DAULATABAD FORT

Located 16 km from Aurangabad, Daulatabad Fort, also known as Devgiri Fort, comprises the fortified town below, a palace and the defensive fort on a 200-metre-high rocky plateau. It was built in 1187 by the Yavada dynasty, which then dominated the Deccan. The mosque built in 1318 has since become a Hindu temple, the Bharat Mata Mandir. The site was chosen by Muhammad bin Tughluq, Sultan of Delhi, on his accession to the throne in 1325. Two years later, he had the capital emptied of its inhabitants and relocated them to Daulatabad. The sultan believed that by moving further south, he would occupy a more central position for his conquests in Bihar and Bengal and, above all, escape the Mughal invasion attempts that were concentrated on Delhi and the north.

The fortifications: the city of Daulatabad was protected by a set of triple walls, designed to slow down access to the fort in the event of an attack. The outer wall runs in a 4.5 km loop.

Chand Minar: this 30-metre minaret dates from 1445 and celebrates the capture of Ala-ud-din Bahmani, which brought Daulatabad back into the feudal fold of Muhammad bin Tughluq.

The fort: Daulatabad's fort bears witness to the intense battles that took place on the Deccan plateau. The base of the piton has been carved out to create a vertical wall some 50 meters high. Access to the fort is via a single entrance: a narrow bridge spans the moat and leads to a steeply sloping gallery cut into the rock. The gallery is now known as the " dark passage ", home to many bats. Halfway up, the slope becomes a staircase, at the top of which is a grate covering a pit. The fort is full of decoys and defensive tricks: false access doors, a labyrinthine gallery, rounded walls breaking visibility, a succession of access doors equipped with elephant spikes...

Chini Mahal: this small ruined palace, literally meaning "Chinese palace", was built by Aurangzeb as a prison for "distinguished guests". In particular, he imprisoned the last king of the Qutb Shahi dynasty of Hyderabad and Golconda. The latter died within the walls of the Chini Mahal, leaving no descendants.

Mughal Baradari: a steep climb takes you up to this pavilion commissioned by Shah Jahan in the ^17th century. You'll be rewarded for your efforts with a splendid view of the Deccan plains.

Opposite the entrance to the fort stands a ^16th-century hammam, well worth a visit.