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Garhwa Fort

Coordinates: 25°13′34″N 81°35′09″E / 25.2262°N 81.5858°E / 25.2262; 81.5858
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Garhwa Fort
Native name
गढ़वा क़िला (Hindi)
Garhwa fort, temple complex
LocationShankarnagar, Prayagraj district
Coordinates25°13′34″N 81°35′09″E / 25.226151°N 81.585903°E / 25.226151; 81.585903
Built5th-6th CE
Restored byArchaeological Survey of India
Architectural style(s)Hindu
Governing bodyArchaeological Survey of India

Garhwa fort is a medieval fortified enclosure, housing a temple complex in Prayagraj district, Uttar Pradesh, India, belonging to the Gupta Period.[1][2] It is most known for its Gadhwa Stone Inscriptions early 5th-century CE Sanskrit inscriptions by Chandragupta II and Kumaragupta. The fort is situated 50 km south-west of Prayagraj, on the Jabalpur road, 5 km from Shankargarh.[3]

The ancient name of Garhwa was Bhattpraya; in fact, there is a village called Bhattgarh nearby, which is currently named Bargarh. [4] The ruins of the temple were fortified in the 1750 by Vishwanath Singh Deo, a Baghelkhand ruler belonging to Rewa princely state. The fortification consisted of a square enclosure and parapets, giving a fortress kind of look. There are also two bawli (stepwell) in the complex.[4] The temple has many relics belonging to the Gupta period, which date back to as far as the 5th and 6th centuries. The most notable item in the fort is a carved slab of stone, 6-7 feet high, representing all Dashavatara (10 avatars) of Lord Vishnu, belonging to the 11th or 12th century.[5][6]

Only 1 km away from the fort complex lies Bhita, an archeological site dating to Mauryan and Post-Mauryan era (320 BCE - 185 BCE). Here the remains of an ancient Indian town were discovered, complete with extensive housing blocks along several streets, where some houses had up to fifteen rooms arranged around a large open courtyard. This site was first explored by Alexander Cunningham in the 1870s, uncovered a series of 5th-century CE Sanskrit inscriptions of Gupta era, and later by John Marshall. Subsequently, a Mukhalinga, that a Shivlinga with five faces. dating to the 2nd century BCE was also discovered on the site. [7]

Raghava-Yatra Inscription

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On December 18, 2024, one of the earliest known prashasti (eulogy) inscription found in India mentioning worship of King Rama during Ram Navami festival, was discovered here. It dates to Chaitra Shukla paksha Ekadashi, 1152 Vikram Samvat (11th day in Chaitra month, 1096 CE), in the reign of the Chandela king Kirtivarman (1060-1100 CE), whose minister Vatsaraja issued the edict. The ruined temple in the Garhwa Fort complex commemorates the site on the banks of the Yamuna River, where Rama, Lakshman, and Sita spent a night on their way to Chitrakuta, from where they proceed to crossing Ganges River at Shringverpur.[8]

Sculptures
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References

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  1. ^ "GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ARCHAEOLOGY CENTRAL ARCHÆOLOGICAL LIBRARY" (PDF). Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts. India: Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts.
  2. ^ Kumar, Arjun (20 December 2018). "Some iconic, historical landmarks that lent Allahahad its identity & a new name". The Economic Times. India: The Economic Times. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  3. ^ "Places of Interest". District Prayagraj, Government of Uttar Pradesh. 20 May 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
  4. ^ a b Mishra, Rajneesh (21 January 2021). "प्रयागराज के गढ़वा किले की जानें ऐतिहासिक दास्‍तान, इतिहास समेटे हुए है यह किला, यूं ही नहीं पर्यटकों को है लुभाता". Jagran (in Hindi). Retrieved 20 February 2025.
  5. ^ Rashid, Omar (30 March 2013). "Rising from the ruins". The Hindu. The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  6. ^ "गढ़वा के किले में होगा इतिहास का दीदार". Dainik Jagran (in Hindi). Dainik Jagran. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  7. ^ Kumar, Arjun (19 January 2025). "Discovering the rich heritage of Prayagraj: Exploring sites beyond Sangam". Firstpost. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
  8. ^ Kumar, Avatans (9 February 2025). "A Thousand-Year-Old "Prashasti" Inscription Sheds Light On The Ramayana". India Currents. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
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25°13′34″N 81°35′09″E / 25.2262°N 81.5858°E / 25.2262; 81.5858