Kuchesar Mud Fort – A Picnic

Malvi

It was a day when we re-lived our childhood days of going on a picnic with outdoor games, food, a long drive and happy banter with friend and family. With an outdoor excursion in mind I searched the net for a place at driving distance from Delhi for  same day return. I came across this quaint Mud Fort in Bulandshahar, UP around 80-90 kms from Delhi, which had been converted into a resort with facilities available for a stay as well as a day tour. We decided to drive there on a Saturday with friends and family.

One has to pre-book even for a day tour online and an advance can be paid through credit card to book your visit. It took us around two hours to reach the fort even though we started a bit late from the time we had decided. The fort is tucked away from the highway with a narrow approach road which opens up into a broad road lined by sugarcane fields. The Fort is seven km off highway NH 24 between Hapur and Garhmukteshwar, 

Kuchesar Mud Fort

At the entry the booking details have to be confirmed and then you can go inside the gates into the sweeping driveway where there is adequate parking facility. The Gardens in front of the main entry of the fort are well kempt and also have a small swimming pool in tow. All needs for recreation have been looked into with a badminton court, Table tennis room, caroom and other board games are available.

For people wanting to stay there for a day or two there are well refurbished rooms with historic names with the walls showcasing the history of the Fort. The main entry after the welcome desk opens into a courtyard with the Dining hall at one end the rooms on two floors at the other.

As we had started early, we first thronged the Dining Hall and had some breakfast then embarked on our exploration of the fort.

A short tour of the place brings you a vivid picture of the history of the Fort which was brought into the Ajit Singh family’s possession in the eighteenth century when the Mughal king Najib-ud-Daula bestowed the Jat family with the title of Rao Bhahadur and the Jagir of Kuchesar comprised 365 villages. The Fort was however, lost in 1760s but was recaptured by the Jat rulers in 1780s and remained in the family since then and was granted lease by the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam in 1790 and then by the British in 1807. This fort was built with seven turrets as an anti cannon attack from Britishers. Thereafter, structures were added to the fort which reveals different architectural influences built in different phases.

My mom, my friends Sunandita & Hamari and I had few interesting games of carom and also played TT a bit. With the weather turning into a pleasant one we thought some outdoor games would be good so we played football (which we had brought along with us) and also cricket which my hubby enjoyed a lot and relived his childhood street cricket days. Even my mum was game and played cricket n football with us in the well kept front gardens of the Fort.

It was a fun day which all of us enjoyed and it immensely reduced our job stress as well. The games provided us a good workout after which we relaxed and cooled our feet in the swimming pool.

However, the service and food preparation are a bit slow and you should be prepared to wait a while if you are hungry. After a hearty lunch we relaxed under a large banyan tree which also had a rope swing. 

As a bout of laziness hit us, Sunandita suggested we play ‘Atlas’ -it is an ‘antakshri’ of country names. An amusing group game which also gave are brains a little exercise. We all were reluctant to get up from our cane chairs and leave the fort at the end of the day but as a long drive was ahead us, we decided to call it a day and settled our bills. 

As we drove off saying goodbye to the Fort, I remembered an old song….’mein Zindagi ka Saath  Nibhata Chala gaya, Har fikre ko Dhuai mein Udata chala gaya’ !!