Narwar Fort

Narwar Fort is situated atop a hill, at Narwar in Madhya Pradesh, about 500 feet above ground level spread over an area of 8 km², which stands on a steep scarp of the Vindhya Range. Kachwaha Rajputs are said to have built (or rebuilt) the fort when they occupied Narwar in the 10th century. Kachwaha, Parihara, and Tomara Rajputs held Narwar successively from 12th century onwards, until its capture by the Mughals in the 16th century. It was conquered by the Maratha chief Scindia in the early 19th century.

It is now in a dilapidated condition, but the remains suggest that, in the flourishing days, it might have been only second to the Gwalior Fort in magnificence. The interior of the fort is divided by cross walls into four 'ahata' and 'dholaahata'. The architecture of the fort and palaces is basically Rajput in style with flat ceiling, fluted columns and multifold arches. The inner walls of the palaces have been decorated with bright paint and glass beads. Near the fort are the Jai Stambha, Sati monument, Ladu bungalow, Chhip Mahal, Makardwaj Tal, Kacheri mahal, Sikandar Lodi's Mosque, Shehenshah Anas Khan Joshi's Tomb and Jail Kambha. Traditionally said to have been the capital of Raja Nala of the Sanskrit epic Mahabharata, the town was called Nalapura until the 12th century. Outside the walled town are memorial pillars of the Tomar chiefs.

Narwar

Narwar is a town and a nagar panchayat in Shivpuri district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. Narwar is a historic town and the Narwar Fort is just east of the Kali Sindh River and is situated at a distance of 42 km from Shivpuri. Narwar was known as Narwar District during the times of Gwalior State. It is mentioned as Nalpura (Nala's town) in many medieval Sanskrit inscriptions. The Narwar Fort is surrounded by the Kali Sindh River. There are three dams, Harsi Dam ,Mohini Sagar and Atal Sagar. Presently the Fort is being renovated by the Archaeological Survey of India.

History

The town was known as Nalapura (named after Raja Nala) until the 12th century. At one time it was the capital of Raja Nala of Naisadha, whose love for Damayanti has been mentioned in detail in Mahabharata. There is a myth that when Raja Nala left Damayanti asleep in the forests of Narwar she moved through dense forests and reached Chanderi protecting herself from wild animals. The route through forests from Narwar to Chanderi is short. A medieval fortress there was occupied by the Narwarias of the Chambal valley,and Lodhi cast of Lodi Mata Temple in Narwar word Lodhi cast and Narwarias god Dhunaa ram lodhi was great and narwarias god descendants of Nala, who were also the founder and rulers of Gwalior, until it was captured by Parihara Rajputs in the 12th century.