Ita Fort is in Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh.
Now, don’t let the name fool you, this fort ain’t made of pasta (although that would have been pretty cool). The name actually means “Fort of bricks” in the local lingo (which is quite fitting, if you ask me). And, let me tell you, the brickwork on this fort – a 16,200 cubic metres of bricks, to be exact! And, get this, it’s believed to have been built by the Chutia kings in the 14th or 15th century.
But, wait, there’s more! This fort isn’t just any old fort, oh no. It’s got three entrances on three different sides, making it the ultimate fort for those of us who can never make up our minds about which door to go through.
Plus, it’s got some serious history behind it – it’s thought to have been one of the first forts built by the Chutia king Ratnadhwajpal all around his kingdom.
In 1941, a political officer claimed that this fort was the capital of Ramachandra/Mayamatta Mayapur. But, turns out that might not be the case. According to an Assamese chronicle, Ramachandra’s actual capital was in Pratappura. And, while we’re on the topic of Pratappura, it’s worth mentioning that the Ita Fort might not have had anything to do with the Arimatta line of kings.
So, there you have it folks, a history lesson and a fort all rolled into one. Who said learning couldn’t be fun? See you at the Ita Fort!