The essentials
Forts (durga) were essential for defence and royal power. The Arthashastra discusses types of forts according to their natural protection, including water forts (audaka), hill forts (parvata), desert forts (dhanvana) and forest forts (vanadurga). In practice, Indian forts used high walls, bastions, moats, zig-zag entrances and gates with spikes to stop elephants.
Famous forts include Chittorgarh and Kumbhalgarh in Rajasthan (Kumbhalgarh has a very long encircling wall, built under Rana Kumbha), Gwalior with the Man Mandir palace of Raja Man Singh Tomar, Daulatabad (Devagiri) with its maze-like defences, and Golconda near Hyderabad, known for its acoustic system in which a clap at the entrance can be heard at the top. Hill forts in the Deccan were important to the Marathas under Shivaji.
Mughal forts such as the Agra Fort (rebuilt under Akbar) and the Red Fort in Delhi (built by Shah Jahan in his new city Shahjahanabad, 1639–48) combined defence with palaces, audience halls (Diwan-i-Am and Diwan-i-Khas), gardens and water channels. Akbar's capital Fatehpur Sikri includes the Buland Darwaza and the Panch Mahal. Rajput palaces such as Amber and Mehrangarh (Jodhpur) also blend Indian and Mughal features. In Vijayanagara (Hampi), structures like the Lotus Mahal show mixed styles.
Key points
- Fort types in the Arthashastra: water, hill, desert, forest.
- Diwan-i-Am – hall of public audience; Diwan-i-Khas – hall of private audience.
- Red Fort – Shah Jahan; Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri – Akbar.
- Golconda – acoustics; Kumbhalgarh – long wall.
Exam tips
- Remember which ruler built which fort or palace and one special feature of each.
Common mistakes
- Saying the Red Fort was built by Akbar — it was Shah Jahan.
- Confusing Diwan-i-Am (public) with Diwan-i-Khas (private).