Daulatabad Fort:
The Climb, The Tunnels & The View

Daulatabad is one of those places that grows larger the more you know about it. On first glance it is a rocky hill rising from the flat Deccan plateau, topped with battlements and a visible cannon. On second glance, you realise the hill is entirely artificial at the base — the natural rock cone sits atop a manmade platform ringed with a moat that was kept stocked with crocodiles. On third glance, you learn that in 1327 AD the Sultan Muhammad bin Tughluq forced the entire population of Delhi — roughly half a million people — to march 1,500 km south to this hill, which he intended to make the new capital of his empire. Around 50,000 people died on the march. The project was abandoned a decade later and the population was marched back. The fort, though, was never taken.

History: the fort that humbled empires

The hill was first fortified by the Yadava dynasty in the 9th century CE as Devagiri — the Hill of the Gods. The Yadavas were the dominant power of the Deccan for three centuries, until Alauddin Khalji's forces captured the fort in 1294 in a famous siege. It then passed through Tughluq, Bahmani, Ahmadnagar Sultanate, Mughal, and finally Maratha hands before coming under British administration.

Each conquest layer is visible in the architecture: the original Yadava stonework at the core of the citadel, the Khalji-era reinforcements to the outer walls, the Mughal-era palace ruins on the upper slopes, the cannon foundry near the summit, and the Maratha-era cenotaphs on the outer grounds. No single power ever rebuilt it entirely — they all simply added to what existed. The result is a cross-section of 800 years of military architecture on a single hill.

The approach: outer gates and the moat

After buying your ticket at the outer booth, you walk through a series of five concentric defensive walls before reaching the hill itself. Each gate was designed to force attackers into a narrowing corridor where they could be attacked from all sides. Look for the elephant trap — a concealed pit near the second gate — and the pointed iron spikes still embedded in the main gates, designed to stop war elephants charging the doors.

The original moat surrounding the rock outcrop is now dry but fully visible: a 15-metre-wide, 10-metre-deep channel cut directly into the bedrock. The sluice gate mechanism that controlled the crocodile-stocked water is still in place on the eastern side.

The Chand Minar

Before beginning the climb, look east from the outer courtyard to the Chand Minar — a 63-metre tower built in 1445 by Ala-ud-Din Bahmani to commemorate the capture of the fort. It is the second-tallest minaret in India after Qutb Minar and was originally covered in blue Persian tiles, faint traces of which are still visible on the upper courses. You cannot climb it (it has been closed to visitors since 2019), but it is worth spending ten minutes here before the main ascent.

The climb: three stages

Stage 1: The ramp to the base rock (20 min)

The path from the outer courtyard to the base of the rock cone is a paved walkway rising through the ruins of the lower palace complex. This section passes the Chini Mahal — the "China Palace," named for its glazed tile decoration — where Aurangzeb is said to have imprisoned the last Golconda Sultan for 13 years. The walls of the small room where the sultan was held are covered in crumbling frescoes. It is unlocked on request from the guard stationed at the base.

Stage 2: The dark tunnel passage (10 min)

This is the defining experience of Daulatabad. The only way from the base of the rock cone to the middle fortification is through a passage cut into the rock itself — and halfway through, the passage goes completely, absolutely dark. There are no lights installed. The tunnel narrows to shoulder-width and drops to head-height at one section. You feel your way with hands on the walls. Somewhere in the dark there is a right-angle turn, then a spiral staircase cut into the living rock that climbs steeply for about 30 steps.

"The darkness is the point. Any attacking force that made it past the moat, the five gates, the elephant traps, and the inner walls would then have to enter this tunnel, in full armour, in absolute darkness, not knowing where the defenders were or when the floor would drop away."

— Interpretation board, ASI Daulatabad

Vendors at the entrance sell small LED torches for ₹30–50. Carry yours switched on before you enter — you will not be able to find it in your bag in the dark. The tunnel smell is bats and damp stone. Groups slow down here; if you want to move at your own pace, enter just as a large group exits so you have a few minutes of relative solitude.

Stage 3: The upper citadel and summit (25 min)

After the tunnel, the path emerges into sunlight on the upper terrace and the hardest part of the climb begins: steep stone steps cut directly into the hillside, in some sections with no railing. The view opens up progressively as you climb — first the outer walls and the Chand Minar below, then the Ellora plateau to the northwest, then (on a clear winter day) the Sahyadri foothills to the west. At the summit, the Baradari — a twelve-pillared pavilion built by the Mughals — gives shade and a 360-degree panorama of the Marathwada plain that stretches to the horizon in every direction.

The large cannon at the summit — Mendha Toph, the Ram's Head cannon — was cast in the 17th century and is still in remarkably good condition. ASI has placed an information board beside it. The cannon was never fired in battle; its size and weight made it impossible to aim accurately, and it was maintained as a symbol of the fort's invincibility rather than a practical weapon.

Practical tips

• Start early: The climb faces west; morning light gives the best photography and the temperature is manageable until around 10 AM. By noon in summer (April–June) the exposed rock radiates severe heat.
• Wear closed shoes: The stone steps are uneven and some sections are smooth from centuries of foot traffic. Sandals are an injury risk.
• Take water: There are vendors at the base and partway up, but nothing at the summit. Carry at least 1 litre per person.
• Hire a guide at the entrance: The fort's history is dense and the ASI information boards, while present, are sparse in the tunnel section. A local guide (₹300–500 for a group) adds enormous value, particularly for the Chini Mahal and the tunnel stories.
• Allow 2.5–3 hours total: The climb can be done in 90 minutes if you rush, but the outer palace ruins, Chini Mahal, and summit pavilion deserve time.
• Not recommended for visitors with severe vertigo: The final approach to the summit has no safety barriers on the exposed side.

Combining Daulatabad with Ellora and Grishneshwar

Daulatabad is 15 km from the city and 11 km from Ellora — ideally positioned as the morning stop on an Ellora day trip. The classic route: Daulatabad Fort (8–11 AM) → Ellora Caves (11 AM–4 PM) → Grishneshwar Temple (4–5 PM). This fits comfortably in a single long day and the three sites are all on the same road (NH52). See our 3-day caves itinerary for the full plan with timings.

Best time to visit

The fort is open year-round but the experience varies considerably by season:

• October–February (best): Cool mornings, clear light, the plateau is green after monsoon. The climb is comfortable and the panorama sharp.
• March–May: The climb becomes an endurance test by 9 AM. Visit at dawn only.
• June–September (monsoon): The fort is dramatic in the rain and the green plateau is at its most beautiful. The tunnel is wetter and the steps slippery. Worth it for the atmosphere if you accept the conditions.

See also

• Daulatabad Fort — full visitor info page
• Ellora Caves — combine with Daulatabad
• Itineraries — day trip planning

Have a tip about the fort we haven't covered? Send it our way — we update this guide seasonally.