Forts in ancient India , Maharashtra Three major methods were used for the construction of ancient Indian forts. The first consisted of earthen
ramparts. Often, they were constructed of the sand which was dug out of the ditch surrounding the fort. The second of rubble with earth on the outside which was more sturdy. The third type of construction was with stone and masonry work. The last was the strongest. Often materials from demolished forts were reused in the building of new forts. By the 4th century BCE, fortified cities were common in India. The largest ones were between the city of
Mathura (on the Yamuna river) and
Magadha (on the Ganges). Another series of forts in the south was on the
Ujjain (on the Narmada) leading into the Deccan. These are inferred by the remains of fort walls and bastions seen on excavation at
Rajagriha and at several sites in the Gangetic plain notably
Kaushambi. At the latter site huge walls of burnt brick, which look like they have been battered. There are few descriptions of these ancient structures. The most noted is the one by
Megasthenes, an ambassador of
Seleucus I Nicator to the court of
Chandragupta Maurya. He describes
Pataliputra as being guarded by a ditch with wooden walls. The fort had 570 towers and 54 gates with colonnaded halls decorated with gold and silver. One such hall has been excavated and is one of the oldest stone structures in India.
Ancient Indian classification of forts showing evidence of
crenellations and
embrasures Though most of the structures have decayed and are lost, India's legacy of ancient forts is seen mostly in the shastras (ancient Indian treatises) and in the reliefs on stupas. On some of the early relief work, the carvings indicate that ancient Indian forts have crenellations, embrasures, and sloping walls. The
Arthashastra the Indian treatise on military strategy describes six major types of forts differentiated by their major modes of defenses: a
Jala durga,
Jodhpur a
Giri durgaJala-durga (Water fort) •
Antardvipa-durga (island fortress): surrounded by natural (sea or river) water bodies. E.g.
Murud-Janjira. •
Sthala-durga (plain fortress): surrounded by artificial moats or irrigated by a river e.g.
Deeg Fort,
Lohagarh Fort. •
Dhanvana- or
Maru-durga (Desert Fort): Surrounded by an arid area of at least 5
yojanas (73 km). •
Giri-durga (Hill fort) •
Prantara-durga: Located on a flat hill summit. E.g. medieval forts such as
Chittor,
Gwalior and
Ranthambore. •
Giri-parshva-durga: The fortifications and civilian structures extend down to the hill slope (not just the summit). •
Guha-durga: Located in a valley surrounded by hills, where the outposts and the signal towers are located. •
Vana-durga (Forest fort): Surrounded by a dense forest over a distance of at least 4 kroshas (14.6 km). •
Khanjana-durga, built on a
fen surrounded by thorny forests. •
Sthambha-durga, built in the forest among tall trees; lacks sufficient water sources. •
Mahi-durga (Earthen fort) •
Mrid-durga: surrounded by earthen walls •
Parigha-durga: Surrounded by earthen walls, as well as stone or brick walls. The walls are at least 5.4 m high and their width is half of their height, the smallest of which is 2.7 m wide. •
Panka-durga: Surrounded by fens or quicksand •
Nri-durga (Human fort) : Defended by a large number of loyal and experienced warriors. Usually a city fortress, populated by a substantial garrison. Each of these types had its own advantages and disadvantages. For example, according to the
Manusmṛti, the forest fort suffers from monkey attacks, the earthen forts get swarmed with rodents, the water forts were plagued by diseases etc. The
Manusmṛti considers the Hill fort to be the best defensive structure. Some Sanskrit text consider hill forts to be the abode of gods and hence auspicious. The
Mahabharata describes the Human fort as the most effective fortification.
Medieval India Fort,
Hyderabad Medieval period saw decline of large empires like
Guptas and rise of local lordship. With more raiding, and close-range sieges, forts and castles with
keeps,
moats,
gatehouses, and
towers controlling roads and territory were constructed. One of the
oldest forts in India can be found in
Bathinda, Punjab, established around the early 9th century by local
Bhatti chiefs. Major
hill and plateau forts, combining palaces, temples, and defensive walls were built. e.g.;
Bhatner,
Shivneri,
Jaisalmer,
Gingee,
Rajgad forts. With
Muslim conquests, and prolonged sieges against castles; the need for layered passive defence and flanking fire increased. The response was concentric layouts, multiple walls, stronger gate systems, and deep defensive zoning. The construction of a citadel in the center and putting in more area between the citadel and the walls was characteristic of medieval forts (due to the same military pressures as the Norman
motte and bailey). Classic examples of such structures are the
Golkonda,
Chittor, Gulbarga,
Ranthambore,
Daulatabad,
Chitradurga,
Amber and
Bidar forts.
Early modern period With the introduction of
gunpowder cannons, lower, thicker, larger, artillery-adapted fortresses with
curtain walls and
bastions were built. Examples include
Agra Fort,
Fort Louis (Fort St. Louis), Pondicherry,
Red Fort, Fort d’Orléans
Chandernagore,
Manjarabad Fort, and
Fort St. David. The
Sikh Confederacy began to construct mud-forts, known as
garhis, as they began to establish their own
states in the 18th century, such as by the
Phulkians at
Patiala,
Nabha, and
Jind. The cities guarded by these forts developed from the small townships outside the forts and became the centers of individual
presidencies. The
Sikh Empire also built a number of polygonal forts.
Modern period After the
Indian Rebellion of 1857, the British converted many pre-existing forts into military
barracks and training academies, which damaged the original sites. After development of longer-range, more accurate
rifled breech loader artillery threatening cities from beyond the walls, fortifications were not constructed.
Current state After the abolition of the
privy-purse in 1971, many forts owned by former royal families of the
princely states fell into disrepair and neglect. Although no Indian forts were destroyed by sudden disasters, there are several which were abandoned by their rulers and have consequently deteriorated over time. Castles were still used as living quarters until the 19th-20th centuries, and so were continually modified. Some of them are private property. == Construction and style ==