Balapur Fort is a historic fort located in the town of Balapur in Akola district, Maharashtra. It’s an important cultural landmark and one of the prominent Mughal-era forts in the region.
Balapur Fort is a Mughal-era hill fort located in Balapur, Akola district, Maharashtra, India. Construction began in 1721 AD under Mirza Azam Shah, son of Emperor Aurangzeb, and was completed in 1757 AD by Ismail Khan, the Nawab of Ellichpur. Strategically situated at the confluence of the Man and Mhais rivers on elevated ground, the fort features strong brickwork, three successive gateways, and a unique polygonal design with a decagonal outer fort and pentagonal inner fort.
The fort remains in relatively good condition and is currently used for government offices. It houses a mosque, three wells, and the Bala Devi Temple at its southern base, after which the town is named. A notable architectural feature is the chhatri (pavilion) built by Mirza Raja Jai Singh, dedicated to Raja Man Singh I, measuring 25 square feet and standing 33 feet tall.
Despite damage from a major flood over a century ago ("dhvdya pur"), the structure was restored with funds from Jaipur. The fort is open to the public and stands as one of the most historically significant and well-preserved Mughal forts in the Vidarbha and Khandesh regions.
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