Jaunpur Fort, Jaunpur

Jaunpur is a small town located on the bank of river Gomti, about sixty kilometre north-west of Varanasi in eastern Uttar Pradesh.
The place is well connected by rail and road with different parts of the country. 

The modern city of Jaunpur was founded by Firoz Shah Tughlaq who camped here for six months during his second invasion of
Bengal in the year 1359. He named the city after his patron Juna Khan popularly known as Muhammed Bin Tughlaq, the sultan of
Delhi. During last phase of fourteenth century taking advantage of shaking hold of Delhi sultanate Malik Sarwar, the then governor
of Jaunpur under the title of Malik-us-Shark (king of the east) captured the Jaunpur province. Malik Sarwar and his five successors
namely Malik Mubarak Quranfal, Ibrahim Shah, Mahmud Shah, Bhikhan Khan and lastly Hussain Shah are called Sharqi kings who
ruled the kingdom of Jaunpur for little less than a century. This was the period of peace and prosperity in the history of Jaunpur
witnessing remarkable achievements in the fields of art, architecture, education, trade & commerce etc. A good number of buildings
came into existence. Besides Shahi fort some mosques like Atala, Jami, Lal Darwaza, Jhanjhiri, Char Ungli and few others
represent the grandure of Sharqi architecture even after the massive demolition and sacrilege by Sultan Sikandar Lodi who was so
annoyed with Sharqis that he had taken vow not to spare intact any of the Sharqi memorials at Jaunpur.  

The fort known as Shahi Qila was built by Firoz Shah Tughlaq in 1360 AD on a mound of an earlier fort called Kerar Kot. The
fortification wall forms an irregular quadrangle with main gate towards east. Another exit in the shape of a sally port towards west is
approached by a steep passage cut through the mound. The main gateway is about fourteen metres in height and some five
metres in depth having usual chambers on either side. During the reign of Akbar, in order to provide extra security, Munim Khan
added a courtyard in front of the eastern gateway with another eleven metres high entrance gate. The gates, walls and the bastions
are veneered with ashlar stones on outer face. 

The Chunar fort is situated in the Vindhya Range at a distance of about 45 odd km from Varanasi. The Chunar fort is located in the
Mirzapur district.

                 This is about 4 Km. to the south-east of Karwi

town near Siddhapur village. Once upon a time, it was a royal
garden built by the Peshwa King Vinayak Rao in the early of
19th century for his pleasure sports. There is a three storeyed
Awantika here, two storeys of which remain always
submerged in water. The second story becomes visible during
the summer. Nearby there is a temple built in the Khajuraho
style. Close to this temple, there is a seven storeyed deep well
with a staircase leading to the lowest water-level (bawali), six
storeys of which are always filled with water.

 
  

KOTHI-TALAB

                In 1824 Vinayak Rao Peshwa, the son of Peshwa King Amrit Rao got
the talab built for water and pleasure sports of the royal ladies. In the middle of
the talab, there is a temple . There is a flight of steps down to the base of the
reservoir . Probably, the King and the Princes used to look at the water sports
after climbing this flight. This is situated in the very heart of Karwi town.

THE TARAUNHA FORT

                This fort is in a state of ruins situated in the south Karwi in the
Taraunha locality. The famous Jaidav Akhada is nearby.

THE MADFA FORT (MANDAVYA ASHRAM)

                    This is on a lofty peak near Ghuretanpur village, about 8 Km. to the
south of Bharatkoop. There is a flight of steps almost half way up and the rest is a
very difficult climbing. On the mountain, there is a very dilapilated fort
contemporaneous with the Kalinjer fort. It is said that the Kalinjer and Madfa
forts were built the same night. In front of the fort, there is a stone idol of
Panchmukhi (with five faces) Shiv engaged in tandava. The ashram of Mandavya
Rishi is situated here and besides, there are the Nyagrodaka Kund, the Deergha
Bawli and the Papmochni Sarovar.

THE LAURI FORT

                     A hill near Lauri village, about 12 Km. to the south of the Lalta
road cross-roads, bears the ruins of a very ancient fort. A cave has been cut into
a Temple which has stone idols with heads of wild animals and lower forms of
human females. It is said that a vast idol had the head of a fox (lokhari in
colloqual dialect) lending its name to a nearby village, lokhari. The word
'Lauri' may also be an apabhransha derivative from lokhari. In front of the
temple there is a beautiful reservoir which has an elephent statute in ruins in the
centre. Besides these, there are beautiful carvings in the caves.

According to the Puranas the oldest name of Chunar was Charanadri as Lord Vishnu had taken his first step in his Vaman
incarnation in the dynasty of Great king Bali. However Chunar came into prominence after the visit of Babar followed by Shershah
Suri, Humayun, Akbar, Aurangzeb and finally the Britishers.

It is said that Maharaja Vikramaditya, the king of Ujjain established the fort of Chunar. According to the Alha Khand, King Sahadeo
made thiThe Chunar fort is situated in the Vindhya Range at a distance of about 45 odd km from Varanasi. The Chunar fort is
located in the Mirzapur district. According to the Puranas the oldest name of Chunar was Charanadri as Lord Vishnu had taken his
first step in his Vaman incarnation in the dynasty of Great king Bali. However Chunar came into prominence after the visit of Babar
followed by Shershah Suri, Humayun, Akbar, Aurangzeb and finally the Britishers.

It is said that Maharaja Vikramaditya, the king of Ujjain established the fort of Chunar. According to the Alha Khand, King Sahadeo
made this fort as his capital and established the statue of Naina Yogini in a cave of Vindhya hill. To commemorate his victory on 52
rulers, King Sahadeo built a stone umbrella inside the fort.
The Chunar fort became important for its association with the Mughal king, Babar and later Shershah Suri, who got the possession
of the fort by marrying the wife of Taj Khan Sarang-Khani, the Governer of Ibrahim Lodi. In 1531 AD Humayun made an
unsuccessful effort to capture this fort but later in 1574AD, Akbar the great captured this fort and since that very time it remained
under the Mughals up to 1772AD. In the year 1772AD the East India Company captured the Chunar fort.

s fort as his capital and established the statue of Naina Yogini in a cave of Vindhya hill. To commemorate his victory on 52 rulers,
King Sahadeo built a stone umbrella inside the fort.

The Chunar fort became important for its association with the Mughal king, Babar and later Shershah Suri, who got the possession
of the fort by marrying the wife of Taj Khan Sarang-Khani, the Governer of Ibrahim Lodi. In 1531 AD Humayun made an
unsuccessful effort to capture this fort but later in 1574AD, Akbar the great captured this fort and since that very time it remained
under the Mughals up to 1772AD. In the year 1772AD the East India Company captured the Chunar fort.
The Chunar fort is situated in the Vindhya Range at a distance of about 45 odd km from Varanasi. The Chunar fort is located in the
Mirzapur district. According to the Puranas the oldest name of Chunar was Charanadri as Lord Vishnu had taken his first step in his
Vaman incarnation in the dynasty of Great king Bali. However Chunar came into prominence after the visit of Babar followed by
Shershah Suri, Humayun, Akbar, Aurangzeb and finally the Britishers.

It is said that Maharaja Vikramaditya, the king of Ujjain established the fort of Chunar. According to the Alha Khand, King Sahadeo
made this fort as his capital and established the statue of Naina Yogini in a cave of Vindhya hill. To commemorate his victory on 52
rulers, King Sahadeo built a stone umbrella inside the fort.

The Chunar fort became important for its association with the Mughal king, Babar and later Shershah Suri, who got the possession
of the fort by marrying the wife of Taj Khan Sarang-Khani, the Governer of Ibrahim Lodi. In 1531 AD Humayun made an
unsuccessful effort to capture this fort but later in 1574AD, Akbar the great captured this fort and since that very time it remained
under the Mughals up to 1772AD. In the year 1772AD the East India Company captured the Chunar fort.
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