Bangaluru.org - Gulbarga Fort

Gulbarga Fort An old provincial town, Gulbarga rose to prominence under the illustrious Bahmani dynasty founded by Hasan Ganga, a rebel Amir of Daulatabad who later assumed the title of Ala-ud-din Bahman Shah. The Bahmani dynasty ruled over the Deccan for nearly 200 years with Gulbarga as the Capital until 1424 and, later, Bidar. The title, Bahman Shah, is mentioned in an inscription on a local mosque and also on the coins of the dynasty.

Gulbarga Fort

Another legend traces the title to a half-mythical figure from Persia called Bahman. But, according to Ferishta, the great scholar and poet, Ala-ud-din called himself Gangu Bahmani in memory of a Brahmin who had employed him as a servant. Bahman Shah filled Gulbarga with beautiful palaces, mosques, stately buildings and bazaars. His successors continued the good work and the town blossomed completely.

The Gulbarga fort, occupied by the mighty Bahamani Sultanate, had withstood the advances of the mighty Vijayanagara empire. It was originally built by Raja Gulchand, and later strengthened by the first Sultan Sikandar-i-Sani Ala-ud-din Hasan Bahaman Shah-al-Wali, popularly called as Bahaman Shah. The smoky-looking structure has been a silent witness to generations of invading armies, raiding marauders and victorious rulers. Razed to the ground by Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagar it rose like a Phoenix when Adil Shah undertook its repair with the booty captured from Vijayanagar. Standing tall, the Gulbarga fort contains large buildings, temples, stables, ammunition godowns, carriages, 15 towers, 26 guns and several beautiful courtyards. But, owing to neglect, the buildings have turned into crumbling ruins. Several illegal constructions mar the beauty of the fort and the encircling moat is filled with garbage.
The genesis of the Bahamani Sultanate may be traced to the several insurrections that broke up the Delhi empire in the 13th century which was then ruled by Mohammed-bin-Tughlaq.

The officers in the province of Daulatabad (now in Maharashtra) had failed to collect the revenue. When the emperor's punishment seemed imminent, some of the rebels planned to escape to Gulbarga under the leadership of Hasan Gangu.

Gathering an army at Gulbarga, Hasan Gangu went to Daulatabad and defeating Nasir-ud-din, who had been earlier proclaimed king of the Deccan by the rebels, proclaimed himself the king and assumed the title of ‘Sikandar-i-Sani Ala-ud-din Hasan Bahman Shah-al-Wali'.

He was the first sultan of the mighty Bahamani dynasty, and acceded the throne in 1347. He moved to Gulbarga the same year and the rest, as they say, is history. The fort and the buildings in the fort, have been recognised as national monuments by the ASI, and are guided by The Ancient Monuments & Archaeological Remains Act of 1958 (24 of 1958). The Jama Masjid built by the second Sultan of the Bahamani, Mohammed I, in 1363 A D, an abandoned Vishnu temple with the Vishnu missing, the 'Rana Mandala', a huge structure situated in the centre of the fort used as a canon firing position, horse and elephant stables, and other small structures dot the fort. The fort is currently being repaired by the ASI.

Distance:-	600 km North West of Bangalore Bidar - 120km, Bijapur - 160km Basavakalyan - 80km, Hyderabad-220km
By Road:-	There are frequent buses from Bangalore and Hyderabad to this city. They are 610 and 225 kms away from Gulbarga respectively.
By Air:-	Hyderabad Airport is the Nearest Airport to Gulbarga City. which is 225kms from the city.
By Rail:-	Gulbarga city has a Central Southern Railway Station. There are Daily trains from Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi and Hyderabad to this city
Route:-	There are frequent buses from Bangalore and Hyderabad to this city. They are 610 and 225 kms away from Gulbarga respectively.
When to go:-	Any time of the year except summer.
Tourist offices:-	KSTDC(bookings and info) Badami House, NR Square, Bangalore Tel: 080-2275869, Fax: 2352626 Email: kstdc@vsnl.in
Where to stay :-	Hotel Panchami International Dr. Jawali Complex Supermarket Gulbarga - 585 103 Tel: 08472-241111 - 15 Tariff Range: Rs. 325/- to Rs. 1000/- Hotel Pariwar No. 1-73/1, Station Road, Gulbarga - 585 102 Tel: 08472-221421 - 23 Fax: 08472-455452 Email: hotelpariwar@yahoo.com Tariff Range: Rs. 295/- to Rs. 950/- Hotel Aditya No. 2-224, Main Road, Opposite Public Garden, Gulbarga - 585 105 Tel: 08472-224040 - 44 Fax: 08472-435661 Tariff Range: Rs. 325/- to Rs. 825/-+Tax Hotel Santosh Bilgundi Garden, University Road, Gulbarga - 585 105 Tel: 08472-247991 Fax: 08472-447991 Tariff Range: Rs. 275/- to Rs. 731/- Hotel Raja Rajeshwari MSK Mill Road, Vasantha Nagar, Gulbarga - 585 102 Tel: 08472-225881, 222088, 432393, 456335 Tariff Range: Rs. 230/- to Rs. 700/-+Tax Hotel Southern Star S-B Temple Road, Supermarket, Gulbarga - 55 101 Tel: 08472-224093 Tariff Range: Rs. 350/- to Rs. 600/- Mohan Lodge MSK Mill Road, Gulbarga - 585 102 Tel: 08472-20294, 221184 Tariff Range: Rs. 250/- to Rs. 400/- Hotel Prashanth Opposite Railway Station, Gulbarga - 585 101 Tel: 08472-221681, 420616, 422351, 52 Tariff Range: Rs. 120/- to Rs. 350/- Hotel Shri Nagarjun Old Jewargi Road, Gulbarga - 585 102 Tel: 08472-222855, 228181 - 84 Tariff Range: Rs. 218/- to Rs.285/ Uday Lodge Station Bazar, Thimmapuri Circle, Gulbarga - 585 102 Tel: 08472-220009, 223046 Tariff Range: Rs. 200/- to Rs. 260/- Hotel Sanman Behind New Vadiraj Bhavan, Main Road, Gulbarga - 585 101 Tel: 08472-222801, 223940, 41 Tariff Range: Rs. 260/- +Tax Hotel Surya Santhosh Complex, Opposite Santhosh Talkies, MSK Mill Road, Gulbarga - 585 103 Tel: 08472-223546, 225595 Tariff Range: Rs. 170/- to Rs. 200/- New Vadiraj Bhavan Lodge Main Road, Gazipur, Near Supermarket, Gulbarga - 585 101 Tel: 08472-420526 Tariff Range: Rs. 150/-