Paranda Fort

Paranda, Maharashtra, India

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Paranda Fort, located in Paranda town in Osmanabad district, Maharashtra, is a historically significant medieval fort built in the 15th century by Mahmud Gawan, the Prime Minister of the Bahmani Sultanate.

The fort served as the last capital of the Ahmadnagar Sultanate and played a crucial role during the power struggles among the Deccan Sultanates, the Mughals, and the Nizams of Hyderabad. It is a well-fortified structure with double-rampart walls, 26 rounded bastions, and a protective moat connected by a wooden drawbridge. The fort is known for its large cannons, some crafted by Dutch engineers, and the 50-feet deep well within.

Inside, the fort has remnants of granaries, water reservoirs, an intricately crafted mosque with lotus medallions on the roof, and a unique step-well. The entrance gates and walls feature carvings and inscriptions reflecting its mixed Hindu and Islamic architectural styles. The fort remains a protected monument and provides insights into the medieval military and cultural history of Maharashtra.