Singorgarh fort

Singorgarh Fort, in the Damoh district of Madhya Pradesh state in Central India, is a hill-fort of Garha Kingdom, spread over the hills of a forested area. It is about 45 km from Jabalpur city, on the way to Damoh town. It was a magnificent fort and a residence of Rajgond rulers of Central India who spent part of each year there. It is presently in a ruined condition with no caretaker. The site must be accessed by foot, as there is no proper road to it.

In its peak years, thousands of people lived at the fort, which was spread over large area. Many of its former watch towers are still visible. There is a pond on the hilltop that provided water. The fort was attacked in June, 1564 during the last war of the Garha Kingdom dynasty, under the rule of Rani Durgavati. At that time, Rani Durgavati, the ruling Queen of Gondwana, resided there; she later moved to Chouragarh Fort in Narsinghpur.

History

Before coming in hand of Gond rulers, Singorgarh fort was under Chandel rulers in 1308. It was Gond ruler Sangram shah who conquered the Singorgarh fort in early period of 16th century. Sangram Shah was a powerful Gond ruler and was Father in Law of Rani Durgavati. It was year 1564 when Mughal army, led by Asaf Khan (from Kunda, Uttar Pradesh), with assistance of Rewa rulers, attacked the Gond Kingdom. In those days, Mughal ruler Akbar ordered his general Asaf Khan of Kunda, to attack the Gond dynasty as he was jealous of Gond dynasty's prosperity and sovereignty. In summers of year 1564, Mughal army reached Gond kingdom border. During that time, Rani Durgavati was ruling the kingdom and was present in same Singorgarh fort. When she came to know about the huge army of more than 70,000 soldiers, she decided to leave the fort and shifted to Garha fort of Jabalpur and major war took place in this area. While marching towards Jabalpur, Mughal army first reached Singorgarh fort and attacked here in which fort was badly damaged and since then, although ruled but never gained its previous prosperity and gleam.