Fort William

Fort William Latest News

Fort William in Kolkata, the headquarters of the Eastern Army Command, has been renamed Vijay Durg recently.

About Fort William

• Fort William was built by the British in 1773 and was named after King William III of England.
• It is located on the eastern bank of the river Hooghly in Kolkata, West Bengal.
• Today, Fort William is the property of the Indian Army. It also serves as the headquarters of the Eastern Command. 

Fort William History

• The original fort was built by the English East India Company in 1696.
• Initially,it comprised wings and an inner bastion where prisoners were hauled, which is why it was known as ‘theblack hole of Calcutta’. 
• In 1756, Siraj-ud-Daulah, the Nawab of Bengal, attacked the fort and captured Calcutta. 
• After the fall of Siraj-ud-Daulah in the Battle of Plassey, the fort was demolished, after which, Robert Clive began constructing a new fort.
• The fort was completed in 1773 and stands as present-day Fort William.

Fort William Architecture

• The fort is octagonal in shape and has an imposing structure made out of brick and mortar. 
• It is spread over 70.9 acres and is embellished with hundreds of arched windows that overlook lush green gardens. 
• Meticulous stonework adorns the surface of the building.

Fort William FAQs

Q1. What is Fort William known as?

Ans. Fort William is also known as the Fort William Military Complex and is often referred to as “The Citadel of Calcutta”.

Q2. What is the importance of Fort William?

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Ans. Fort William was an important historical landmark in the Kolkata district of West Bengal named after King William III, situated on the banks of the river Hooghly.

Q3. Who established Fort William in India?

Ans. The original structure of Fort William was built in 1696 CE by the British East India Company on the banks of the river Hoogly.

Source: TH