Solapur in a day | Part 3 | Bhuikot aka Solapur Fort

Bhuikot Fort means a fort that is built on flat land and not on a mountain.In Marathi language Bhui means Land and Kot means Killa or Fort. Thus the name Bhuikot.  Currently this fort is converted into a  garden and is under the ASI departrment, Located very adjacent to Siddeshwar temple pond, this place offers enthralling view. One Gets a good view of this fort in the backdrop from the Siddeshwar temple.

Bhuikot Fort in the backdrop can be seen from
Siddeshwar Temple

The Solapur Fort, also known as the Bhuikot fort is said to have been built during the reign of the Bijapur Sultanate of which Solapur was a part. Emperor Aurangzeb resided on this fort for a year between 1685-86 AD. Between 1795 and 1818 this fort was in the hands of the Maratha rulers. Bajirao Peshwa II lived in the fort.

External wall of the Solapur Fort

There are few very interesting stories about this fort which involves Dowry Theory. It is believed that Burhan Nizam Shah ruled Ahmednagar and Ismail Adilshah was in power in Vijapur , Inorder to strengthen the relationship between two states they decided to marry Adilshah's daughter with Nizam Shah of Burhan. The marriage was performed at this Solapur fort with great pomp.At that point of time(1523) Solapur fort was under the control of Adilshah of Vijapur and he declared that this fort shall be given as a dowry to Nizamshah. But after marriage he refused to give the fort which resulted in a war between the son in law Nizam Shah and his father in law Adilshah. Nizamshah lost the battle and fort remained with Adilshah. ( I am just wondering what happened to the wife of Nizam when her father cheated on her husband)

I think enough of history for the time being, now lets move on to our journey of exploration of this fort.

One of the bastion as seen from outside

Our Journey:

Early morning we finished our visit of Siddeshwar temple and moved out of the temple complex but not before trying our hands on the local sugarcane Juice machine. Travel me aise chote chote majje zaroor lene chaiye. Washing down two glasses of the sugar cane juice and listening to olden melodies blaring from the antique transistor was another highlight.

A small walk of 5 minutes we were at the gates of the Bhuikot. There was this ticket counter of ASI , we paid Rs 25 per person and entered the Fort Complex.

Entrance point with the ASI office

The moment you enter you are welcomed by the neat Garden and 2 Cannons pointing at you.

Cannons pointing toward the entrance door

The Cannons are well polished and you have the year of manufacturing on them, Monogram of the rulers. 

Year of manufacturing carved on the cannons

Monogram of the Rulers on the cannon

Over the years I have made it a practice to first explore the fort along the top of the Fort walls, which gives me good birds-eye view of the place and later I explore from within.Hence we moved toward the right side and climbed the stairs to reach the top of wall of the fort.

We climbed these stairs to reach the flag post platform.

Grass has grown at most of the places hence the watchman told us to be careful of the creepy reptiles.We smiled and nodded and went on our way.The outer side of the fort walls had lots of shrubs grown but the inside portion was easily walk-able.

Way towards the Flag post (PC: Dr Neha Mehta)

moving to the left from the stairs we reached the highest point of the fort ie. the Flag post platform. Standing here we could see the Siddeshwar Temple across the lake.

Siddeshwar temple as see from Solapur Fort

We spent some time here enjoying the breeze, absorbing the beauty around us and of course clicking lots of pictures

Today we realised what does the term leaping in joy meant 

Until pooja and me drew Nikhil Crazy😆😆and he has to throw his arms high in despair as if saying Kamino ab bas karo aur aage bhi badho. And both of us were like Hum nahi sudharenge, Ek photo aur Please 😛😛

 

Bola tha na... ki Hum nahi sudherenge 😆😆

Talking about the construction of the fort, there is a moat around the fort thus this creates Two layer of fortification one outer wall then moat and then the main fort wall. This main Fort wall is around 30 metres broad.Due to overgrown grass and bushes it was difficult to circumvent the entire fort. Hence we descended down the same stairs from where we had come and moved toward an other attraction of this fort, 32 Minar ki masjid .

32 Pillar Mosque

This masjid is on left side near the back end of the fort. Its an old masjid with 32 pillars. Basically its in ruins, Not maintained at all.

Low roof supported by the pillars

Moving inside the masjid you realise  that the roof is quite low and the pillars standing are all more identical in shape.

Identical Pillars

 We spent some time here and moved towards the Shiv Temple which is next to this masjid.

The structure is in complete ruins. Had it not being for the shivling at the lower base, Its difficult to make out that this structure was a temple.

Ruins of shiv temple 

The brown grill that you are seeing in the picture above, the shivling is place below that and we could see fresh flowers on it which meant that its used for worshiping. 

Shivling with fresh flowers

What I found strange about this temple was that the pillars here too looks quite similar to the one that I saw in the masjid. The question in my mind was did the  same ruler made both masjid and temple or this structure was something else and now shown as temple...

Please note the design of pillars

History often leaves so many questions open.I would like to have your views in comment column what is your take on this. 

From here on we moved towards the teen Darwaza which the ASI guy at the ticket counter reminded us not to miss. Actually the entrance of the fort in ancient times were from these Darwazas or Gates. But ASI had changed the entrance from the road side.

Main Gate of the Fort

The Entry gate of the fort is quite formidable, two bastion like pillars with a windows  along top is something typical of the architectural  designs of those times.

This was the last site that we visited at the Bhuikot or Solapur fort.  Generally one hours is enough to explore this fort but it took nearly 2 hours for us.( too much time spent on photos and masti)  We were now quite hungry hence we planned to sit in the lawn of the fort and munch some biscuits and chips before moving on to our next destination Naldurg Fort.

To read about our journey from the beginning click here

Fatehpur Sikri Series: Part 2

I was simply amazed as to how my time passed away strolling through the courtyards and corridors of this amazing Jodhabai Palace.( Click on this link to read the earlier Part 1) The place left me spell bound.I came out from the large gate and moved for the further exploration of the Fatehpur Sikri complex.

As soon as I walked out of the Palace and took a left, I was almost taken by this awesome sight of large courtyard nestled among the different red sandstone structures all around me.

Awesome sight of large courtyard opens up in front of me

If you look at the picture above, you will notice a Life size board to play the game of Pacchisi or a precursor of Ludo game and at the back  of it in the background is the Diwan-e-Khaas. So from here we moved towards the Diwan-e-Khaas. Let us see, what it has to show us.

Standing here facing the Diwan-e-Khaas you realise how big and beautiful is the entire complex.

Diwan-e-Khaas

Diwan-e-Khaas is a unique structure in this entire complex of Indo - Islamic architecture,raised on the square platform. outwardly giving the appearance of double storied building. It consist of a single vaulted chamber open from floor to roof,with an opening on each of the four side of the centre square.The next prominent thing one notice is the Pillar in the centre of the room.Talking of the pillar, it must be said its so richly carved and designed that one simply cannot help marveling at it.

Richly designed central Pillar of Diwan-e -Khas

A closer look of the richly carved central pillar

I was told that the central platform attached to this pillar was the seat of the emperor Akbar and my reply to that was Bhai yeh baat kuch hajam nahi hui. (Sometimes we have to take the stories of the guides with pinch of salt) and the galleries above are believed to be seats of ministers and nobles.Somehow I felt that  galleries were too narrow.( Ministers must be feeling themselves to be in tight spot ).Whatever the discomfort for ministers, for me a view from below gave an impressive image of the gigantic central carved pillar with the viewing galleries. Aap bhi ek look lelo bhai 

A view from below of the galleries and,the central pillar

How I wish I could make your life easier when it comes to understanding history but it is not to be, Har aadmi ke pass ek nayi kahani hai to tell you. If I go through the Stone Plaque placed outside this Diwan-e-khaas  It says that This room was called as Diwan -e-Khaas (Hall of Private audience), then it also mentions it as IBADAT KHANA (Hall for Religious Discourses), and then some people consider it to be a hall used for TULADANA ( Weighing Ceremony) of Emperor and Prince on Persian New Year.In fact the Plaque mentions this as Treasury room with Diwan-e-khaas written in Bracket.( I was like Akbarji aap ke pass itna maal tha teen alag room hi banwa lete, Ab kar diya na confusion)

Another view of the pillar.

 Though the room does't have much ornamentation but yet the central pillar simply takes your breath away with its beauty. One small info on this pillar, it has 36 brackets in three tier circular layers as you can see above and just like this central pillar there are matching pillars in the corners of this room.

I went into this structure with the info that I shall be visiting Diwan-e-Khaas lekin bahar nikala with ek per do ka offer 

Oh History ! I am simply loving it. 

Well time to move on to our next Surprise !!!

Link to the earlier Part 1 Fatehpur Sikri | Part 1 | Jodhabai Palace