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
12th 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 94th 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.
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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
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