Udgir Fort

The Udgir fort is different in some ways than many others in Maharashtra. Most of them are hill forts in the state that were built by the Marathas, and are located in different crags and corners of the Sahyadri range of mountains. But the Udgir fort is a land fort that is located in the Latur district of Maharashtra.

This land based fort has witnessed countless heroic battles between the Muslims and the Marathas in the past, culminating in a Battle Royale in 1761 when the army of the mighty Nizam of Hyderabad was routed by the Maratha warriors. Led by the great commander Sadashivrao Bhau, these brave soldiers defeated the Nizam. The famed “Treaty of Udgir” was signed in this fort. So it can be said that this fort has seen a lot in its long history. Sure enough, there is a lot of history in this place.

Incidentally, the name Udgir was derived from the Saint Udgir Baba whose Samadhi is located within the fort premises, 60 feet below the ground level.

This pre-Bahamani age solidly built fort is bounded by a 40 feet deep moat. There are several imperial edifices that include royal palaces, the Durbar halls and prayer rooms. Despite all the battle scars accumulated through the centuries, the fort is still in a reasonably good condition. It attracts many visitors all through the year. Local people also visit the fort to pay their respect to the Samadhi of Udgir Baba.

How to reach: You can approach the Udgir fort from Hyderabad and some other nearby cities. It is best to reach Latur city first. Latur is well connected by road and rail with all major cities of Maharashtra and so a visit to this historic fort should not pose a problem. There is a small airport as well. There are regular buses between Udgir and Latur. The fort is about an hour away.

Only basic accommodation is available at Udgir town. You won’t find good hotels near Udgir fort, resorts near Udgir fort, or cottages near Udgir fort. It is best to stay at Latur.