Information on Sitabuldi Fort (Nagpur, Maharashtra) - History & Architecture

Sitabuldi Fort is the two hill mount fortress found in Nagpur. It is a mega built fort with a beautifully palace complex inside. The 3rd Battle of Anglo-Maratha war took place here. It has significant role in the development of Nagpur District in trade and commerce. It is located in Sitabuildi, Nagpur District of Maharashtra in India.

Sitabuldi Fort Architecture

Sitabuldi Forts initial foundation was led by a British personal of the British East India Company (BEIC) in the 18th century. This was later reconstructed by the Mudhoji II Bhonsle, who was a Maratha clan of Nagpur Kingdom. This fort has all the features of a medieval era fortifications. This was a defensive fort and a residential complex. From 1817 AD this fort came in to force. This stood as the mega garrison area of those times. This is completely a stone structure. The building material used here are the sandstones, granite and laterite stones. This fortress consists of two parts on two different hills. Its walls are great and strong. It consists of turret areas to place cannons. There are many lookout gaps left in this walls. This fort consists of a beautiful palace. This is a two storied building with lot of elegance in it. This has few spacious rooms and has a pillared corridor in a long stretch of this building. A mosque is built here in a beautiful Islamic design. There are few tombs here. These are of the Mysore Nawabs and the war solders of the Anglo Maratha war. This is a memorial for the war deceased. There is also a mark found here for the visit by the Britain's king and Queen.

Sitabuldi Fort History

Sitabuldi Fort has witnessed the fiery battler with the British. It is well known in the history as the Battle of Sitabuldi. This war was fought with the British and the Maratha rulers of the Nagpur province famously known as the Mudhoji II Bhonsle. It was the declining times of the Maratha Empire. The British too desired to put an end to these local clans and bring the entire Maharashtra in to BEIC. This fort was visited by the Mysore King Tipu Sultan in an honor function. His grandson named Kadhar Ali Nawab along with his 8 supporters of freedom struggle was executed in this fort by hanging them. They were buried here and a mosque is built for them in the later years. Mahathma Gandhi in his freedom movement was arrested and spent his term of sentence in this fort prison. The Britons King George V with his wife Marry came here and did a public appearance to Nagpur peoples from this main fort. This fort is allowed to public viewing on all holidays of a calendar year. Presently there are many Public Interest Litigation (PIL) is raised to develop this fort and its surroundings as a major tourist attraction spots. There are many private operators who wish to invest here. But the PIL in the local court has to get the approval from the India Army which is garrisoned here from independence of India. Till this fort is conserved by the Army administration and kept this place as an Eco friendly zone. This is the only fort which is not left abounded since its construction.

Sitabuldi Fort Tourism Significance

Sitabuldi Fort is an important heritage tourist attraction that one must be seen once in Nagpur. This is a very unique fort to see. This is a protected monument well maintained by the Indian Army and publics are allowed only on the holiday dates of a calendar year. This is an easy grade fort under the Maharashtra tourism list.