Gawilgarh Fort (Inner Fort)

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Gawilghur (also Gawilgarh or Gawilgad) was a well-fortified mountain stronghold of the Maratha Empire north of the Deccan Plateau, in the vicinity of Melghat Tiger Reserve, Amravati District, Maharashtra.
Ahmad Shah of Bahamanis dynesty of Gulbarga in 1425 built this fort during his short stay at Ellichpur.
In the turbulent history of Berar, this fort passed from one hand to another viz., Bahamanis, Mughals, Marathas, Nizams and British.In the Ain-i-Akbari (1596-97), Gawilgad is described as fortress of almost matchless strength containing a spring at which weapons of steel were watered.
Seige of Gawilgadh
After two failed attempts at the main gate by British and Sepoy companies,and many casualties,Captain Campbell led the 94th Scottish Brigade (light company) up the ravine dividing the inner and outer forts and into the inner fort by escalade,the Scots then forced the northern gatehouse and opened the many gates allowing the remaining British forces entry. The British suffered few casualties in the final assault (approx. 150).The fortress was returned to the Marathas after making peace with the British but they abandoned it.
The fortress of Gawilgarh was dismantled in 1858,when Col. Meadows Taylor was Deputy Commissioner.
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gawilghur
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Coordinates:   21°22'30"N   77°20'24"E

Comments

  • The original for was constructed by Gawali way back in 12th century
This article was last modified 8 years ago