Chaiturgarh



Chaiturgarh or Lafagarh is a fort about 19 km from Pali, Katghora tehsil, Korba district, Chhattisgarh, India, on the Korba–Bilaspur road. It is an Archaeological Survey of India protected monument. Chaiturgarh is one of the 36 forts of Chhattisgarh. Chaithurgarh is situated around 70 km from Korba and 25 km from Pali town.

Location
Chaiturgarh (also known as Lafagarh) is situated at a height of 3060 ft on a hill top. It is protected by strong natural walls and is considered as one of the strongest natural forts. Since it is protected by strong natural walls, only at some places walls have been built. The fort has three main entrances which are named as Menaka, Humkara, and Simhadwar.

On the hilltop there is a plain area of about 5 km2 where there are five ponds. Three of these ponds have water all round the year. The hillocks of Chaiturgarh are famous for their natural beauty and the adventurous experiences it offers. Many types of wild animals and birds are found here.

Architecture
The famous Mahishasur Mardini temple is situated here. The idol of Mahishasur Mardini having 12 hands is installed in the sanctum sanctorum. Shankar cave is situated 3 km away from the temple. The cave which is like a tunnel, is 25 ft long. One can go inside the cave only by creeping since it is very small in diameter.

History
Archeologists consider it as one of the strongest natural forts. A Descriptive List of Inscriptions in the Central Province and Berar – dated in Kalchuri Era 933 (1181-82 CE) gives a long genealogical list of the Kalchuri kings. It mentions that there was a king in the family of the Haihaya who has eighteen sons. One of them was Kalinga whose son Kamala ruled over Tummana. Kamala was succeeded by Ratnaraja I and latter by Prithvideva I.Mughal emperor Akbar captured the fort in 1571 and mughals ruled 1628. Chaiturgarh was constructed by Raja Prithvideva I.