Bhadra Fort - History

Bhadra Fort is located in Ahmedabad and was built in 1411AD by Sultan Ahmad Shah. The fort had many temples, mosques palaces, and other structures. The fort was named so because of the presence of Bhadra Kali temple built during the reign of the Marathas. It is also said that Sultan Ahmad Shah built the Bhadra gate for entering the fort and due to this, the fort is called Bhadra fort.

Bhadra Fort under Gujarat Sultanate

Ahmad Shah I built the Bhadra Fort after establishing Muzaffarid dynasty in Karnavati. He renamed the city as Ahmedabad. The fort is also known as Arak fort and is built on the banks of the Sabarmati River. The fort covers an area of around 43 acres.

Bhadra Fort under Mughals

Bhadra fort was governed by around 60 governors of Mughals. Later Mughal Emperors Jahangir, Shah Jahan, and Aurungzeb ruled Ahmedabad. A governor of Mughal Empire named Azam Khan built Azam Khan Sarai for travellers to take rest.

Bhadra Fort under Marathas

Peshwa and Gaekwad jointly ended Mughal rule and established Maratha Empire in 1583. The British defeated the Marathas in the war held between 1775 and 1782 but they gave back the fort after signing a treaty with the Marathas.

Bhadra Fort under British

The British captured the fort in 1817 and used the fort as a jail. The fort was under the British till independence