Akola Fort

Akola Fort (also called Asadgad) along with the Narnala and Akot Forts forms the major fortifications of the Akola district, Maharashtra.

Its earliest form of mud was made by one Akol Singh to protect the village. He saw a hare chasing a dog and considering this to be an auspicious sign, he built an earthen wall here to protect the village. Akola was heavily fortified in 1697 CE during the reign of Aurangzeb by Asad Khan, from whom the fort took its name (Asadgad).

In 1803, Arthur Wellesley camped here before proceeding to win the Battle of Argaon in the Second Anglo-Maratha War. The fortress was dismantled by the British Raj in about 1870.

It was reported in 1910 in a district gazetteer that the central part of the fort (the hawakhana) was used as a school. Akola Fort is notable in that it is bereft of any decorative embellishments.

There are several inscriptions on the fort. An inscription on the Dahi handa gate gives its date of construction as 1114 AH (1697 CE) deepak, 'during the reign of emperor Aurangzeb when Nawab Asad Khan was minister.' Another on the Fateh Buruj bastion has no exact date.

It too mentions the same minister but a different emperor (Shah Alam). One on the Eidgah contains texts and a statement that the building was finished by Khawja Abdul Latif in 1116 AH (1698 CE). On the Agarves gate an inscription in Marathi reads that Govind Appaji in 1843 CE constructed the fort. The latter statement contradicts all the other inscriptions.

Akola's oldest Shiva Temple, Raj Rajeshwar Temple is located inside the Akola Fort.

Getting There

Akola is well connected by road, railways and air to the rest of the country.

Akola Railway Junction lies on both the Mumbai-Bhusawal-Howrah rail line and the Kacheguda-Jaipur rail line. Buses as well as cab facilities are available from the railway station for further travel.

Akola has its own domestic airport known as the Akola Airport. The Airport is situated at a distance of about 7 km outside the main city on National Highway No. 6. Currently there are no scheduled airlines operating at Akola Airport.

Nagpur Airport is the nearest international airport which is located at a distance of about 250 km from Akola.

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