Garhwa Fort

Garhwa Fort Latest News

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) recently arrested the last remaining absconding accused in the 2002 Garhwa Fort idol theft, dacoity and murder case.

About Garhwa Fort

• Garhwa Fort is a Hindu temple complex located in Garhwa Village in the Prayagraj District of Uttar Pradesh.
• The fort was built in the year 1750, but the temples within the fort complex could be more than 1000 years old before the fort was constructed.  
• The fort complex is protected as monuments of national importance by the central Archaeological Survey of India. 

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Garhwa Fort History

• The temple is believed to be built by the Guptas.
• Seven inscriptions from the reigns of Chandra Gupta, Kumara Gupta, and Skanda Gupta have been found at this site. 
• Garhwa was called Bhattagram/Bhattapraya during the Gupta period.
• The fortifications around the temple were built in 1750 CE by the Baghel King Vikramaditya. 

Garhwa Fort Architecture

• The fort complex spreads over a two-kilometer area. 
• There are bastions on the four corners of the fort complex with easy access provided by a flight of steps.
• The most important structure in the fort complex is the Gupta-era temple. It is situated in southwestern part of the fort.
  • The temple measures about 55 feet in length and 30 feet in width with an east entrance. 
  • The temple was built in the panchakona design. The temple consists of a sanctum and a pillared mandapa.
  • The sanctum is square on plan. The Shiva Linga enshrined in the temple was stolen by the British, but the Sakthi Pita can be seen among the recovered artefacts within the complex. 
• There are two stepwells in the complex. It is said that the stepwells never go dry. 
• The temple has many relics dating from the Gupta period till the British era. 
• The most notable relic in the complex is a sculpture representing the ten incarnations (dasavathara) of Lord Vishnu, belonging to the 11th or 12th century.
• Most of the sculptures have been shifted to the State Museum of Lucknow for safety reasons.
• The sculptures of the Gupta period were carved from pink sandstone, while the sculptures of the medieval era were carved from grey sandstone.

News: DP