THE HISTORICAL BARABATI FORT IN CUTTACK (ODISHA), INDIA

 THE HISTORICAL BARABATI FORT IN CUTTACK (ODISHA), INDIA 

The Barabati Fort ::-  The Fort Of Barabati, Situated In The City Of Cuttack Of Present Day Odisha., Is One Such Historic Structure Reflecting The Glory Of A Bygone Era. The State Of Odisha, Also Known As Kalinga, Utkala Or Odra In The Past, Has Been Ruled Over By Several Dynasties Of Note Such As the Gangas, Gajapatis, Bhois, Mughals And Marathas. The Architectural Heritage Left Behind By These Powers Is Rich And Varied. 

The History Of Barabati Is Intricately Interwoven With The History Of The City Of Cuttack It Self. The Term Cuttack Is The Anglicized Version Of The Indigenous Work Kataka Which Means A Military Cantonment Or A Capital City. Cuttack Is Strategically Located Between The Mahanadi And Kathajadi Rivers. It Is Said That Kataka Lay On The Cross Roads Of Two Historic Trade Routes, Which Added To The Economic Significance And The Affluence Of The Region. The City Acquired Political Importance From The 10th Century Onwards When The Somavanshi Dynasty Developed It As A Military Cantonment. King Anantavarman Chodaganga Overthrow The Somavanshi In The 12th Century And Laid The Foundations Of The Eastern Ganga Dynasty And Established His Capital At Kataka. 

History Believe That Is Was Raja Anangabhim Deva III, Of The Eastern Gangas Who Built The Fort Of Barabati In The Beginning Of The 13th Century. The Fort Emerged As The Imperial Centre Of The Eastern Gangas Who Reigned Over This Politically Significant As Well As Economically Prosperous Region. After The Gangas, The Fort Come Under The Occupation Of Several Prominent Powers Such As The Afgan Rules Of Bengal, The Mughals, The Marathas And Finally The British. 

The Politically importance Of The Fortress Continued Well Into The Early Modern Period After Which It Suffered Neglect And Decay Under The British. The Barabati Fort Today Physically Remains Only As A Mere Shadow Of Its Glorious Past. The Standing Structure Presently Includes An Arched Gateway, A Moat, A Central Mound With Architecture Remains And A Moat. The Battle Of Buxar In 1764, The English Received The Dewani Or Revenue Rights Of Bengal, Bihar And Odisha. 

The English Were, How Ever Not Satisfied And Desired The Complex Annexation Of This Region To Their Dominions In India. They Finally Captured The Region By The Beginning Of The 19th Century In 1803 On English Army Under Colonel Harcourt Stormed Into The Barabati Fort And Defeated The Maratha Forces. The Physical Structure Of The Foot Of Barabati Today Lies In Ruins. How Ever The Ravages Of Time Have Not Been Able To Diminish The Glory Of The Heritage That Lies Entrenched In Its Bosom, The Proud Legacy Of Barabati Is Very Much Alive And Secure In The Hearts Of The People Of Odisha. 

How To Go :: - To Reach This Place You Can Get Many Buses, Taxis, And Any Private Vehicles From Its Major City Cuttack. Nearest Railway Station Is Cuttack Junction And Nearest Airport Bhubaneswar Capital Of Odisha State.