In the Constant Struggle for Power, Forts and Fortified Settlements Were a Potent Symbol of Authority

In the constant struggle for power, forts and fortified settlements were a potent symbol of authority. Thus, in ancient India as elsewhere, forts were the measure of Monarch's strength. There are many references to Forts and fortifications in ancient and medieval literature dating from the Vedic times. The Rigveda Samhita mentions tribes living in fortifications called Pur, meaning earthworks strengthened by stone walls. The Aiteraya Brahmana refers to the three Agnis, or fires, as three forts which prevent the Asuras (demons) from disturbing the sacrifice. The Ramayana and the Mahabharata also contain account of forts, and the Puranas state that the rampart and ditch are the important elements in the fortification of a castle.

Kautilya's Arthashstra gives a vivid account of the fortified city of Pataliputra, capital of the great Maurya empire, 3rd century B.C., which is supported by the subsequent excavations in the modern city of Patna. Durg is the Indian term of fort, and means difficult to trespass, signifying the importance of a strategic site, a strong wall and a moat to make it an impregnable bastion.

There are six type of forts: the Dhanva Durg or desert fort; the Mahi Durg or the mud fort; the Jala Durg or the water fort; the Giri Durg or hill fort; the Vriksha or Vana Durg, or the forest fort; the Nara Durg or fort protected by men. Of these the giri Durg is considered the best, though the Mahabharata claims that the Nara Durg was the strongest because a collection of able and trusted men is a king' s greatest asset.

One of the most crucial requirements of a fort was a regular supply of water to ensure self-sufficiency during a siege, which could last for months. The planner in the past gave great thought to the availability of this life saving element by laying down guidelines on storage and efficient reservoir systems. The source of water was a closely guarded secret to prevent the unscrupulous enemy from poisoning it. Varahmir states in his Brihat Samhita that arteries of flowing water lie at various depths beneath the surface of the earth, and these can be located by an understanding of the topography and environment. However, where natural resources of water are scarce, as in the case of forts in the Rajasthan desert, a common method of storing water in the tanks was devised.

A number of text were written on Vastuvidya or the art of architecture, which cover the building of Durgs. These include the Narada Shilpashastra, Maurya, Aparajita Prichha, Vasturajaballabha, Vastumandana, Vastumanjari and Mayamata. The discovery of gunpowder was a great invention of medieval times, leading to the added power of artillery. But the use of cannons to breach impregnable ramparts did not in any way reduced the strength of the fort. Instead, forts equipped themselves with Karkhanas, run by blacksmith who cast cannons and manufactured new weapons so that both sides were evenly balanced. But the forts were not simply inanimate buildings serving a military purpose; they housed one of the most magnificent palaces ever built. They were alive and echoing to the sounds and cymbals of some of the great dynasties, witness to regicides and bloody succession battles and carrying within their bastions; harems and glitter unsurpassed. Thus, when writing the history of any era, of an empire, it is the forts of that period which dominate the rise and fall of fortunes. Some of the finest examples of the fort architecture in India are the forts of Chitorgarh, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Agra, the Red Fort and many others.

Capture of Kangra Fort

The fort, which is somewhat like a typical medieval European castle, has been subjected to mass-scale plundering by Muslim, Afghan and other marauders. Mahmud Ghaznavi invaded Kangra in 1009, driven by an unsatiable desire to conquer Kangra, capture the fort and loot its riches. History corroborates that the king had returned home with a huge booty which comprised diamonds, gold, silver and other valuables that he had plundered from the fort and the Kangra temple. It is said that the caravan of camels ferrying loads of wealth was nearly a mile long. This attack was followed by that of Mohammad Tughlaq who stormed Kangra and seized the fort in 1337 from the then king, Prithi Chander. Later, Purab Chander, who succeeded him, recaptured the fort. Then Raja Roop Chand led a relentless military expedition into the plains of Punjab which had its impact right up to the frontiers of Delhi. This infuriated Feroz Shah Tughlaq, the then Sultan of Delhi, who mounted an attack on Kangra in 1366 with a view to stem the burgeoning power of the raja. Roop Chand was defeated in a grim battle. On his passing away, his son, Singara Chand, came to the throne. Timur invaded Kangra during his rule.

The Kangra fort is a winsome blend of medieval and ancient architecture

A couple of years after Timur’s invasion (in 1405), Raja Hari Chand took over the reigns of the Kangra empire. Once on a routine hunting trip, the king lost his way in the woods. As it was dark, he fell into a dry well. Presuming that the king might have either been killed by a wild animal or taken prisoner, his younger sibling Karam Chand was made the king. Raja Hari Chand, who was saved by some passersby, returned to the kingdom after 22 days. On discovering that his younger brother had been made the next king, he founded a new principality called Guler — the cradle of the famous Guler Kalam (Kangra Kalam) — with its capital at Haripur. Emboldened by the dastardly acts of earlier marauders, it was now the turn of Afghan ruler Sher Shah Suri, who conquered Kangra in 1540 by defeating Humayun. With Akbar ascending the throne, the Muslim empire saw the dawn of a new era. Akbar worked out a strategy to keep all hill chieftains under his rule. He sent his Finance Minister Todar Mal to annex those hill territories which he had identified as most vulnerable.

Jahangir too, after being enthroned the king, was seized with the desire to conquer Kangra and capture the fort, about which it was believed: "He who held the fort, ruled all the hill states". In 1615, he sent a strong contingent of troops under the command of Sheikh Farid Murtaza Khan and Raja Suraj Mal of Nurpur, his trusted confidant. But the troops returned without success. Unfazed, the king sent another contingent in 1620 under the command of Sunder Dass. This time the troops succeeded in capturing the fort after facing a stiff resistance. The ambitious Muslim invader also annexed the other hill states to his empire and garrisoned his troops in the fort to keep a watchful eye on the hill rulers. During the rule of King Hamir Chand, who ruled Kangra for 47 years, a major chunk of the hill territories was under the suzerainty of the Mughals. His son, Raja Ghamand Chand, who succeeded him, led a relentless battle against them and captured almost all Muslim-occupied territories, except the fort. It remained under their control for 40 years. Having failed to regain the control of the fort, he raised a parallel fort at Sujanpur Tira on the shores of the Beas. The king passed away in 1774. His son, Tegh Chand, who succeeded him, also died a year later.

The Kangra empire then saw the emergence of Raja Sansar Chand II, who came to the throne at the age of 10. On assuming charge of the vast Kangra empire, Sansar Chand’s top agenda was to recapture the fort. He succeeded in accomplishing the mission in 1781 with the active help of his trusted ally, Sardar Jai Singh of Kanhaya. But, he was compelled to surrender it to the Sikhs in 1809. It remained under their control till 1846. However, Raja Sansar Chand wanted the restoration of the fort, no matter at what price. Having failed to realise his cherished dream militarily, he surrendered some of the territories he had captured from the Sikhs and regained control of the fort. However, the hill rulers who were not supportive of his growing power, attacked him to avenge their bruised egos. In 1806, the Gurkhas, under the command of Amar Singh Thapa, defeated Sansar Chand. He had to seek asylum in the fort, from where he finally fled to Sujanpur Tira. Most Famous Fort of Himachal - Kangra Fort

Monuments

FACT FILE

Major Attractions : Ramparts, Gateways, Temples and Palaces.

Architecture : Ancient and Medieval Architecture.

Famous Gateways :Ranjit Singh Darwaza, Jahangiri Gate, Ahni and Amiri Gates, Andehri Darwaza, Darshani Darwaza.

Famous Temples : Photography of Migratory Birds from close quarters and visiting Deeg Fort.

Getting Around : Lakshminarayan Mandir, Shaitala Mandir and Ambika Devi Temple – Hindu Temples. Two Jain Temple as Also Present.

Famous Palace : Sheesh Mahal – Palace of Mirrors, Sansar Chand Palace – Lies in Ruins.

Must See : The View of the Kangra Valley Atop the Watch Tower – Offers Panoramic View of the Valley.

Not to be Missed : The Various Trithankaras and Stone Image of Adinath in the Two Jain Temples in Kangra Fort.

Getting There : Kangra Fort Can be Reached From Kangra (6 kms), Dalhousie (17 kms) and McLeodganj (27 kms). Various Private taxis and State Transport Buses are Available.

Inside Tip : You can Also Visit a Museum That Lies on the Turf of this Fort and Houses Miniature Paintings which is Blend of Mughal and Katoch Style art.

Kangra Fort in Himachal Pradesh – The Oldest and the Boldest