A Glimpse of some
Forts in India

        PRESENTED BY
        JAY RAJPUROHIT


                    1
Why I chose this topic?




                          2
What is a Fort?
                     A protected
                      enclosure,
                      building, or
                      position that
                      stands strong in
                      defense against
                      an enemy (e.g.
                      Red Fort)
                     A permanent
                      army post (e.g.
                      Fort Collins)

                                         3
Why were Forts built?
   From very early history to modern times, walls have been
    a necessity for many cities

   Uruk, in ancient Sumer (Mesopotamia) was one of the
    world's oldest known walled cities

   The Ancient Egyptians also built fortresses on the
    frontiers of the Nile Valley to protect against invaders
    from its neighboring territories

   Many of the forts of the ancient world were built with mud
    brick

                                                               4
History of Forts in India
   Forts are important architectural relics of the long history of India

   The capital of each Raja or King had a fort, around which a
    township grew and developed

   This pattern can be seen in many Indian cities such as Delhi, Agra,
    Pune, Kolkata and Mumbai

   Two forts in India are UNESCO world heritage sites




             Agra Fort                                    Red Fort          5
10 Famous Forts of India

   Qila Mubarak         Chittorgarh Fort
   Fort William         Agra Fort
   Amber Fort           Golconda Fort
   Mehrangarh Fort      Lal Qila/Red Fort
   Jaisalmer Fort       Gwalior Fort




                                              6
For every Fort let’s answer the
following
 Where is it?
 When was it built and by whom?
 Features of the fort




                                   7
Qila Mubarak




               8
Qila Mubarak
 The oldest surviving fort in India is the Qila
  Mubarak at Bathinda (Punjab)
 Built in 90-110 AD, by Emperor Kanishka and
  Raja Dab
 Facts
     Razia  Sultan (the first woman to take charge of
      the Delhi throne ) was imprisoned here in 1204
     Visited by Guru Nanak Dev (1515), Guru Teg
      Bahadur (1665), Guru Gobind Singh (1705)
                                                         9
10
Fort William




               11
Fort William
 It is situated in Kolkata, on the Eastern banks
  of the River Hooghly
 Built in 1781, during the early years of the
  Bengal Presidency of British India
 Facts
     It was named after King William III of England
     Fort is built of brick and mortar in the shape of an
      irregular octagon
     In front of the Fort is the Maidan, the largest
      urban park in Kolkata                             12
13
Amber Fort




             14
Amber Fort
 Located in Amber (near Jaipur)
 Built in 1592, by Raja Man Singh
 Facts
     Name    derived from Amba Mata (Mother Earth)
     Perfect blend of Hindu and Muslim Architecture
     Fort is built with white marble and red sandstone
     Inside looks like a palace with a huge courtyard,
      Shila Mata (Kali) temple, residence of the
      Maharaja, silver doors, mosaics, marble columns,
      hand paintings ,sculptures                     15
16
Mehrangarh Fort




                  17
Mehrangarh Fort
 One of the largest forts in Jodhpur
 Built in 1459, by Rao Jodha (Rathore Ruler)
 Facts
     The  hill was called Bhaurcheeria, the mountain of
      birds
     Inside the Fort, there are majestic rooms called
      Moti Mahal, Sheesh Mahal, Phool Mahal and
      Takhat Vilas


                                                     18
19
Jaisalmer Fort (Sonar Kella)




                               20
Jaisalmer Fort
 One of the largest forts in world, located in
  Jaisalmer
 Built in 1156, by Rawal Jaisal (Rajput Ruler)
 Facts
     Stands  on the golden stretches of Thar desert
     World’s only living Fort with quarter of Jaisalmer’s
      population living inside
     Sri Satyajit Ray created a famous detective film
      “Sonar Kella” based on this Fort
                                                      21
22
Chittorgarh Fort




                   23
Chittorgarh Fort
 Also called Water Fort, located in Chittaur
 Built in 7th century AD, by Mauryans
 Facts
     Some    believe Bhim (one of Pandava brothers)
      built this fort
     Inside the Fort, Vijay Stambh (Tower of Victory),
      Kirti Stambh (Tower of Fame), Gaumukh
      Reservoir, Rana Kumbha and Padmini Palace,
      Meera Temple
     Witnessed many Jauhars
                                                     24
25
Agra Fort




            26
Agra Fort
 Located in Agra near world famous Taj Mahal
 Completed in 1573, under Akbar the Great
 Facts
     Insidethe Fort, Diwan-i-Aam, Diwani-i-Khas,
      Jahangiri Mahal, Khas Mahal, Anguri Bagh,
      Golden Pavilions, Musamman Burj
     When Aurangzeb imprisoned his father Shah
      Jahan, he viewed the construction of Taj Mahal
      from Musamman Burj (a tower with a marble
      balcony, which provides best view of Taj Mahal)
                                                   27
28
Golconda Fort




                29
Golconda Fort
 Located in Golconda, near Hyderabad
 Built in 13th century by the Kakatiya Kings
 Facts
     Situated on a 400 feet high granite hill
     Has amazing acoustics, where sound of a clap
      from near the front gate can be heard on top of
      the citadel
     Many famous diamonds were excavated from
      mines at Golconda (Hope Diamond at
      Smithsonian in Washington DC, Darya-e-Noor)
                                                    30
31
Red Fort (Lal Qila)




                      32
Red Fort
 Located in New Delhi
 Built in 1648 by Emperor Shah Jahan
 Facts
     Shah  Jahan moved the Mughal capital from Agra
      to Delhi and created his palace in Red Fort
     Served as capital of Mughals until 1857
     Indian Independence celebrated with Flag
      hoisting at Red Fort every year. Pandit
      Jawaharlal Nehru first hoisted the Indian Flag on
      Independence Day (August 15th, 1947)
                                                    33
34
Gwalior Fort




               35
Gwalior Fort
 Located in Gwalior (birthplace of Mia Tansen)
 Built in 8th century by Tomar Rulers
 Facts
     Emperor   Babur described it as “The pearl in the
      necklace of the forts of Hind”
     Inside the Fort, Gurjari Mahal and Man Mandir
      palace
     First epigraphic evidence of “0” (Shunya in
      Sanskrit) was found on a tablet near a 9th century
      Hindu temple
                                                     36
37
Thank You!


             38

Forts of india

  • 1.
    A Glimpse ofsome Forts in India PRESENTED BY JAY RAJPUROHIT 1
  • 2.
    Why I chosethis topic? 2
  • 3.
    What is aFort?  A protected enclosure, building, or position that stands strong in defense against an enemy (e.g. Red Fort)  A permanent army post (e.g. Fort Collins) 3
  • 4.
    Why were Fortsbuilt?  From very early history to modern times, walls have been a necessity for many cities  Uruk, in ancient Sumer (Mesopotamia) was one of the world's oldest known walled cities  The Ancient Egyptians also built fortresses on the frontiers of the Nile Valley to protect against invaders from its neighboring territories  Many of the forts of the ancient world were built with mud brick 4
  • 5.
    History of Fortsin India  Forts are important architectural relics of the long history of India  The capital of each Raja or King had a fort, around which a township grew and developed  This pattern can be seen in many Indian cities such as Delhi, Agra, Pune, Kolkata and Mumbai  Two forts in India are UNESCO world heritage sites Agra Fort Red Fort 5
  • 6.
    10 Famous Fortsof India  Qila Mubarak  Chittorgarh Fort  Fort William  Agra Fort  Amber Fort  Golconda Fort  Mehrangarh Fort  Lal Qila/Red Fort  Jaisalmer Fort  Gwalior Fort 6
  • 7.
    For every Fortlet’s answer the following  Where is it?  When was it built and by whom?  Features of the fort 7
  • 8.
  • 9.
    Qila Mubarak  Theoldest surviving fort in India is the Qila Mubarak at Bathinda (Punjab)  Built in 90-110 AD, by Emperor Kanishka and Raja Dab  Facts  Razia Sultan (the first woman to take charge of the Delhi throne ) was imprisoned here in 1204  Visited by Guru Nanak Dev (1515), Guru Teg Bahadur (1665), Guru Gobind Singh (1705) 9
  • 10.
  • 11.
  • 12.
    Fort William  Itis situated in Kolkata, on the Eastern banks of the River Hooghly  Built in 1781, during the early years of the Bengal Presidency of British India  Facts  It was named after King William III of England  Fort is built of brick and mortar in the shape of an irregular octagon  In front of the Fort is the Maidan, the largest urban park in Kolkata 12
  • 13.
  • 14.
  • 15.
    Amber Fort  Locatedin Amber (near Jaipur)  Built in 1592, by Raja Man Singh  Facts  Name derived from Amba Mata (Mother Earth)  Perfect blend of Hindu and Muslim Architecture  Fort is built with white marble and red sandstone  Inside looks like a palace with a huge courtyard, Shila Mata (Kali) temple, residence of the Maharaja, silver doors, mosaics, marble columns, hand paintings ,sculptures 15
  • 16.
  • 17.
  • 18.
    Mehrangarh Fort  Oneof the largest forts in Jodhpur  Built in 1459, by Rao Jodha (Rathore Ruler)  Facts  The hill was called Bhaurcheeria, the mountain of birds  Inside the Fort, there are majestic rooms called Moti Mahal, Sheesh Mahal, Phool Mahal and Takhat Vilas 18
  • 19.
  • 20.
  • 21.
    Jaisalmer Fort  Oneof the largest forts in world, located in Jaisalmer  Built in 1156, by Rawal Jaisal (Rajput Ruler)  Facts  Stands on the golden stretches of Thar desert  World’s only living Fort with quarter of Jaisalmer’s population living inside  Sri Satyajit Ray created a famous detective film “Sonar Kella” based on this Fort 21
  • 22.
  • 23.
  • 24.
    Chittorgarh Fort  Alsocalled Water Fort, located in Chittaur  Built in 7th century AD, by Mauryans  Facts  Some believe Bhim (one of Pandava brothers) built this fort  Inside the Fort, Vijay Stambh (Tower of Victory), Kirti Stambh (Tower of Fame), Gaumukh Reservoir, Rana Kumbha and Padmini Palace, Meera Temple  Witnessed many Jauhars 24
  • 25.
  • 26.
  • 27.
    Agra Fort  Locatedin Agra near world famous Taj Mahal  Completed in 1573, under Akbar the Great  Facts  Insidethe Fort, Diwan-i-Aam, Diwani-i-Khas, Jahangiri Mahal, Khas Mahal, Anguri Bagh, Golden Pavilions, Musamman Burj  When Aurangzeb imprisoned his father Shah Jahan, he viewed the construction of Taj Mahal from Musamman Burj (a tower with a marble balcony, which provides best view of Taj Mahal) 27
  • 28.
  • 29.
  • 30.
    Golconda Fort  Locatedin Golconda, near Hyderabad  Built in 13th century by the Kakatiya Kings  Facts  Situated on a 400 feet high granite hill  Has amazing acoustics, where sound of a clap from near the front gate can be heard on top of the citadel  Many famous diamonds were excavated from mines at Golconda (Hope Diamond at Smithsonian in Washington DC, Darya-e-Noor) 30
  • 31.
  • 32.
    Red Fort (LalQila) 32
  • 33.
    Red Fort  Locatedin New Delhi  Built in 1648 by Emperor Shah Jahan  Facts  Shah Jahan moved the Mughal capital from Agra to Delhi and created his palace in Red Fort  Served as capital of Mughals until 1857  Indian Independence celebrated with Flag hoisting at Red Fort every year. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru first hoisted the Indian Flag on Independence Day (August 15th, 1947) 33
  • 34.
  • 35.
  • 36.
    Gwalior Fort  Locatedin Gwalior (birthplace of Mia Tansen)  Built in 8th century by Tomar Rulers  Facts  Emperor Babur described it as “The pearl in the necklace of the forts of Hind”  Inside the Fort, Gurjari Mahal and Man Mandir palace  First epigraphic evidence of “0” (Shunya in Sanskrit) was found on a tablet near a 9th century Hindu temple 36
  • 37.
  • 38.