HARAPPAN FORT
Archaeologists evidences have revealed development of fortification during pre and early harappan phase.
Fortification was well developed and standardized during the mature phase of harappan civilization.
The harappan cities were developed into two parts – upper town and lower town.
In city of dholavira there was middle town between two parts.
The harappan town in harappan cities was generally fortified but at kalibangan and surkotada even lower town was fortified.
At chanhudaro fortification was absent completely.
Fortification was carried out by using mud and mud bricks having stone rubber veneer.
The fortification walls were massive in size. They were solid structures made of properly moulded bricks.
Lower portion of walls of ports was built by using stones and sun dried bricks.
MAURYAN FORT
Megasthenes in his book indica inform us that city of pataliputra was surrounded by a wooden palisade.
There were 64 gates and 570 watchtowers in this fort.
Wooden fort was surrounded by a 60 feet deep and 200 yard wide ditch to prevent the enemy forces from coming close to the walls of the fort.
Archaeological evidences found at bulandibagh and gosainkhanda have revealed the fortification of pataliputra city.
MAURYAN PALACES
In whole of ancient history, palaces were built only during Mauryan age. The Mauryan ruler Chandagupta Maurya built a palace with wood in his capital Pataliputra.
His grandson Ashoka built a exact replica of this wooden palace in stone on same spot .
It appears wooden palace destroyed by the fire as 30cm thicklyer of ash was found.
Archaeological evidences revealed that these palaces located at Kumrahar.
Archaeological excavations carried out by L.A waddell, D.B spooner, K.P jaiswal and P>C Mukherjee have discovered remains of the stone palace built by Ashoka. 80 pillars used in its central pillared hall have been discovered.
These pillars have a glossy polish on them. They were carved out at chunar located in Mirazapur district, UP.
Chinese traveller fa-hein or faxian was amazed by the beauty and magnificence of this palace. Fa-hien visited india during the reign of chandraguta II. From 399AD – 413AD. He wrote a book named FU-KYO-KI.
VARIOUS FORTS IN DELHI
The Rajput rulers constructed fortified settlement near surajkund in 10 century AD. Chauhan ruler prithvi raj iii constructed a Qila-i-raj-i-pithaura near Lalkot in 12th century AD.
A fortified settlement was established by qutb-ud-din aibak at the end of 12th century AD.
Muizzuddin kaiquabad erected a fort known as Kilokhari.
Siri Fort was built by Alauddin khilji in 1303 AD.
Ghiyas ud din Tughluq constructed Adilabad fort and the city known as Jahan panah in 1329.
Firoz shah Tughluq built Firoz shah kotla fort in 1354.
Khizrabad fort and Mubarakabad fort were constructed during the rule of sayyid sultans.
Ismail shah constructed Salimgarh fort in 1550.
Humayun constructed dinpanah in 1553. Sher shah built Purana qila at the site of Dinapanah fort by destroying it.
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