SITA BULDI FORT - The Pride of Nagpur !

Sita Buldi fort..The pride of Nagpur was open for public this month ( June 2017) . Golden opportunity not to be missed ! Right ?

                                                          
                                                  (http://bit.ly/2tA4l11)- Main Gate

 The only fort at  Nagpur city , which is usually closed for public, had been kept open for visitor  every Sunday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Sitabuldi sounds unsual ? No, It does not have any connection with Sita Maa... Legend says that Sitabuldi got its name from two Yaduvanshi brothers – Shitlaprasad and Badriprasad Gawali, who ruled the area in the 17th century.  Eventually the name evolved from "Shitlabadri"  to Seetabuldee", and finally settled at the current form, "Sitabardi" or "Sitabuldi". 

Sitabuldi Fort was built in the year 1817 by Mudhoji II  Bhonsle fondly known as Appa Saheb (died 15 July 1840). He ruled the Kingdom of Nagpur from 1816 to 1818. He annexed the throne by assassinating Parsaji and signed subsidiary alliance with the British.

To know more about Kingdom of Nagpur,visit their official page

http://maharajaofnagpur.com/

The only fort of Nagpur city, stands well-guarded and maintained by Indian army’s 118^th battalion garrisoned at the place. It is a ‘Giri Durg’ ( Hill fort) as it stands tall  on twin hillocks ‘Badi’(big)’ tekri’ and ‘chotti’( small)’tekri’. The word ‘tekri’ means hill in Marathi. According to The Arthashastra the Indian treatise on military strategy describes six major types of forts differentiated by their major mode of defence.  ‘Jala durg’( water Fort), Dhanvana- or Maru-durga (Desert Fort), Giri-durga (Hill fort), Vana-durga (Forest fort), Mahi-durga (Earthen fort), Nri-durga (Human fort).

Reading all the history available on net, We visited the fort last Sunday. private vehicles have to be parked outside the main-gate. It is a long walk up the (gradual)hill from the main army gate. The first ancient structure that we encountered was an old Shiva temple. The temple was a small chattri, where the Lingam was installed. After walking for 5 more minutes , we entered the original fort gate. The grand gate still intact is big enough for elephants to cross.

                                      (Source: http://bit.ly/2sHAuU1 ) British Styled Mansion

Further up the hill, we saw a stone made British styled big mansion. This I suppose is where the soldiers lived. We were informed by a friendly Guard at the post, that the fort has a fully functional system of rain water harvesting, that is still in use. We were shown a secret passage( surang). The experience inside was scary as it was dimly lit. It was a 5 minute walk through the surang. We came out of this passage to see a Jail, where Mohandas Karamchandra Gandhi was kept between 10th April - 15^th May 1923. 

While returning back , I saw a kirti stambh that was made to honour the martyrs, who lost their lives guarding the fort ,during The third Maratha war. This fort was graced by King George V and queen Mary during their visit to British India. Tipu sulatans grandson Nawab Kadar Ali was hanged here in the year 1857. I had read that a mosque is maintained in the fort to mark the location of hanging, but sadly I could not locate it.

Memory of Sitabuldi fort will be etched forever in my heart. Not only because of it’s grandeur or reason being its architecture, but only for the fact that it the cleanest and most well maintained fort, I have seen so far. I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Army for maintenance of our heritage so well. What a lovely way to keep our heritage alive by living, guarding and rebuilding it !