Kuchesar Fort

Kuchesar Fort, (alternatively known as Mud Fort Kuchesar, or simply as the Mud Fort) is located in Kuchesar, Uttar Pradesh, India, approximately 84.3 kilometres (52.4 miles) east of Delhi. The fort was built in 1734 by the rulers of Kuchesar as an opium trading post. Several royal heirs inhabited Kuchesar Fort to enhance their profits, which increased the trading post's popularity. Eventually, government officials closed down the fort due to a significant number of deaths and illnesses. In 1790, the fort was given to the Singh family on a perpetual lease by Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II.

In 1994, the fort was restored and turned into a hotel known as the Mud Fort Kuchesar[1] or Rao Raj Vilas,[2] and has become a popular tourist attraction for the city. The hotel preserves the fort's mid-18th century influences and reflects the vibrant mix of cultures.

Description

The main palace was built on top of a large bastion. Although it was restored, the fort retains much of its original 18th-century architecture, with the addition of seven turrets made during the British era. It is located in the Ganges River basin, 24 kilometres away from the banks of the river.[3]

History

Kuchesar Fort was built in 1734 by the rulers of Kuchesar[4], belonging to the Dalal clan of the Jat people. The fort was captured in 1764 but was reclaimed by the Jaat rulers in 1782. When the Pashtun Najib ad-Dawlah bestowed the Jat family with the title of Rao Bahadur, the fort served as the seat of the estates for the Jat Kingdom of Uttar Pradesh[5] during the Mughal Empire. After the decline of the Empire, the Jat people competed with Marathas, Rohillas, French colonists, traders, explorers, and the British East India Company for control of the area. In 1790, the fort was granted to Ajit Singh's family on a perpetual lease by Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II. This grant was confirmed by the British in 1807. Kuchesar Fort was also a Center for the Rai Brahmins or Bhatts, a branch of the Kashmiri Brahmins. They were the Rajkavi of Kuchesar State, performing a role similar to that of a poet laureate.

Restoration and present-day operations

Over time, Kuchesar's surrounding foliage became difficult to manage and local residents began an effort to clean it up. In 1994, Neemrana Hotels restored the fort and transformed it into a heritage-style hotel known as Mud Fort Kuchesar or Rao Raj Vilas. The restoration project included the design and addition of a new dining hall, swimming pool and residential units for families, the balconies of which bear a resemblance to Mughal architecture with their arches and lattice edges.[6] Mud Fort Kuchesar has also become a popular tourist attraction for the city. Scenes from the 2017 Indian film The Hungry, starring Naseeruddin Shah and Tisca Chopra, were filmed there.[7]

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References
  1. "Mud Fort Kuchesar". mudfortkuchesar.com. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  2. "History of Kuchesar's Jat Rulers". kuchesarfort.com. Archived from the original on 15 February 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  3. https://www.mudfortkuchesar.com/
  4. "Mud Fort | District Bulandshahr, Government of Uttar Pradesh | India". Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  5. "Kingdoms of South Asia - Minor Indian Kingdoms of the Jats". historyfiles.co.uk. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  6. "Kuchesar Mud Fort, as a Heritage Hotel". worldarchitecture.org. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
  7. "India's women directors make a mark at Toronto film fest". hindustantimes.com. Retrieved 17 September 2017.

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