Asigarh Fort
Asigarh Fort | |
---|---|
Location | Hansi, Haryana, India |
Coordinates | 29°6′19″N 75°57′47″E / 29.10528°N 75.96306°E |
Area | 30 acres (12 ha) |
Height | 52 feet |
Built | 11th century |
Built for | Anangpal Tomar |
Demolished | 1857 |
Restored | 1937 |
Restored by | Archaeological Survey of India |
Architectural style(s) | Hindu |
Governing body | Archaeological Survey of India |
Asigarh Fort, also called Hansi Fort, is located on the eastern bank of Amti lake in
Etymology
Asigarh the fort of swords, from Asi (sword) and garh (fort), as this was the centre of sword making from the ancient times of Hindu rulers.
There are several names used for the fort in different anecdotes, such as Asidurga, Asigarh, Asika, A-sika, Ansi, Hansi, etc.,
History
Earlier Fort
Hansi fort or Asigarh Fort has long history with little clarity about the earlier period. The excavation of ancient coins belong to the BCE period shows that there have been long history of settlements on the mound on which fort is built.[2]
Tomara- Builder and first rulers of present Asigarh Fort
As per British library, Hansi city is believed to have been founded by Tomara king Anangpal Tomar (Anangpal II), the Tomar king of Delhi. The son of King Anangpal Tomar, Drupad established a sword manufacturing factory in this fort, hence it is also called "Asigarh". Swords from this fort were exported as far away as to Arab countries. As per Talif-e-Tajkara-e-Hansi by Qazi Sharif Husain in 1915, around 80 forts across the area were controlled from this centre "Asigarh".[4]
The Tomar Empire during the reign of Anangpal II extended over various parts of
Multiple (three)
Chauhan Rajputs rule
According to the Bijolia inscription of Someshvara of Chauhan dynasty, his brother Vigraharaja IV had captured Dhillika (Delhi) and Ashika (Hansi). He probably defeated the Tomar king Anangapala III.[13] Additions were made to the fort by Prithviraj Chauhan in the 12th century.[2]
Muslim rule
In 1192, after the defeat of
Sikh and Maratha rule
In 1705, during the time of
British colonial rule
From 1798 to 1801, George Thomas, an Irish immigrant who rose from an ordinary sailor, usurped the area around Hansi and made Asigarh fort his capital.[16][17]
In 1803 after the
The fort was again built by
.In 1803 Hansi was also the headquarters of
Hansi took an active part in the Sepoy Mutiny (Gadar), Lala Hukam Chand Jain was martyred in 1857 by Britishers. [citation needed]
Fort details
The fort is said to be one of the most impregnable forts of
Main gate
The main gate has the beautiful carvings of birds, animals and Hindu deities.[21][1]
Baradari
Long pillared structure with a flat roof is situated on the top of the mound and is known as Baradari.[3]
Char Qutub Dargah
A mosque is also located inside the fort complex which was added after the defeat of Prithviraj Chauhan.[2]
Excavations
The ancient coins of the period before Christ were found here.
See also
- List of Monuments of National Importance in Haryana
- List of State Protected Monuments in Haryana
- Hansi hoard
References
- Barnett, Lionel (1999). Antiquities of India. Atlantic.
- Dilip Kumar Ganguly (1984). History and Historians in Ancient India. Abhinav. p. 117. ISBN 978-0-391-03250-7.
- Khan, Iqtidar Alam (2007). "Ganda Chandella". Historical Dictionary of Medieval India. Scarecrow Press.
- P. C. Roy (1980). The Coinage of Northern India. Abhinav. ISBN 9788170171225.
- ISBN 978-81-317-1120-0.
- ^ a b Planning a vacation? Here's why you should visit Hansi in Haryana or go trekking in Kemmanagundi, Economic Times, 3 Nov 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Gazetteer of Hisar" (PDF). Revenue Department, Government of Haryana. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 May 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
- ^ a b c d "History of Hisar". District Administration, Hisar. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
- ^ The fort at Hansi, the Union flag flying from the top
- ^ Tomars of Delhi by Harihar Niwas Dwivedi. Gwalior: Vidya Mandir Publications. 1983.
- ^ Tomars of Delhi by Harihar Niwas Dwivedi. Gwalior: Vidya Mandir Publications. 1983. p. 175.
- ISBN 978-8-17387-163-4.
- ^ Upinder Singh 2008, p. 570.
- ^ a b P. C. Roy 1980, pp. 93–94.
- ^ Barnett 1999, p. 74-78.
- ^ Khan 2007, p. 66.
- ^ a b Jaina Bronzes From Hansi, by Devendra Handa, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, 2002
- ^ Dilip Kumar Ganguly 1984, p. 117.
- ISBN 978-93-5128-513-7.
- ISBN 978-969-412-140-6.
- ^ Desi Irish Raja of Haryana, TIme of India newspaper, Jul-24-2016
- ^ Military memoirs of George Thomas, William_Francklin, 1805
- ^ Colonel James Skinner CB Archived 18 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine National Army Museum (British Army).
- ^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 25 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 192.
- ^ Singh, Jaswindar (1985). Kuka Movement: Freedom Struggle in Punjab, Documents, 1880-1903 A.D. New delhi: Atlantic Publishers. p. 217. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
- ^ a b पुरातत्व विभाग Rs.10 लाख से स्मारकों की करवाएगा वाशिंग और कोटिंग, किले के मुख्य द्वार पर काम शुरू, Dainik Bhaskar, 10 Dec 2018.
External links
- Field study and documentation Archived 2 June 2016 at the Wayback Machine by American Institute of Indian Studies in Jan-Feb 2010.
- Video: Asigarh Fort, 7.40m.
- 51-image online picture gallery of Asigarh fort taken by American Institute of Indian Studies in 2008 CE
- Online picture gallery of Indo-Islamic monuments of Haryana taken by American Institute of Indian Studies in 2008 CE
- Images of Asigarh Fort on ASI website