Gulbarga Fort, Gulbarga (Kalaburagi)

The mighty citadel of Gulbarga (Kalaburagi)

Also see: Gulbarga (Kalaburagi) Travelogues

The Gulbarga Fort stands as a massive stone sentinel in the heart of Gulbarga (now Kalaburagi) town. Gulbarga served as the first capital of the mighty Bahmani Sultanate since its inception in 1347 until 1424. The 9^th ruler, Ahmed Shah Wali Bahmani, shifted the capital to Bidar, which served as the capital till the disintegration of the Bahamani kingdom in 1527.

Gulabarga Fort
First row left to right: Bala Hisar and canon atop Bala Hisar
Second row left to right: Jami Masjid and inside Jami Masjid

Since November 1, 2014, Gulbarga (Persian for “city of flowers and gardens”) has been known as Kalaburagi (Kannada for “land of stones and thorns”). The move was part of a larger initiative to rename several cities in Karnataka to reflect their local history and Kannada heritage.

Bala Hisar 9right) and a archway inside Gulbarga Fort

Today, Kalaburagi is a busy, unplanned town with chaotic traffic. But the town still retains medieval elements, consisting of a dargah, a tomb complex (Haft Gumbad), an isolated tomb (Shor Gumbad) and the mighty fort complex.

Gate of Gulabarga Fort

Today the the towering walls, complete with bastions and battlements, of the fort dominate Kalaburagi’s skyline.

History of Gulbarga Fort: Although knwn as a Bahamani fort the Gulbarga Fort originally dayes back to the Kakatiya dynasty. The original structure of the fort was constructed by Raja Gulchand, a 12th-century Hindu monarch and local chieftain who ruled as a feudatory vassal under the Kakatiya dynasty of Warangal. It started as a defensive outpost built out of locally sourced granite stones cemented with mud. It is also believed that the town of Gulbaraga was named after this man.

With the shift of power the Bahamanis took over Gulbaraga and established it as their capital. Ala-ud-Din Bahman Shah (reign 1347 – 58), the first Bahmani ruler, turned the mud and stone outpost into a massive fort the remains of which stands to this day.

Moat of Gulbarga Fort

Prominet structures of the Gulbarga Fort:

Walls and moats
Gate
Bala Hisar
Jama Masjid
Choti Masjid
Unnamed bastion

Walls and moat: The Gulbarga fort consists of a double layered granite fortification wall with the outer wall stretching over 3 km. The outer wall houses 15 massive bastions housing cannons. There are a total of 26 cannons including a 29 feet long massive cannon, locally known as Bara Gazi Toph. The entire periphery fo the fort is surrounded by a 30 feet deep fort.

Bala Hisar

Gulbarga Fort Gate (Google map location): Today, the Gulbarga Fort is accessible through the eastern gate. The wooden drawbridge across the moat has been replaced by a permanent concrete bridge but the moat still remains. Infested by water hyacinth, the moat has lost its former glory, fort walls along with the bastions topped with battlements still rise above the moat.

Panoramic view of Bala Hisar

Bala Hisar (Google map location): Just beyond the gate of the Gulbarga Fort stands the massive structure of Bala Hisar (locally known as Ranamandal in Kannada). It literally translates into uppermost citadel or high bastion.

Path leading to the top of Bala Hisar

It was originally designed to serve as a heavily vaulted royal audience hall or emergency refuge.

It was later backfilled with packed debris to create a secure, elavated lookout platform.

Top of Bala Hisar houses three cannons. These are the only 3 accessible cannons of the 26 cannons of the Gulbarga Fort.

Flight of stairs leads to the top of the structure, and the elevation acts as an amazing vantage point, providing panoramic views of the fort and beyond. The views included a great bird ‘s-eye view of the Jama Masjid, located inside the fort complex.

Cannons atop Bala Hisar, Gulbaraga Fort

Jami Masjid, Gulbarga Fort (Google map location): The Jama Masjid of Kalaburagi is located within the Gulbarga Fort complex ans id located south-west of the Bala Hisar. The Ball Hisar offers a great bird’s-eye view of the Jama Masjid.

Jama Masjid as seen from top of Bala Hisar

The Jama Masjid of Gulbarga Fort is one of the most structurally unique mosques in India, built in 1367 by the Bahmani Sultan Muḥammad Shah I (reigned 1358 – 75). The mosque was built by Persian architect Rafi in 1367, and has a Spanish-Moorish resemblance.

Jama Masjid, Gulbarga Fort

Unlike, mosques of the period and region it lacks a courtyard, which is largely compensated by a huge hall topped with 107 domes. The domes follow an unique arrangement with the largest dome occupying the central portion of the western side. it stands on a elevated platfrom. The corner are marked with four slightly smaller domes.

Mehrab of Jama Masjid, Gulbarga Fort

The tree sides (excepting the western side) houses a sries of boat shaped domes, with 10 each on northern and southern side.

The eastern side has 7 boat shaped domes. The remaining roof spaces is occupied by 75 small domes.

Entry is from the northern side through a pointed arched gateway approached by a flight of stairs.

The interior features wide-span arches supported by stout pillars. The alignment of these interlocking arches creates infinite sight-lines.

At the middle of the western wall and beneath the biggest domes lies the kibla. Sadly, the kibla lacks ornamentation and is coated with a fresh layer of white paint. It is an active mosque and still serves as the Jama Masjid of Kalaburagi.

Inside Jami Masjid, Gulbarga Fort

Choti Masjid, Gulbarga Fort (Google map location): Located west of Bala Hisar and north of the Jama Masjid the Choti Masjid is a tiny three domed mosque, with thre pointed arches on the eastern side.

Choti Masjid, Gulabarga Fort

Unnamed bastion, Gulbarga Fort (Google map location): Located behind the Jama and Choti Masjid is a massive bastion similar to Bala Hisar. It is said to house the famous 29 feet cannon. Sadly, during my visit the bastion was under repair and entry was restricted. The area around the bastion once housed the royal complex but these too was out of reach of common visitors.