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| Singorgarh Fort,MP madhya-pradesh-tourism.com |
Singorgarh Fort, located in Damoh district of Madhya Pradesh, is a significant medieval hill-fort that played a central role in the history of central India. Situated about 45 km from Jabalpur on the route to Damoh town, the fort stands atop a forested hill range and commands panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. Today, it is a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), drawing historians, trekkers, and heritage enthusiasts.
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| Singorgarh Fort, MP iasbaba.com/ |
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| Singorgarh Fort,MP atland.com |
The name “Singorgarh” is believed to derive from “Gajasimhadurga”, meaning the fortress of Gaj Singh, a Pratihar Rajput ruler. An inscription dated 1307 CE refers to it as Gaja-Singhadurgye, confirming its early foundation. The fort was originally built by the Pratihar Rajputs, who controlled the Damoh region during the 13th and 14th centuries. Prominent figures from this lineage include Gajsimha (Gaja Singh) Pratihar, Maharajaputra Shri Vaghadeva, and Kumara Shri Vaghadeva, vassals of the Chandela kings Bhojavarman and Hammiravarman.
Their rule is believed to have ended when Alauddin Khalji’s army, during its campaign to the Deccan in the early 14th century, overran the region, including parts of Bundelkhand. In the 16th century, the fort was seized by Sangram Shah, the powerful Gond ruler of the Garha-Katanga (Garha-Mandla) kingdom, who incorporated it into his expanding territory.
During the Mughal invasion of 1564, Rani Durgavati, the Gond queen and wife of Dalpat Shah, resided at Singorgarh before moving her base to Chouragarh Fort for tactical reasons. The Mughal campaign culminated in the Battle of Narrai, where she died fighting heroically.
The fort, spread across a vast area, once housed thousands of inhabitants and had numerous structures, some of which, including watchtowers and walls, still survive. Accessible by a moderate trek, the fort is a powerful symbol of Rajput and Gond heritage, reflecting the complex political and cultural transitions of central India.
https://www.madhya-pradesh-tourism.com/destination/Singorgarh-Fort-41
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