2008 September 29

Archive for September 29, 2008

The Fort of Fatehpur

The fort of Fatehpur was a great stronghold of the Kayam Khanis who were originally the Chohans of Dadrewa. The fort was founded by Fatan Khan in 1451 A.D.

Geography of Fatehpur Fort

The site of the fort is surrounded by thick growth of trees. High sand dunes enveloped this place from all sides leaving no spacious passage through them. Thus protected by forest and sand dunes the fort was regarded as one of the most defensible fort of the desert area. The fort encloses a space of nearly 7000 feet in length and half of it in breadth.

A massive and gorgeous rampart wall with battlements encircles the fort having huge bastions at each corner. The thickness of the rampart wall is from 15 to 25 feet and the height nearly 20 to 50 feet. A solid deep ditch protected the fort from four sides leaving a gap of 20 feet between itself and rampart wall.

Attractions and Monuments in Fatehpur Fort

The first gate facing the south is of moderate size built in the usual way. Rampart wall spreads from this gate on two sides in a semi - circle. The other gate more massive and bigger facing the east.Through this gate the spacious enclosure of the palaces are erected. Towering over the rampart wall stands the famous palace of Telin. This palace is a beautiful piece of fusion of indo- Muslim art.

The Telin’s palace with its elagently carved projected balconies and short columns stands a monument to the earthy passion which devour the high and the low alike. At some distance from palace, the inner apartment for ladies are erected.

These structures are marked for their simplicity of design and exquisiteness of exudation. Projected balconies in the side wall of palaces are still intact below which on the supporting stones floral designs are carved. The palaces are seemingly built of Khatu’s yellow stone that was regarded ideal for carving.

Some buildings lay buried in a half ruined condition. A modern looking small palace which stands in lose vicinity to the palaces was erected by the Rajpoots when they took possession of the fort.

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