Asirgarh Fort is an Indian fortress (qila) situated in the Satpura Rangeabout 20 kilometres (12 mi) north of the city of Burhanpur, in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. Because the fortress commands a pass through the Satpuras connecting the valleys of the Narmada and Taptirivers, one of the most important routes from northern India to the Deccan, it was known as the “key to the Deccan”. During the Mughal Era, it was considered that the Deccan started here while the empire from Asirgarh to Delhiwas considered Hindustan.
Contents
- History
- Architecture
- References
- External links
History
The Asirgarh fort is said to have been built by a king named Asa Ahir in the early 15th century. He was murdered by Nasir Khan of Khandesh.
Nasir Khan’s descendant Miran Bahadur Khan (1596–1600) declared his independence and refused to pay homage to the Mughal emperor Akbar and his son Daniyal. Akbar marched towards Burhanpur in 1599 and occupied the city. Akbar then besieged Asirgarh fort and captured it on 17 January 1601.
During the Second Anglo-Maratha War, on 18 October 1803, British forces took the pettah of Asigarh with a loss of two killed and five wounded. The fort’s garrison subsequently surrendered on the 21st after the attackers had erected a battery.
Toward the end of the Third Anglo-Maratha War in early 1819, the remaining resistance against the British collected at Asirgarh Fort under the command of the qiladar, Jeswant Rao Lar. In March, a massive contingent of combined British army regiments lay siege to Asirgarh, attacking and occupying the town associated with the fort. The 1,200 defenders fought bravely to defend the fort against constant artillery barrages and charges of foot soldiers. They finally surrendered to the British on 9 April 1819 with the loss of 43 men compared to the 323 British casualties. The British victory at The Battle of Asirgarh Fort brought an end to the war.
Architecture
The architecture of the fort was influenced by the Mughals, an amalgamation of Islamic, Persian, Turkish and Indian styles. There are three man made ponds to provide a water supply.
There is a temple known as Gupteshwar Mahadev Mandir, dedicated to the Hindu deity Shiva. There is a local legend that Ashwatthama, a character in the Indian epic Mahābhārata, used to come to this temple to worship and offer flowers each morning to Lord Shiva.
There is a ruined mosque with minarets known as Asir Masjid inside the Fort. Apart from the Hindu and Muslim architecture, some ruins are of British origin and there are also British graves. This fort has been deserted following the departure of the British.
