PM Modi Celebrates Bundelkhand's Kalinjar Fort

• 29 Jul 2025

Why in News? 

In the 124th edition of his Mann Ki Baat address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the historical importance of Bundelkhand’s Kalinjar Forts, calling them symbols of cultural pride and resilience.  

• The Prime Minister urged citizens to explore these forts to connect with India’s rich past and help boost tourism in the Bundelkhand region. 

Key Points 

• Kalinjar Fort: Bundelkhand's Kalinjar Fort is located in Tarahati, Banda district, Uttar Pradesh. The Fort is a historical monument perched atop a hill in the Vindhya Range.  
  • It holds great cultural and historical value, combining features of both giri durga (hill fort) and vana durga (jungle fort). 
• Architecture: 
  • The fort features seven gateways (e.g., Alamgiri Gate, Ganesh Gate) and significant structures like Neelkanth Temple and Qanati Mosque. 
  • It has Bundela architecture with palaces, temples, and water tanks. 
  • Famous structures include the Neelkanth Temple with its massive Kal Bhairav sculpture, Rani Mahal, Venkat Bihari Mahal, and Sher Shah's Tomb (his mortal remains were later brought to Sasaram, Bihar). 
• Defensive Strength: The fort’s 45-meter-high ramparts made it virtually impregnable, surviving artillery attacks such as cannonballs that bounced off its walls. 

Historical Legacy of Kalinjar Fort 

• The fort has been associated with various dynasties such as the Guptas, Gurjara-Pratiharas, Chandelas, and Mughals. 
  • Mahmud of Ghazni (A.D. 1023): Mahmud of Ghazni attempted to Siege Kalinjar but failed to breach its defenses. After an unsuccessful siege, the Chandela Raja Ganda Deva offered peace by presenting complimentary verses, and the fort was eventually surrendered without a complete conquest. 
  • Qutubuddin Aibek (Early 13th century): After the rise of the Delhi Sultanate, Qutubuddin Aibek, a general of Muhammad Ghori, captured Kalinjar Fort, marking a significant shift in its control to Muslim rulers. 
  • Sher Shah Suri (1545): Sher Shah Suri died in an accidental gunpowder explosion during the siege of Kalinjar fort on 13th May 1545. 
  • Mughals (1569): Kalinjar was captured by the Mughals under Akbar in 1569 after Sher Shah’s death. Raja Birbal (one of Akbar's Navratnas), was granted the fort as a jagir. 
  • British (1812-1817): The British took control of Kalinjar after it was surrendered by the local ruler Daryau Singh in 1812 following a siege by Colonel Martindell.  
    • In the 1857 Uprising, the fort’s strong defenses were instrumental in withstanding the revolt, but it was eventually dismantled in 1866.