In a first, R-Day fete in ninth century Kowlas Fort built by Rashtrakutas to revive neglected heritage

HYDERABAD: For the first time in Independent India, Republic Day celebrations will be held at the premises of Kowlas Fort in Jukkal mandal of Kamareddy district. Jukkal MLA Laxmi Kantha Rao had come up with the initiative to revive the neglected piece of Telangana's heritage.

After all, history is repository of culture.

Earlier this month, Tourism Minister Jupally Krishna Rao had visited the fort and asked the district collector and officials concerned to formulate proposals to rejuvenate and safeguard the fort's unique structures.

Sitting at the crossroads of Telangana, Maharashtra, and Karnataka, Kowlas Fort is a living testament to time, dating back to the ninth century. Constructed by the Rashtrakutas, the fort bore witness to the rise and fall of successive rulers – Kakatiyas, Bahamanis, Qutb Shahis, Naikwaries, Mughals, Marathas and Asaf Jahis. Each dynasty left an indelible mark on the fort's storied landscape.

Laxmi Kantha Rao had expressed willingness to collaborate with private entities to promote heritage and said that neglect of the fort by previous Governments would end now.

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"Kowlas Fort was once a treasure of history and now just grazed upon. There is urgent need to restore its neglected walls," said 28-year-old Ravi from Koulas village.

Spanning approximately one kilometer in length and seven hundred meters in width, Kowlas Fort covers an expansive 6 sq km. Constructed in the semi-Dravidian style at an altitude of about 1,100 ft, the fort is complemented by a natural moat – a stream, showcasing the strategic brilliance of its builders.

Through the corridors of time, the fort found itself under the rule of Raja Gopal Singh Gour and his successors until 1947. The fort boasts the illustrious Jagdamba Bhawani cannon, crafted in 1728 by Raja Gopal Singh – the largest of its time. Five more cannons stand as silent sentinels within the fort's walls, contributing to its historical significance.

Despite a tourism circuit proposal introduced in 2016, the fort remained neglected without essential development funds.

A family's plea for revival

Anoop Kumar Singh, senior lawyer and descendant of Raja Gopal Singh Gour, expressed gratitude to the State Government's decision to revive the fort.

"In 2004, J Kedareshwari, the then director of Archeology and Museums, Hyderabad, sent a proposal to the Central Government seeking funds for the development of the fort. But the proposals were sidelined," said Singh.

His brother, Retired Col Ajith Kumar Singh Gaur, consistently appealed to legislators and officials for the protection and revival of this historic gem.

As the journey to revive Kowlas Fort unfolds, it echoes not only with the footsteps of those who shaped its history but also with the collective determination to ensure its legacy endures for generations to come. The fort, once a neglected relic, now stands on the precipice of transformation, ready to reclaim its place in the narrative of India's rich cultural tapestry.