Palaces & Forts

Shahabad Fort

A massive, remote hill fort deep in the forests of Baran district

🗺 Hadoti Region 📍 130 km from Kota ⭐ Remote forest hill fort with the giant Nau Gaz cannon

Hidden in the wooded hills of the Baran district, Shahabad Fort is one of the most formidable and least-visited strongholds in the whole of Hadoti. Built on a high, rocky hill and protected by thick forest, deep ravines and stout walls, it was long considered one of the most impregnable forts in the region.

Within its ramparts survive palaces, temples, mosques, cannons, granaries and great water tanks, along with the famous Nau Gaz Cannon. The remoteness that once made it so defensible now gives it a wonderfully wild, undiscovered atmosphere, and the forest setting means wildlife is often about.

Shahabad is a fort for the adventurous traveller. It is a long haul from the city, but for those seeking offbeat Hadoti tourism and dramatic, untouched history, it is among the most memorable day trips from Kota.

History of Shahabad Fort

Shahabad Fort was built in 1521 CE by Mukutmani Dev, a Chauhan chieftain, on a strategically commanding hill. Its strength and isolation made it a coveted possession, and over the centuries it passed through the hands of various powers, including the Mughals and later the Marathas.

The fort's arsenal, including the great Nau Gaz (nine-yard) cannon, and its extensive water works allowed it to withstand long sieges. It remains one of the best-preserved examples of a forest hill fort in the region.

Story & Legend

It is said that Shahabad was so strong that no enemy ever took it by direct assault, and that its Nau Gaz cannon could hurl a ball clear across the valley; folk still claim the fort could never be starved out because its hidden tanks held water enough for years.