Monument – Bhadra Fort, Ahmedabad
Built by – Ahmad Shah I
Built in – 1411

Bhadra Fort is situated in the walled city area of Ahmedabad, India. The Bhadra Fort complex, with its well-carved royal palaces, mosques, gates and open spaces, was renovated in 2014 by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) as a cultural centre for the city.

The foundation of Bhadra Fort was laid in 1411 by Ahmad Shah I, and its construction was completed in 1415. Also known as Arak Fort, as described in Mirat-i-Ahmadi, the Bhadra Fort has a square form enclosing an area of 43 acres. The Bhadra fort had eight gates, three large, two in the east and one in the southwest corner; three middle-sized, two in the north and one in the south; and two small, in the west.

A second fortification was built later by Mahmud Begada, the grandson of Ahmed Shah, with an outer wall 10 km in circumference and consisting of 12 gates, 189 bastions and over 6,000 battlements as described in Mirat-i-Ahmadi.

The entrance to this grand fort was through the historic Teen Darwaja built to its eastern side. The east gate acted as the main entrance to the central ground known as Maidan-Shah. The road beyond Teen Darwaza leads to Manel Chowk, a mercantile square. On the southern side along the road is the congregational mosque, Jama Masjid.

The citadel’s architecture is Indo-Saracenic, with intricately carved arches and balconies. Fine latticework adorns windows and murals. There are some Islamic inscriptions on the arches of the fort. The palace contains royal suites, the imperial court, halls, and a prison.

The Bhadra Fort now houses government offices and a Kali temple.

Photo Credit – Gujarat Tourism