Barabati Fort Cuttack

Calling out all the history buffs, here is something to fill your hearts with an experience like before - Barabati Fort in Cuttack, Odisha. Impressively built by the Ganga dynasty, Barabati Fort is located on the banks of Mahanadi River. Said to be once a nine-storey massive construction, this ruined fort is spreading over a rambling area of 102 acres of land and is one of the popular tourist attraction in Cuttack. Along with that, the fort also has a 20-yard wide moat that surrounds the castle. The present site of the fort includes the ruins of the palace on the moat, earthen mound, and the gate. As per the experts, it is said that the construction of the fort was started in 989 AD by the King Marakata Kesari. However, it is also said that he just built a stone wall to prevent the city from the destruction of floods. It was Mukunda Dev Harichandan - a Chalukya King, who built the nine-storey palace in the 14 century.

Today, this ancient site is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Excavations are also carried out at the site which discovered that originally the fort was rectangular in shape which was encircled by a wall made of sandstone and laterite. Moreover, in the recent times, a number of idols of deities and dancing women have been excavated from this historical site. For tourists, the temple complex includes a Ganga Temple, palaces, moat, watchtowers, and more such enthralling attractions. Evidently, Barabati Fort is the best place of tourist interest in Cuttack for all those who wish to travel back in time through historical sites. There is also a Barabati Stadium right next to the fort where tourist can also visit.