Kandhar Fort (Khandhar)

The Water Fortress of the Rashtrakutas: Krishna III to Nizam Rule

Situated on the banks of the **Manyad River** in the historic town of Kandhar in Nanded district, Maharashtra, **Kandhar Fort (कंधार क़िला)** is one of the grandest and most historically significant composite water-and-land fortifications (*Jala-Durga / Sthala-Durga*) in the Deccan. Founded in the **10th century CE by Emperor Krishna III (Akhalavarsha)** of the illustrious **Rashtrakuta Dynasty**, Kandhar served as a supreme military bastion defending the northern approaches to the imperial capital of Manyakheta (Malkhed).

Inscriptions discovered on the fort ramparts and nearby stone pillars document that Krishna III constructed the fort to commemorate his grand military triumphs across South India, where he defeated the Cholas at the historic Battle of Takkolam in 949 CE. The fortress was designed as a self-sustaining royal garrison city protected by **massive dressed volcanic basalt curtain walls** and a **100-foot-wide water-filled moat** historically populated with man-eating crocodiles.

In subsequent centuries, the fortress was held by the Western Chalukyas, Yadavas of Devagiri, the Bahmani Sultanate, the Nizam Shahis of Ahmadnagar, the Mughal Empire under Aurangzeb, and the Asaf Jahis of Hyderabad, each leaving distinct architectural additions across its 24-acre inner compound.

Architectural Mastery: The 100-Foot Moat & The Jinsi Darwaza

The military design of Kandhar Fort represents the pinnacle of medieval Deccani fortification science.

The 100-Foot Wide Water-Filled Moat

The entire perimeter of the fort is surrounded by an enormous **100-foot-wide moat** chiseled deep into the rocky river terrace. Connected via stone sluice gates to the **Jagat Tung Sagar (Kandhar Lake)** and the Manyad River, the moat maintained a constant depth of 15 to 20 feet of water, preventing enemy mining or sapping operations against the walls.

The Jinsi Darwaza & Royal Palaces

Entry into the fort is gained across a stone drawbridge through the monumental **Jinsi Darwaza**, a multi-storeyed basalt portal flanked by massive circular bastions. Inside the enclosure lie the ruins of the **Lal Mahal (Red Palace)**, the two-storeyed **Sheesh Mahal (Palace of Mirrors)**, subterranean water filtration channels, and royal audience halls.

The Open-Air Rashtrakuta Sculpture Museum

Within the fort compound, the Department of Archaeology maintains a world-renowned **open-air sculpture museum** housing dozens of colossal 10th-century Rashtrakuta stone statues excavated from the fort ruins. Masterpieces include monolithic idols of **Kshetrapala, Bhairava, Yakshis, Lord Shiva, and Jain Tirthankaras**, celebrated globally for their anatomical perfection and elaborate jewelry carvings.

Hydraulic Engineering: The Jagat Tung Sagar Reservoir

Kandhar's water security was anchored by the **Jagat Tung Sagar**, a massive artificial lake constructed by Emperor Krishna III (who bore the title *Jagat Tung*). An intricate network of subterranean stone and terracotta conduits supplied fresh water directly into the fort's royal hammams and fountains.

Epigraphical Records: The Takkolam Triumphal Inscriptions

Stone tablets deciphered at Kandhar contain poetic Sanskrit and Kannada eulogies (*Prashastis*) detailing Krishna III's military campaigns against the Cholas and his erection of victory pillars (*Jaya Stambhas*) at Rameshwaram. These records establish Kandhar as an intellectual and administrative hub of the 10th-century Deccan.

Sufi Heritage: The Dargah of Hazrat Haji Sayyah Sarwar

Adjacent to the fort walls stands the revered 14th-century **Dargah of Hazrat Haji Sayyah Sarwar**, a celebrated Sufi saint. Every year during the annual Urs, thousands of pilgrims of all faiths visit the shrine and fort to celebrate communal harmony.

Archaeological Survey & Scientific Preservation

The Maharashtra State Directorate of Archaeology has systematically preserved the stone bastions and installed protective weather-sheds over the Rashtrakuta sculptures, establishing Kandhar as a vital cultural heritage site in Marathwada.

Practical Visitor Guide: Planning Your Visit to Kandhar Fort

How to Reach Kandhar Fort

From **Nanded** (45 km), state transport (MSRTC) buses and private taxis run frequently via State Highway 258 directly to Kandhar town. The fort is located in the town center, accessible by walking or auto-rickshaw across the moat bridge.

Classical Sculpture: The Master Sculptors of Manyakheta

The stone sculptures discovered at Kandhar represent the zenith of late classical Deccan sculptural art. Sculpted from dense, fine-grained volcanic basalt, figures of **Kshetrapala, Bhairava, and Chamunda** exhibit exquisite anatomical proportions, expressive facial contours, and intricate jewelry ornamentation reflecting the sophisticated artistic traditions of the Rashtrakuta court.

Sultanate Era: Bahmani & Nizam Shahi Fortifications

In the 15th and 16th centuries, the Bahmani Sultanate and Nizam Shahis of Ahmadnagar reinforced Kandhar's basalt ramparts with round artillery bastions, pointed arches, and lime-stucco palace apartments. The **Macchi Dharamshala** and **Kacheri Mahal** served as administrative headquarters for the district governor.

Hydraulic Engineering: Sluice Gates & Moat Flow Control

The 100-foot-wide moat surrounding Kandhar Fort was regulated by heavy stone sluice gates connected to the Jagat Tung Sagar lake. In times of monsoon flooding, excess water was safely diverted into the Manyad River, while during seasonal droughts, stored reservoir water was released to maintain a constant water barrier around the ramparts.

Artillery Heritage: The Medieval Wrought-Iron Cannons

Mounted along the outer bastions of Kandhar Fort are massive medieval wrought-iron cannons, forged by welding sequential iron hoops around a central barrel. These heavy artillery pieces could fire iron cannonballs up to two kilometres across the Manyad river valley.

The Moat Watchtowers & Water Gate Sentry Bastions

The southern perimeter of Kandhar Fort features high stone watchtowers overlooking the Manyad River and Jagat Tung Sagar lake. Sentry guards monitored the water approaches, maintaining continuous surveillance over the drawbridge and moat sluice gates.

Subterranean Granary Vaults & Military Quartermaster Depots

Near the northern edge of the inner enclosure lie deep subterranean granaries chiseled into the rock. Engineered with vaulted stone roofs and lime-coated interior walls, these silos protected grain from humidity and pest infestation, allowing the Rashtrakuta garrison to store food supplies for extended sieges.

Living Crafts: Traditional Marathwada Stone Carving

The artisan traditions established during the Rashtrakuta era continue to influence local stone-masons in Nanded district, who carve intricate basalt sculptures and architectural pillars for temples across Maharashtra and Telangana.

Military Engineering: The Triple Moat System & Drawbridges

Beyond the primary 100-foot-wide water moat, medieval engineers constructed outer defensive earthen dykes and retractable wooden drawbridges across the Manyad River approach. In times of siege, iron portcullises were lowered behind the Jinsi Darwaza, trapping enemy raiding parties within crossfire kill-zones.

Conservation Heritage: Protecting the Rashtrakuta Monumental Sculptures

The Maharashtra State Directorate of Archaeology conducts regular scientific conservation on the open-air sculpture gallery at Kandhar, applying specialized protective coatings to safeguard the 10th-century basalt carvings from monsoonal weathering and environmental wear.

Sculptural Iconography: The Rashtrakuta Chamunda & Bhairava Idols

The colossal monolithic idols of Chamunda and Bhairava displayed at Kandhar exhibit intricate details, including multi-tiered hair crowns (*Jata-Mukutas*), dynamic weapon-bearing arms, and ferocious guardian expressions designed to protect the imperial fortress city from spiritual and physical calamities.

Riverine Ecology: Wetland Biodiversity of Manyad Basin

The extensive moat and wetland fringes of Jagat Tung Sagar provide vital wintering habitat for migratory waterfowl, including painted storks, openbill storks, and purple moorhens that roost among the reeds surrounding the Rashtrakuta water fortress.

Frequently Asked Questions about Kandhar Fort

Rashtrakuta Emperor Krishna III & The Manyad Water Moat

Established as **Kandharapura** in the 10th century CE by Rashtrakuta Emperor **Krishna III** following his victorious southern campaigns against the Cholas at Takkolam, **Kandhar Fort** was engineered as an unassailable water citadel (*Jaldurg*). The fortress was encircled by a deep stone-revetted moat fed by the Manyad river channel.

Surviving inscriptions in Sanskrit and Kannada celebrate Kandhar as a royal intellectual center where classical scholars, Jain monks, and master sculptors created monumental stone masterworks before the fort passed successively to the Western Chalukyas, Yadavas, Bahmanis, and the Mughals.

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