Inscriptions of the Kalinjar Fort

Fort of Kalinjar is situated in the south-western corner of district Banda U.P. on the border of Madhya Pradesh on the latitude 24059’56” N and longitude 80028’55” E, at the top of the hill of same name. Kalinjar was always an important place of pilgrimage. The most important sacred shrines is of Nilkantha. The other important shrines are Kotitirth, Mrigdhara, Mandukya Bhairava, Siddha ki Gupha, Bhagwan Sej, Pani ka Aman, Panch Pandav @ Pandu Kund, Patal Ganga, Sitakund, Sitasej and Khambhaur. All these places bear a large number of inscriptions of pilgrims. A few Islamic shrines & mosques like Patthar Mahala mosque of Islam Shah, Sanichari Taal mosque, Shah Bahu’s tomb/ Khankhah, Shah Rashid’s tomb and Rathore Mahal mosque also bear Persian & Arabic inscriptions. These inscriptions provide very rich information about the rising and falling fortunes of Hindu & Muslim shrines.

The fort is located on the plateau which has a vertical scarp of about 40 feet all around. From the point of view of defense, the wall of about 30 feet has been raised at the edge of scarp or over-hanging rocks. The great height of the hill and the vertical scarp, sometimes with over-hanging rocks combined with the high rampart makes it impregnable. It can be approached from north along the existing stepped ascent of the fort. The other route is from southern side. It has a much steeper ascent from village Saraiyan to Panna @ Bansakhar gate. Another route goes from Panna gate to Badi Bakhari overlooking Sukhana Nala. This route went towards village Kauhari. Badi Bakhari is an abandoned settlement at some height above the Sukhana Nala just below Rani Tunga. The bullock-carts used to come to Panna gate from Kauhari side and up to Balkhandeshwar from Tarahati Kalinjar side. For giving the general topographical information about the fort and surroundings, an old revenue map dated 1877-78 (Fig. 01) and another labelled satellite map (Fig. 02) of Kalinjar fort is being given below. This is just for giving the reader a broad view of the fort and its surroundings. The detailed topographical maps will be given when we are describing different part of the fort.