Information on Chaiturgarh Fort (Korba, Chhattisgarh) - History & Architecture

The fort located in the summit of the Mekaal Mountains, is the Chaiturgarh Fort. It is present in Korba-Bilaspur road, in Korba district, Chhattisgarh. The Chaiturgarh Fort is also popularly known as the Lafagarh fort, and this fort is positioned in about 19 kilometer, and is at the height of 3060 feet. The strong walls surrounding the boundaries are for the defense of the fort, and therefore it is considered as one of the strongest forts of all the forts. This fort stands with the three entrance gate, which are as; Menaka, Humkara, and Simhadwar.

Chaiturgarh Fort Architecture

The Chaiturgarh or Lafagat fort, has the formation of the natural wall surrounding, though most of the part of the fort's wall is uneven and not uniform. The entrance door of the fort has been decorated with the sculptures and t6he huge pillars, which are its architectural magnificence. To the foremost entrance of the fort, there is a small temple located which is manufactured in the dedication to Goddess Durga, and is named as Mahishasur Mardini. The temple with a sculpture of Mahishasur Mardini, is with twelve hands, and this sculpture has been placed in the chamber sanctorum.

To about 3 kilometers of the fort is the Shankar cave and it has been given the image of the tunnel, and this tunnel or the cave is approximately 25 feet in length. In order to have a look of the cave from inside one has to bend down and walk in since the diameter of the cave is small.

There is also a huge dome, which has been supported by the pillars and these pillars are placed in a row. The support to the dome is given by five pillars. Inside the fort also houses of a meeting hall and this meeting hall has been guarded by the pillars. The structure of the meeting hall is rectangular in figure.

To the summit of the hill five ponds are located, which measures the entire area of about 5 square kilometers. Out of five ponds, the three ponds are filled with water all through the year.

Chaiturgarh Fort History

The Chaiturgarh fort is considered as one of the natural and strongest fort by the Archeologist. It is also believed through the Descriptive List of Inscription in the Central Province and Berar, where the inscription dates back to the Kalchuri Era 933, where there is a long genealogical record of the King Kalchuri. In the list or the record it has been mentioned about the king. It is believed that this king was a member of the Haihaya family, and to him he had eighteen sons. Kalinga was one of the sons of the king and he was later the father of Kamala, who in the later days had the supremacy over Tummana. However, Kamala was defeated by Ratnaraja 1, and somehow Ratnaraja was succeeded over by Prithivideva. It is been said that, the construction of the Chaiturgarh was done by Raja Prithvideva.

Chaiturgarh Fort Tourism Importance

The Fort Chaiturgarh or Lafagarh is the ancient and the unique fort to visit. The places in and around the fort has the monuments and sculptures of the ancient times, and the ponds which are to the summit of the hill, is worth to see and capture in photographs. The temple of Goddess Durga with 12 hands is to be visited to gain blessing. In the same hill where the ponds are found has the scenery of natural beauty and is considered as the adventurous spot. Different species of birds and animals are also to be found in that area.