Located in the south eastern side of Warangal city in Telangana, and constructed on a hillock called Ekashila in the 13th century by King Ganapatideva and subsequently completed by his daughter Rani Rudrama, the Warangal Fort is one of the most impressive architectural monuments of Telangana, and a testimony to the glory and grandeur of the Kakatiya dynasty.
Known for their military efficiency, administrative skills, artistic patronage, and cultural diversity, the Kakatiya dynasty ruled over a large part of South India from the 12th to the 14th century, established Warangal as their capital city and built the massive fort in which they shifted from Hanamakonda, their earlier capital. Although now in ruins, the remains of the fort with its artistic motifs, sculptures and massive stonework, spreading over a huge area of 19 kilometres, and consisting of three layers of fortification, surrounded by a moat, is declared as a monument of national importance by the Archaeological survey of India, and is included in the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Warangal Fort has a long history behind it and its origin can be traced back to the reign of Prola II, a Kakatiya chief who ruled the region around Anumakomda, modern Hanamakonda, as an agent of the Kakatiya Chalukyas, and laid the foundation of the city and the fort in 1199 AD. After that, his son and successor, Rudradeva, also known as Prataparudra I, expanded and fortified the Warangal city, as well as the Warangal Fort, and also constructed the Swayambhu temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, in the fort complex.
Ganapatideva, the son and successor of Rudradeva, further expanded and embellished the city and the Warangal Fort, and also added four ornamental iconic gates at the four cardinal directions of the fort, known as Kakatiya Kala Thoranam, and regarded as the most recognisable features of the Fort.
However, Rudrama Devi, the daughter and successor of Ganapatideva, is considered as the most remarkable and illustrious ruler of the Kakatiya dynasty, who despite being a woman, successfully overcame several challenges and threats from her rivals and enemies with her courage and diplomacy. She was one of the few distinguished female rulers in the country, who proved herself as a valiant and visionary leader, and also patronised art and culture, and promoted social harmony and religious tolerance.
She was succeeded by her grandson, Prataparudra II, the last ruler of the Kakatiya dynasty, who had to face repeated invasions and attacks from the Delhi Sultanate, led by Malik Kafur, one of the prominent generals of Alauddin Khalji. Finally, he was defeated and captured by Muhammad bin Tughlaq, the eighteenth Sultan of Delhi, in 1323 AD, which marked the end of the Kakatiya rule and the beginning of the decline and the consequent destruction of the Warangal Fort.
Unfortunately, apart from its four ornamental gates, the Warangal Fort, which was once equipped with three layered fortification with three circular walls, surrounded by a moat of about 150 feet wide, serving as the outer limits of the fort, has now become an archaeological zone. The zone contains several ruins, 45 towers and some pillars, wall slabs, motifs depicting animal forms and amazingly carved sculptures in black basalt on ornamental doorways, scattered all over the area, along with the ruins of the Swayambhu temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva. However, the image of the deity has been shifted to a separate shrine, located towards the southern side of the area. Nevertheless, the four iconic gateways of the fort, carved out of single rocks and consisting of four pillars, which were constructed by Ganapatideva, are still standing tall around 30 feet, and guarding the archaeological zone. Apart from that, there is a big water tank, located in the southern complex of the archaeological zone, which contains a distinctive natural rock formation, protruding above the water surface, and known as Orugallu, which means a single rock in the Telegu language, while Kush Mahal, a public hall built in the 14th century by the Delhi Sultans, is situated within 490 feet (150 m) of the zone.