The Fort of Kalinjar
" ABODE OF LORD SHIVA.... ". - Kurma Purana
" Whoever bathes in the lake of the gods in Kalanjar acquires the same merit as if he had made a gift of 1000 cows. ". - Mahabharata
" One of the nine holy places in Northern India. (Renuka, Sukara, Kasi, Kali, Kala, Bateswarah, Kalanjara, Mahakala, Ukhala nava Kirttnah) ". - Padma Purana
"The fort of Kalinjar which was celebrated throughout the world for being as strong as the wall of Alexander.". - Sir Alexander Cunningham, 1969 P25
" Koti-Tirth: Leprosy place of pilgrimage, where lepers are cured by bathing. ". - Old Saying.
"Kalinar fort was unparalleled in the whole of Hindustan for strength". - Nizamuddin
Kalinjar means The destroyer of time in Sanskrit. 'Kal' is time and 'jar' destruction. Legend says that after manthan Hindu God, Lord Shiva, drank the poison and his throat became blue (hence the name Neel (blue) Kantha (throat)) and he came to Kalinjar and overcome the 'Kal' i.e. he achieved victory over death. This is the reason the Shiva temple at Kalinjar is called Neelkanth.
Since then, the hill has been considered a holy site, casting its shadow across the patches of grasslands as well as the densely forested valley. The natural splendor of the surroundings makes it an ideal place for penance and meditation and, surprisingly, a strange mystique still pervades all over the hill.
The term "Kalinjar" (as "Kalanjara") appears in ancient Hindu mythology, but the exact origins of the fort itself are uncertain. According to the 16th century Persian historian Firishta, the town of Kalinjar was established by one Kedar Raja in 7th century. The fort came to prominence during the Chandela rule. According to Chandela-era legends, the fort was built by a Chandela ruler.[1] The Chandela rulers used the title Kalanjaradhipati ("Lord of Kalanjara"), which shows the importance they attached to the fort.
Its historical background is replete with numerous battles and invasions. The Hindu princes of different dynasties as well as the Muslim rulers fought hard to conquer it and the fort continued to pass from one ruler to another. But, except for the Chandelas, no other ruler could reign over it for long.
In 1023 Mahmud of Ghazni attacked and received a tribute from Kalinjar, Mughal invader Babur was the only commander in history to have captured the fort in 1526 when driving away Raja Hasan Khan Mewattpati. It was also the place where Sher Shah Suri met his death in 1545 when he was killed either in the fort or nearby on the grounds. Kalinjar played a prominent part in history down to the time of the Revolt of 1857, when it was held by a small British garrison. Both the fort and the town, which stands at the foot of the hill, are of interest to the antiquary on account of the remains of temples, sculptures, inscriptions and caves.
The fort was first visited by Cap. W. R. Pogson and in 1828 A.D., he wrote about Nīlkaṇṭha temple in his book ‘A History of The Boondelas’.
He also wrote about ‘Kāliñjara Mahātmya’ in this book. It was then visited by Maisey in 1848 A.D. and he described the antiquities of whole Kāliñjara fort including this temple in detail. After Maisey, Cunningham visited the fort and wrote about the antiquities found in this temple. Later, Fuhrer described the antiquities of this place. Krishna Dev also visited this place. Then in 1976 A.D. Krishna Kumar documented all the antiquities of the fort but did not publish any exclusive account of this temple. After this Sushil Kumar Sullere visited this place and described the antiquities in detail.
Here you can see The Fort of Orcha
Here you can see The Fort of Orcha
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