Forts Fortresses and Palaces of Madhya Pradesh
The state of Madhya Pradesh lies in the heart of India with famous fort, fortress and palaces situated here. It has been a cradle of human activities from the pre-historic times. Its conducive environment and favourable geology has provided easy subsistence and shelter to the early inhabitants. The Sanskrit term Durga, literally meaning unapproachable or untenable, denotes the strong and massive character of a fort. It is then correct to assume defiance as its prominent characteristic. It is owing to this fundamental narrative that a fortified settlement has always remained an important asset to the military system of every strong dynastic order. Giri Durga is regarded as the best kind of fort and hence believed to be most suitable for security. According to Manu, “A man with arm can fight one hundred when sheltered in a fort and one hundred soldiers can fight one thousand. Thus, a king should have forts.” A good number of the remains of such forts have been noted in M.P. like in Gwalior, Mandu, Chanderi, Raisen, Ajaygarh, Hinglajgarh, Baldeogarh, Asirgarh and more. By the 7th-8th cent. A. D., during the Gurjar Pratihara period, many forts came in to existence. Later dynasties like Paramara, Chandela, Kachhapaghata, Mughal, Marathas followed by many others also constructed multiple forts. King of Gond, Bundela and other Medieval period rulers continued this tradition. Apart from the forts, fortresses like Damayanti, Garhakota, Rajgarh, Kajaligarh, Shiragarh, Sailana, Subhawali, Digahora, Sendhawa also adorn the state. Alongside, palaces like Lalgagh, Motimahal, Kamalapati Palace, Benazir palace, Jahangir Palace, Rajmahal, Veer Singh dev Palace etc., have been highlighted in the Book. In this book, the authors have covered both, important and lesser-known, forts, fortresses and palaces in the state. The text also talks about the development and types of forts in M.P. This graphic text with photographs covers the importance of the state heritage and will be of inter
Get it now and save 10%
BECOME A MEMBER
Bibliographic information
P S Baghel
Kalyani Shukla