Akola Fort

Akola Fort, also known as Asadgad or Korbandh Fort, is a historic riverside fortification located in Akola city, Maharashtra, near the Morna River. Originally constructed in mud and later rebuilt in stone in 1697 CE by Asad Khan during Aurangzeb's reign, it served as a key military stronghold in the Berar region. The site was partially dismantled by the British around 1870 and currently exists in a dilapidated condition with remaining walls, bastions, and inscriptions reflecting its multi-period history.

Visitors can expect to see the ruins of a historic fort including surviving stone walls, bastions like Fateh Buruj, and unique triangular staircases. The site contains historical inscriptions dating to the late 17th century and offers views of the Morna River and Akola city. The fort is largely neglected and dilapidated, with limited maintained structures, and visitors may encounter encroachments and lack of visitor facilities within the premises.

Originally built as an earthen fortification called Korbandh, it was significantly rebuilt in stone in 1697 CE by Mughal noble Asad Khan under Aurangzeb, after whom it was renamed Asadgad. In 1803, Arthur Wellesley camped at the fort before the Battle of Argaon during the Second Anglo-Maratha War. The British Raj dismantled much of the fortress around 1870 to prevent future military use, and by 1910 the central hawakhana was being used as a school.

The fort is historically linked to the adjacent Raj Rajeshwar Temple, one of Akola's oldest Shiva temples, which the original Korbandh fortification was built to protect. Local folklore associates the site with Raja Akolsingh and his queen, and the temple remains a center for religious festivals including Shravan month celebrations where devotees carry water to the Shiva linga.