Ajay Kumar at 15:42, 4 July 2023

2023-07-04T15:42:18Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2015}}
{{Infobox historic site
| name = Medak Fort
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| image = Medak Fort by Varsha Bhargavi Kondapalli 02.jpg
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| location = [[Medak]], [[Telangana]], [[India]] pin code 502110
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'''Medak Fort''' is situated in [[Medak|Medak district]] in the [[States and union territories of India|Indian state]] of [[Telangana]], about 100 kilometres from the state capital, [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]].<ref>[http://www.mapsofindia.com/hyderabad/famous-monuments/medak-fort.html Medak Fort]</ref> Medak fort was constructed by the [[Kakatiyas|Kakatiya Kings]]. The fort lies to the north of the city and can be reached by road. It is a citadel built on a hillock that provided as a vantage point for the Kakatiya rulers in medieval India.

The fort was built sometime around the 12th century and during the reign of the Kakatiya ruler, Rudra Deva and was called Methuku durgam, meaning cooked rice in [[Telugu language|Telugu]]. It was later ruled by another great South Indian kingdom kings the [[Musunuri Nayaks|Musunuri Kings]]. It was a command post of the Kakatians and later for [[Musunuri Nayaks|Musunuri Kings]] and [[Qutb Shahis]]. The fort has great historical and architectural importance in [[Telangana]]. Within the fort is a 17th-century Mosque built by the Qutub Shahis, granaries and remains of grand houses.<ref>[http://ekikrat.in/Medak-District-AP Medak District in AP]</ref>

It has three main entrances, the "Prathama Dwaram", the "Simha Dwaram" that has two snarling lions at the top of the entrance and the "Gaja Dwaram", or Elephant's Entrance that has a sculpture of two [[elephant]]s interlocked on both sides of the entrance. The main entrance proudly displays the double-headed "Gandabherundam" of the Kakatiyas.
The wood used as a support for the stable roof(Terminalia paniculata) can still be seen there.

At the fort one can see a 17th-century [[cannon]] that is 3.2 metres long. The cannon has a [[trident]] etched on it. This fortress uses the natural topography to the maximum advantage with the rocky face offering it natural defences. The water to the fort was provided via a pipeline.

Now, there is not much left to see, but as it stands on a hillock, it offers a good view of the district.

==References==

{{reflist}}

{{coords|18|2|37|N|78|15|18|E|display=title}}
{{Forts in Telangana}}
[[Category:Forts in Telangana]]
[[Category:Medak district]]

{{India-struct-stub}}

Medak Fort - Revision history

Ajay Kumar at 15:42, 4 July 2023