Daulatabad: Where Eagles Dare
The magnificent 12th century fortified citadel rises dramatically above the horizon on the road to the famous cave temples of Ellora. A trek up to the summit of the fort is a pleasant outing but to appreciate the sheer brilliance of its defense system it should be undertaken with a guide.
Map of Daulatabad
Daulatabad lies in north central Maharashtra – virtually in the centre of the country – between Aurangabad (22 km to the east of the fort) and the famous cave temples of Ellora (11 km to the south).
Whats Famous Here:
The Yadava kings were master strategists and knew how to wage psychological warfare. They built a magnificent fortified hilltop citadel at Deva Giri or Hill of the Gods (later renamed Daulatabad or City of Fortune by Muhammad bin Tughlaq who briefly shifted his capital from Delhi to here) which rises dramatically above the plains below it.
What to see and do in Daulatabad:
Tucked inside the fortified citadel are the the Jami Masjid, the tapering 30-meter high Chand Minar, the ruins of royal palaces and an enormous cannon decorated with the head of a ram. But eventually, it is the defense system of the fort that is most engaging. And to understand the logic of the 12th century fort one must realize that the Yadavas who built it were non-violent Jains and wanted minimum bloodshed. And so they constructed a fort geared for defense rather than attack.
As a result there are myriad deceptions built into the complex: fake gates that serve no other purpose but to frustrate; narrow tunnels and dark passageways designed to confuse enemy soldiers; crocodile infested motes… The most visible and impressive feature of the complex is that the sides of the entire mountain that it sits upon have been chiseled away so that it is encircled by cliffs that form a natural defense system.
The one major flaw in Daulatabad is that it has no escape routes and made prisoners of those it protected. All an invading army had to do was besiege the place and starve out the enemy: a traitor or two was always welcome. Which was what Muhammad bin Tuglaq, the sultan of Delhi, did in 1327 AD. He then shifted his capital from Delhi to Daulatabad, dragging his hapless people half way across the sub continent in a move unprecedented in its craziness. He stayed here for 17 years and then as impulsively marched his people back to Delhi. Later traitors would help Aurangzeb, the last of the great Mughal emperors, to annex the fort in 1627 AD. And having done so, he brought the royal family to stay there for a while.
Today the abandoned citadel, once infested with courtly intrigue, is a peaceful retreat. However, the illusion explodes one you reach the base of the fort and are engaged in a war with vendors jostling to snare the tourist rupee.
Local Languages:
Marathi, Hindi and English
Best time to visit:
October to March when the temperatures range from a pleasant 10* to 28*,
The monsoon months (July – September) are when the area is flush with greenery and the kiss of new life.
In summer (April – June) the temperatures can soar up to 40*C in the day and scale down to 28* C at night: not exactly the right time to be here.
Travel to Daulatabad
AIR:
The nearest airport is at Aurangabad (22 km). Several airline operators have flights carrying passengers in and out of Aurangabad airport
RAIL:
The nearest station is at Aurangabad (22 km). Aurangabad station is an important junction on the Central Railway-line. All passing trains stop here indicating that it is very well connected to rest of the country.
The station is located in the heart of the city, right next to the main bus terminal.
ROAD: State Transport (ST) and private buses ply regular services between Aurangabad and most major cities in Maharashtra as well as adjoining states. The main bus terminal is in the heart of the city, right next to the railway station.
ROAD:
Distances from major cities in central Maharashtra
Ellora (11 km)
Aurangabad (22 km)
Ajanta (111 km)
Nashik (210 km)
Mumbai (370 km)
Excursions from Daulatabad:
NOTE: Aurangabad is often used as a base to explore Daulatabad as well as the famous Ajanta and Ellora caves and the surrounding region.
AURANGABAD (22 km)
Once the heartbeat of the great Mughal Empire, Aurangabad today is both modern and ancient; a maze of streets in which the two worlds co-exist. The city’s beautiful marble mausoleum, the Bibi-ka-Maqbara often touted as a replica of the Taj Mahal, is undoubtedly the jewel in the crown of a city that has long been the confluence of different cultures – Buddhist, Hindu, Jain and Islam.
AJANTA (100 km)
Tucked within the Ajanta caves is an ancient art gallery with paintings and sculptures that are remarkable even by today’s standards.
The 30 caves in this horse-shoe-shaped gorge were excavated over two surges of creative outpouring. The first phase of activity took place between 2 and 1 BC and the second between 5 and 6 AD. Predominantly Buddhist, the caves fall into two broad categories: chaitya halls or sanctuaries and viharas or monasteries.
ELLORA (11 km)
The Ellora cave temples are an artistic sangam or confluence of the three great religions of India – Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism.
The 34 caves span a period of about 600 years between 5 and 11 AD. The centerpiece at Ellora is, undoubtedly, the magnificent Kailasa temple – the largest monolithic shrine in the world.
GRISHNESHWAR JYOTIRLINGA TEMPLE (12 km)
One kilometer from Ellora, this is the site of one of 12 Jyotirlingas (naturally formed lingas of Lord Shiva) in the country.
KHULDABAD (8 km)
Just 3 km short of Ellora is the walled Sufi town in which lies the simple tomb of Aurangzeb, the last of the great Mughal emperors.
PIRION-KA-TALAO (2 km)
Just off the road from Khuldabad is a small lake along whose banks stands the tomb of the Sufi saint Pir Ganj Ravan.
PAITHAN (72 km)
South of Aurangabad! The town of famous for its beautiful Paithani saris, woven with gold and silver threads.
LESSER KNOWN CAVES
A group of 13 Buddhist caves at Pitalkhora, excavated between 2 BC and 1 AD, is located some 75 km north west of Aurangabad. In addition there are three other groups of lesser-known caves: Bhokardan (off the road to Ajanta), Ghatotkacha and Banoti (both west of Ajanta).
GAWTALA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
North of Ellora is the a dense forest reserve that is home to leopards, bears, wolves, hyenas, jackals, flying squirrels and 85 species of feathered creatures.
LONAR CRATER (159 km)
The crater is worth visiting even if means spending a night there. Carved some 50,000 years ago by a meteorite that strayed from its astral path, this is the world’s largest impact crater in ballistic rock. The slopes around the shimmering blue-green lake in the heart of the crater are studded with ancient temples.
Ajanta is the apex of the triangle that includes Aurangabad (west) and Lonar (east) with Sindkhed Raja (see below) falling on the road between Aurangabad and Lonar
SINDKHED RAJA (126 km)
On the way to Lonar, this is the birthplace of Rajmata Jijibai, mother of the great Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Attractions include forts, temples and monuments.
Hotels in Daulatabad
There is no accommodation at Daulatabad. However, Aurangabad (22 km to the east) which is often used as the base for the Ajanta and Ellora circuit has much to choose from: from five star hotels to budget lodges. There are several luxury and budget hotels in the city of Aurangabad. MTDC has a tourist lodge in Aurangabad.
Here is a list of the hotels you can book with us:
- The Manor Hotel
- Hotel Windsor Castle
- Lemon Tree Hotel
- Aurangabad Gymkhana Club
- The Meadows
- Ambassador Ajanta
- VITS
Daulatabad Travel Packages:
Customize your travel. Write your requirements and we will revert with a quote soon.
Flights to Daulatabad The nearest airport is at Aurangabad (22 km). Several airline operators have flights carrying passengers in and out of Aurangabad airport
Trains to Daulatabad: The nearest station is at Aurangabad (22 km). Aurangabad station is an important junction on the Central Railway-line. All passing trains stop here indicating that it is very well connected to rest of the country.
The station is located in the heart of the city, right next to the main bus terminal.
Buses to Daulatabad (link Bus tickets to Daulatabad)
State Transport (ST) and private buses ply regular services between Aurangabad and most major cities in Maharashtra as well as adjoining states. The main bus terminal is in the heart of the city, right next to the railway station.
ST operates two separate tour buses (with guide) every day to the UN World Heritage Sites of Ajanta and Ellora. The buses which start from the bus terminal also pick up passengers from the MTDC tourist complex which is across and down the main road leading out of the railway station / bus terminal.
Car Hire in Daulatabad (link Car hire in Daulatabad)
To experience Daulatabad at your own pace, you can take a care hire. Hire a cab and get enchanted by the captivating locations of Daulatabad. You can also hire a cab for excursions from Daulatabad.
