Kalinjar Fort

Kalinjar Fort rises about 1,203 feet above the Bundelkhand plains, one of eight great forts raised by the Chandela kings who also built the temples of nearby Khajuraho, though Kalinjar served war rather than worship. Its history reads like a chronicle of empires: in 1545, the Sur emperor Sher Shah Suri died here in an accidental gunpowder explosion while laying siege, an event that abruptly ended his reign, and the fort passed afterward through Mughal, Bundela and British hands. Its ramparts, gateways and rock-cut sculptures, including a weathered Neelkanth shrine, still carry the marks of every hand that held it.

One can also spot stone images of Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu, Shakti, Bhairava, Lord Ganesh and Bhairavi at the fort along with stone-carvings of birds, mithuna, apsaras and animals. Some places of interest present here include the Sita Sej which is a small cave with a stone bed and pillow which was used by the hermits once, the Gajantak Shiva image also famous as Manduk Bhairon carved on the surface of the rock and the Koti Tirth which is a vast water reservoir. The Neelkanth Temple which was constructed by Parmardideva is the holiest shrine of Kalinjar. The way to the shrine has inscriptions with amazing carved images of Shiva, Ganesha, Hanuman and Kala Bhairon.

The Kalinjar Fort is a must-visit place for all those who like to spend their time discovering the hidden secrets along amidst the architectural ruins of the oldest monument in the history of the country. One is likely to find the experience exhilarating and amazing.