Kandhar - The Seat of Rashtrakutas
The Kandhar fort near Nanded in Maharashtra, was once the capital of the mighty Rashtrakuta empire
By Live History India
Live History India
Spread across 24 acres and situated seemingly in the middle of nowhere is the Kandhar fort, once the seat of the powerful Rashtrakuta dynasty that ruled over the Deccan between the 6th and 10th centuries CE. In a good condition and boasting some beautiful architectural features, the fort is on the banks of the Manyad river around 55 km from Nanded in Maharashtra.
Occupied continuously from the time of the Rashtrakutas till the 19th century, the Kandhar fort passed through many hands including the Yadavas of Devgiri, the Delhi Sultanate, Bahmani Sultanate, Nizam Shahis of Ahmadnagar and then finally the Nizam of Hyderabad. The main gate of the fort bears an inscription of Muhammad Bin Tughlaq, and was probably occupied by him during his Southern campaigns.
The original Kandhar fort was probably a much smaller, wooden structure within the capital of the Rashtrakutas here. Originally ruled by the Satavahanas, this region became the seat of the Rashtrakuta family, which probably started off as feudatories to the early Chalukyas of Badami, before declaring independence around 735 CE.
But the fort you see today was built much later, in the 14th century, by the Bahmani sultans. With many additions over time, the structure today is imposing. Circled by a 12-metre wall, it has as many as 18 watch towers overlooking the hills beyond. It is surrounded by a wide moat mostly filled with water, which is an additional layer of protection.
Within the fort, you can see the remnants of Ambar Khana and Sheesh Mahal, which are among the few heritage structures in the fort. The Sheesh Mahal is a double-storey building probably constructed at the same site where the Rashtrakuta Royal Palace existed. A wall showing beautiful glass work and a few other structures still remain at the site. There are remnants of a bathroom with hot and cold water storage facilities. The Sheesh Mahal appears to be the Rani Mahal of the Tughlaq and Bahmani sultans.
Among the ancient sculptures of the Rashtrakutas, the most noteworthy are the remains of a huge yaksha sculpture of a man measuring 60 feet in height. Scattered portions of this giant sculpture are preserved in this fort. The foundation of this vastupurush was found in an excavation carried out by the Government of Maharashtra in 1980.
Steeped in legend and rich with history, you can also see many sculptures from adjoining villages stacked inside the Kandhar fort, hinting at the antiquity of this area.
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