From Devagiri to Daulatabad
Founded as Devagiri ("Hill of the Gods") by the Yadava dynasty in the 12th century, this fort was so well-positioned that in 1327 Sultan Muhammad bin Tughlaq tried to relocate the entire population of Delhi here — a famously catastrophic decision. The renamed Daulatabad ("Abode of Wealth") later passed through Bahmani, Mughal and Maratha hands.
The climb is roughly 750 steep steps to the summit, broken by gates, bastions, the elegant Chand Minar minaret, the open-mouth Mendha Top cannon, and — most memorably — a dark, bat-inhabited spiral passage where attackers were once smoked out.
Visitor information (2026)
| Open | Daily, 09:00 – 18:00. (Allow at least 3 hours.) |
|---|---|
| Entry fee | Indian citizens: ₹25 • Foreign nationals: ₹300 • Children under 15: free |
| Difficulty | Moderate to hard. Steep stairs, uneven stone, low-light tunnel. |
| Best time | October – February, early morning. Avoid the harsh midday Deccan sun. |
| Distance from city | ~15 km / 30 min — directly on the road to Ellora. |
⚠️ Honest fitness note
The full climb to the summit is genuinely strenuous and partly in the dark. If you're travelling with elderly relatives or small children, the lower courtyards and Chand Minar area alone are still very worthwhile and need only ~45 minutes of relatively gentle walking.
Pro tips
- Carry a small torch for the dark passage. Phone torches are workable but a real flashlight is much better.
- Hire a local guide at the base (₹400–₹600) — the fort's defensive design is genuinely fascinating once explained.
- Combine with Ellora (10 km further) for a fort-then-caves day, or pair with Grishneshwar.
- Wear proper shoes. Sandals and the bat passage do not mix.