Naldurg Fort

Maharashtra, India

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Naldurg Fort is a historic fort located in Naldurg town in Dharashiv district, Maharashtra. Named after Nalraja, the fort is built in medieval architectural style on a basalt rock knoll that juts into the valley of the Bori River.

It is fortified on three sides with large bastions that once housed heavy guns, spanning about a mile and a half in circumference. The fort includes notable bastions such as Upli Buruj, Paranda Buruj, and Nagar Buruj, and contains ruins of significant buildings like Barood Kotha, Baradari, Ambarkhana, and Rangaan Mahal.

The fort features two water tanks and important cannons named "Hathi Toph" and "Magar Toph." Key gateways include Hathi Darwaza and Hurmukh Darwaza. A remarkable architectural feature is the dam across the Bori River, with the "Pani Mahal" built within it, constructed during the reign of Ibrahim Adil Shah II in 1613.

Originally built by a Hindu king under the Chalukya dynasty, the fort was later controlled by the Bahmani Sultanate, then the Adil Shahi dynasty, and finally the Mughals in 1686. The fort remains a significant cultural landmark reflecting its rich history and strategic importance.