Laling fort
| Laling Qila | |
|---|---|
| Laling, Dhule | |
|
Laling fort seen from a distance | |
  Laling Qila | |
| Coordinates | 20°48′43″N 74°44′22″E / 20.812°N 74.7395°E |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Govt. of India |
| Open to the public | yes |
| Condition | dilapidated |
| Site history | |
| Materials | Stone, Lime and Lead |
| Events | Massacare of Asa Ahir by Nasir Khan |
| Garrison information | |
| Occupants | Ahirs, Faruqis, Holkars, British |
Laling Qila (Marathi: लळिंग क़िल्ला, Hindi: लालिंग क़िला) is a small fort (qila) situated in the present day Dhule district of Maharashtra state in India. The fort is situated on top of Laling hill about 9.65 km (6.00 mi) south of Dhule city. It was one of the important forts in the Khandesh region during the time of the Faruqi Kings.
History
It is a place of considerable antiquity and the fort is supposed to have been built during the reign of the first of the Faruqi Kings. The fact that this fort and not that of Thalner was granted by Malik Raja (1370-1399) to his eldest son would show that Laling was his chief fort. It was in this fort that Nasir Khan and his son Miran Adil Khan were besieged in 1437 by the Bahamani general till they were relieved by an army advancing from Gujarat. Early in the seventeenth century it is mentioned more than once in connection with the movements of the Mughal troop's Deccan campaigns [Ellior, VII, 35, 102.]. In 1862, the fort is described, as strongly situated with very few defences left.This fort was on the historical Surat-Burhanpur commercial road.
Present condition
Around the fort is a small village called as Laling village with 1,549 inhabitants in 1961. Laling besides the fort has two Hemadpanthi temples in dilapidated condition. There is also a mined hemadpanti well. Presently the fort is in a ruined and collapsed state. It offers a panoramic view of Dhule city.There is a Lilitamata temple at the top of the Fort. There are several rock cut water cisterns on the fort. The escape gate is on the southern side of the gate which leads to a semicircular dam with a Chatri nearby.
How to reach
The Laling village is located 9.65 km from the Dhule city on a busy Mumbai-Agra NH3 Highway.The path from the old hemadpanti temple leads to the fort. After climbing halfway there are steps to climb up the fort. The climbing is very easy and gentle.
References
- "Laling fort". Government of Maharashtra.
