Laling fort
{{Short description|Indian Fortification}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox Military Structure
|name = Laling killa
|partof =
|location = Laling, Dhule
|image =300px
|caption = Laling fort seen from a distance
|map_type = India Maharashtra
|map_size = 300
|map_caption = Shown within Maharashtra
|type =
|coordinates = {{coord|20.812|74.7395|type:landmark|display=inline}}
|code =
|built =
|builder =
|materials = Stone, Lime and Lead
|height =
|used =
|demolished =
|condition = dilapidated
|ownership = Govt. of India
|open_to_public = yes
|controlledby =
|garrison =
|current_commander =
|commanders =
|occupants = Ahirs, Faruqis, Holkars, British
|battles =
|events = Massacre of Asa Ahir by Nasir Khan
|image2 =
|caption2 =
}}
Laling Killa is a small fort (killa) situated in the present day Dhule district of Maharashtra state in India. The fort is situated on top of Laling hill about {{convert|9.65|km|mi|abbr=on}} south of Dhule city. It was one of the important forts in the Khandesh region during the time of the Faruqi Kings.{{cite web |last1=Trekshitiz |title=Laling |url=http://trekshitiz.com/trekshitiz/Ei/Laling-Trek-Dhule-District.html |website=www.trekshitiz.com |publisher=TreKshitiZ |access-date=9 December 2019}}
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 has, besides the fort, 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 fort which leads to a semicircular dam with a chatri nearby.{{cite book |last1=Government of Maharashtra |title=Maharashtra Gazetteer Dhule district |date=25 December 2006 |publisher=Government of Maharashtra |location=Mumbai |url=https://gazetteers.maharashtra.gov.in/cultural.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/DHULIA/Home.html |access-date=9 December 2019}}
How to reach
The Laling Area is part of Dhule city, and it is located 16 km Western from the Dhule CBS on a busy Mumbai-Agra NH3 Highway. The path from the old hemadpanti temple in the base village leads to the fort. Recently steps are constructed to reach Laling fort.
Gallery
File:Laling fort.jpg|Top of the fort
File:Laling1.jpg|Lalita mata temple
File:Laling2.jpg|Dried pond
File:Laling3.jpg|Rock cut cisterns
References
{{Reflist}}
See also
{{Forts of Khandesh}}
{{Forts in Maharashtra}}
{{Forts in India}}
Category:Forts in Dhule district
Category:Tourist attractions in Dhule district
{{Dhule-geo-stub}}