many gates, allowing the remaining British forces entry. The British suffered few casualties in the final assault (approx. 150). The fortress was returned to the Killedar Rana Shivsingh Rajput of the Maratha Empire, after making peace with the British but they abandoned it.

The Fort Complex

The fort is situated at the top of Gawilgad Hills at a height of about 1,103 m. It was initially a mud block fort. The traces of its mud structures are still seen inside the fort areas. Later, the fort was built with stones. It has seven gateways built along the ramparts. The fortification has many cylindrical and square shaped bastions. There are many pillared open verandahs built here with a few curved dooms on them. The fort has several inscriptions in Persian recording the date of building of each of its seven gates. There is a ruined mosque in the fort. It stands at the highest point in the inner fort and is built in the Pathan style of architecture.

The mosque has a square canopy with intricate stone lattice work and a seven arched façade. The mosque originally had two minarets, only one of which is intact today. It has two water tanks (Devtalav and Khantalav), which would have been the main water source in case the fort was besieged. There are several unrepaired breaches made by British guns, which remain to this day. The gun that killed five attackers with a single shot still stands, although now with graffiti running the length of the barrel. There is an underground tunnel connecting this fort with Narnala fort.

Connectivity

The fort is located at about 2.5 Kms from Chikhaldara Bus Stand. Chikhaldara is located at about 27 Kms from Semadoh, 34 Kms from Paratwada Bus Stand, 36 Kms from Paratwada, 49 Kms from Harisal, 58 Kms from Kolkas, 83 Kms from Amravati, 85 Kms from Amravati Railway Station, 95 Kms from Shahanur and 224 Kms from Nagpur Airport. Chikhaldara is situated at about 36 Kms to the north-west of Paratwada. Chikhaldara is well connected to the cities of Paratwada, Amravati, Akola, Betul, Khandwa and Burhanpur by road. MSRTC plies buses from Nagpur to Chikhaldara via Amravati-Paratwada.

Location