Ajaygarh Fort
The fortress of Ajaygarh is situated just 20 miles by road to the south- west of Kalinjar. It stands on a lofty, flat-topped spur of the Vindhya Hills, within sight of the River Ken, which only 8 miles away. It is of about same height as Kalinjar.
The lower part of the hill, which is of granite, is not very steep, but the upper part, which is consists of reddish sandstone, is very abrupt and quite inaccessible.
The size of the fort is smaller than Kalinjar fort. It is nearly triangular in shape, and the circuit of its walls is just 3 miles, that of Kalinjar being less than 4 miles.
History
The foundation of Ajaygarh is referred to an unknown raja, Ajay Pal. But the name of Ajaygarh is not found in any of the inscriptions, the name being invariably given as Jayapura-durga, or the “Fortress of Jayapura.”
Art and Architecture
The fort has two gates; one to the north being simple called Darwaza; and the other to the south-east, called the Tarhaoni Darwaza, as it leads directly upon the village of Tarhowan, at the foot of the hill. In the inscriptions, there is mention of the Kalinjar Dwara or Kalinjar Gate.
Near the northern gate there are two tanks excavated in the rock, which are known by the name of Ganga-Jamuna. Almost exactly in the middle of the fort there is a large tank cut in the rock called Ajay-Pal-ka-Talao. It is evidently old, but black stone figure on its bank, which is called Ajay Pal, is clearly a statue of the four armed Vishnu.
Near the southern end of the fort there is another tank called Parmal Tal, or the reservoir of Raja Paramard. Close by there is a ruined temple of the Chandela times, which is also attributed to Raja Parmal: and at a short distance there are two other temples standing together, which are simply known as Chandeli Mahal. All these temples are in ruins.
The largest of the three temples is 60 feet long by 40 feet broad, with its entrance to the west. The northern portion has fallen down. The walls of the standing portion are very richly ornamented.
The second temple, of the same size, also faces the west. This also was very highly decorated. But all the numerous figures which once adorned its walls are now gone, expect that of a single figure four armed female.
The third temple near Parmal’s tank is slightly smaller than the others, its dimension being 54 by 36 feet. The angles of the sanctum seem to have been laid out on the circumference of a circle.
On the rock at the Tarhaoni gate there is a row of eight goddesses (Astha-sakti), of whom seven are sitting. They are each 3 feet high and 3 feet 10 inches broad, in separate frames. They
are roughly executed.
Their names are written below them, amongst which I could read Sri-Chandi, Sri-Chamunda, Sri-Kalika, and also the name of Jayapura-durga.
Close by there is a long inscription cut in the rock, 7 feet by 2 feet 4 inches. It contains several names of these Chandela kings, beginning with Kirti Varmma and ending with Bhoja Varmma.
There are also several Jain figures sitting with their hands in their laps.
Near these there are a cow and calf, and a four armed goddess sitting with a child in her lap, and with five pigs above one another on her right side, and eight pigs in pairs above one another on her left hand. This is evidently the figure of Shashti, the goddess of fecundity.
There is no mention of Ajaygarh by name in any of the Muslism rule.
The fortress of Ajaygarh is situated just 20 miles by road to the south- west of Kalinjar. It stands on a lofty, flat-topped spur of the Vindhya Hills, within sight of the River Ken, which only 8 miles away. It is of about same height as Kalinjar.The lower part of the hill, which is of granite, is not very steep, but the upper part, which is consists of reddish sandstone, is very abrupt and quite inaccessible.
The size of the fort is smaller than Kalinjar fort. It is nearly triangular in shape, and the circuit of its walls is just 3 miles, that of Kalinjar being less than 4 miles.
History
The foundation of Ajaygarh is referred to an unknown raja, Ajay Pal. But the name of Ajaygarh is not found in any of the inscriptions, the name being invariably given as Jayapura-durga, or the “Fortress of Jayapura.”
Art and Architecture
The fort has two gates; one to the north being simple called Darwaza; and the other to the south-east, called the Tarhaoni Darwaza, as it leads directly upon the village of Tarhowan, at the foot of the hill. In the inscriptions, there is mention of the Kalinjar Dwara or Kalinjar Gate.
Near the northern gate there are two tanks excavated in the rock, which are known by the name of Ganga-Jamuna. Almost exactly in the middle of the fort there is a large tank cut in the rock called Ajay-Pal-ka-Talao. It is evidently old, but black stone figure on its bank, which is called Ajay Pal, is clearly a statue of the four armed Vishnu.
Near the southern end of the fort there is another tank called Parmal Tal, or the reservoir of Raja Paramard. Close by there is a ruined temple of the Chandela times, which is also attributed to Raja Parmal: and at a short distance there are two other temples standing together, which are simply known as Chandeli Mahal. All these temples are in ruins.The largest of the three temples is 60 feet long by 40 feet broad, with its entrance to the west. The northern portion has fallen down. The walls of the standing portion are very richly ornamented.
The second temple, of the same size, also faces the west. This also was very highly decorated. But all the numerous figures which once adorned its walls are now gone, expect that of a single figure four armed female.
The third temple near Parmal’s tank is slightly smaller than the others, its dimension being 54 by 36 feet. The angles of the sanctum seem to have been laid out on the circumference of a circle.
On the rock at the Tarhaoni gate there is a row of eight goddesses (Astha-sakti), of whom seven are sitting. They are each 3 feet high and 3 feet 10 inches broad, in separate frames. They
are roughly executed.Their names are written below them, amongst which I could read Sri-Chandi, Sri-Chamunda, Sri-Kalika, and also the name of Jayapura-durga.
Close by there is a long inscription cut in the rock, 7 feet by 2 feet 4 inches. It contains several names of these Chandela kings, beginning with Kirti Varmma and ending with Bhoja Varmma.
There are also several Jain figures sitting with their hands in their laps.
Near these there are a cow and calf, and a four armed goddess sitting with a child in her lap, and with five pigs above one another on her right side, and eight pigs in pairs above one another on her left hand. This is evidently the figure of Shashti, the goddess of fecundity.There is no mention of Ajaygarh by name in any of the Muslism rule.
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