India has a rich history of art and culture. Our country has a variety of architecture. Fort is one of them. A fort is a strong building with a wall around it which is used for military defense. Let’s find out more about the History of Forts.
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History of Forts
The forts were constructed in order to influence the people, showcase the wealth, power and glory of a king. Most of the forts were actually castles. But in 17- 18 century British used the word forts for castles. Most of the forts were constructed between 1300- 1800 A.D.
Red Fort
On the right bank of the River Yamuna in Delhi, stands a marvellous fort. The fort is called Red Fort or Lal QiIa because it is made of red sandstone. The history of forts indicates that it was built between the year 1639-1648 by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in old Delhi. It is in the shape of an irregular octagon.This fort was the greasiest of Mughal palaces and was the heart of Shah Jahan’s empire.
The important structures within the Red Fort are as follows:
- The Diwan-i-Am– It is the hall of public audience. It is a rectangular hall built of red sandstone.
- The Diwan-i-Khas– It is the hall of private audience. The famous peacock throne was kept on the marble platform there.
- The Rang Mahal– It was the palace for the women of the royal household.
- Shah Burj– This was the structure from where the Emperor gave Jharokha darshan.
source: wikipedia.org
Agra Fort
The fort palace Agra is situated in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. It is famous for grandeur and architectural expertise. The history of forts suggests that it was built by the great Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1565-75. It contains numerous impressive structure like the Jahangir Mahal, Diwan-i-Khass, Diwan-i-Am. The Agra fort is enclosed by a double battlemented massive wall of the red fort.
Source: agra.nic
Gwalior Fort
It is the most beautiful historical monument located in Madhya Pradesh built by Suraj Sen in the 8th century. The fort stands on a solitary rock. Gwalior fort was ruled by many rulers. The major attractions of Gwalior fort are famous Sas Bahu temple, Gupri Mahal which is now a museum. The height of fort is 35 feet. The walls of the fort are curved with statues of Hindu gods and goddesses.
Source: visittnt
Jaisalmer Fort
Jaisalmer fort is situated in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan and it is the largest fort in the world. It was built by the Bhati Rajput king Rao Jaisal in the year 1156 AD and situated on the Trikuta hill. It is an example a hill fort in the desert.
Source: rajasthandirect
Golconda Fort
Golconda fort was built by the rulers of Kakatiya dynasty in 1143 AD. It was built on top of a granite hill and consists of temples, mosques, palaces, halls etc. The mines in the fort are very popular for producing diamond such as Kohinoor. There are many palaces inside the fort. The outer wall this fort has 87 bastions, which were used for security purpose.
Source: booksfact
Tughlaqabad Fort
It is a very famous fort which is situated in Uttar Pradesh. The tomb of Ghiyasuddin Tughluq was Constructed on a high platform with a marble dome.
Solved Example for You
Q1: What kind of destruction was caused due to weapons?
Ans: Guns, canons, and bombs were weapons used in the past. A single bomb can cause so much destruction such as loss of life and damage structures.