The moat built around Lohagarh was its biggest feature. (Photo Credits: Wikipedia)
Earlier Mughals Captured many princely states of the country. robbed them Then the British enslaved the country. But in Rajasthan Lohagad Fort In his case, one of them could not work. This fort faced 13 attacks, but did not allow the enemy to win. Lohagarh was built in 1733 by Maharaja Suraj Mal. It took 8 years for its construction. In these 8 years, it was prepared in such a way that it becomes impossible for the enemy to distinguish it.
Historian James Tod writes about this that Maharaja Surajmal used a special type of material along with clay to build the Lohagarh fort. Clay, lime, straw and cow dung were used to prepare this invincible fort. This was the reason that when the enemy used to throw shells in the wall made of such mortar, the shells used to get stuck in the walls. Bullets had no effect on them.
60 feet deep moat around the fort
While building this fort, such a strategy was made that how the enemies who captured it could be defeated. A moat was made around the fort. It was 100 feet wide, so that it would be difficult for the enemy to cross it. Not only this, the ditch was made 60 feet deep. In this, arrangements were made to fill the water of Moti Jheel and Sujan Ganga Canal. Crocodiles were released in the canal made in the ditch.
Maharaja Surajmal purposely prepared such an array of the palace. It is said that whenever the conditions of attack were created and food was stopped for the crocodile, because when the enemies used to enter it to attack, the crocodile used to make them a morsel.
Even if an enemy reached by crossing the moat, it was difficult to climb the wall. The soldiers sitting alert on the top of the palace used to attack the enemy and make him fall.
Photo Credit: TripWiki
Mughals and British attacked 13 times
To demolish Lohagarh, the British and the Mughals attacked it 13 times. The British surrounded the fort by preparing a large army four times to attack here but failed. According to historians, British General Lark Lake attacked in 1805, but during this 3 thousand of his soldiers died. Seeing the death of such a large number of soldiers, their morale dropped so much that they could not muster the courage to attack again.After losing courage, Lord reached to the Maharaja and asked for a compromise.
There are many types of gates in Lohagarh fort. It has been given different names. Like- Atal Bandh Gate, and Neemda Gate. Now it is a national monument. It has become weak due to lack of maintenance. However, no fee has to be paid to go to it.
Also read: Why did smoke come out day and night from the treasury of the Mughals? this is the full story
