Tag: Forts in Bhopal

Ginnorgarh Fort , A land lost in time

Ginnorgarh Fort is 61 Km far from Bhopal and it situated at a distance of 3 km from Delawadi. Situated in a lovely forest, Delawadi is a beautiful picnic spot situated among lush green forest and amazing natural beauty.Earlier Ginnorgarh fort was under the stronghold of Gonds, but later it fell to Dost Mohammad, the ruler of Bhopal State.Accessed only by foot from Delawadi, Ginnorgarh Fort contains some of the untold history of Indian rulers.

 

Interesting Facts
It is said that King Gond lived here with his Seven beautiful queens and the laughter of the queens was the thing which kept the fort very alive ,800 years back.The fort is said to be at a height of 1965 feet above sea level ,which was build by the kings of Parmar dynasty . Later it became the capital of Shah Dynasty.Some evidences tell that the the seven Queens of the king , were not only beautiful but were very skilled in governance.
More About The Fort 
The historians are shocked by one thing here is that ,despite being on such a height the 25 wells and the 4 ponds here are always filled with water all the time .One can see the green and black stones scattered here ,by which the fort have been made .Under the fort when you enter you could see a cave here , which is centuries old and it deepens the secret of its creation.Here in the cave is a pond , where the water is very cold .There is also a saying that there was a secret tunnel inside the ground which got joint to the Rani kamlapati palace ,which is at Kamla Park .
The View
The top of the fort offers scintillating views of the valleys below, forests all around, as far as the eye can see.The jungles are very vast and one could enjoy the scenic beauty of teh place around .Jungles and lakes made mesmerizing views, which no nature lover can resists.
Places to explore near the fort 
-> Delawadi
-> Bhimbetka
-> Ratapani
->Salkanpur
->Chiklod
How To Reach
It takes 1 hr 30 mins approx from Bhopal , its near Delawadi about 3 km.

Islamnagar ,The Forgotten Capital Of Afghan Era

When it comes to travel attractions near and around Bhopal, there is a place that no one really mentions now-a-days,Islamnagar a panchayat village in the Bhopal district of Madhya Pradesh.Formerly a fortified city, It was the capital of the Bhopal princely state for a brief period. The ruins of the palaces built by Bhopal’s founder Dost Mohammad Khan still exist at the site.He was a commander of Mangalgarh in the Mughal army, and later on acquired Islamnagar amid the chaos following the death of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in 1707.Before the Afghans arrived, the place was known by the name of Jagadishpur which was later renamed to Islamnagar .
The Viewers View
When we enter this place ,comes across a small gate with a narrow passage which would give you a glimpse of a village place and not a developed road to pass by . After going ahead there’s come a 
RANI MAHAL,one the two main forts of Islamnagar .Rani Mahal was the residence of the queens of Dost Mohammad Khan.It is a three-storeyed building,which  is small compared to other palaces.It has Rajput,Mughal and Malwa architectures evident.The palace has a small garden in the courtyard surrounded by rooms on all sides.There is a  Baradari  within it, which means a building which is designed to allow free flow of air.

Chaman Mahal , also known as Islam Nagar Fort. This was the palace of Dost Mohammad Khan during his reign and all the administrative works were done from here. At the main entrance, there is a building with 12 painted glass doors known as the Sheesh Mahal.A beautiful char-bagh garden surrounds the palace and its pavilions. The palace is not very well maintained however in its times, it would have been a magnificent palace. The hammam (bath) and fountains are no longer filled with fragrant water, but are reminders of the flamboyance and extravagance of the bygone era.
More about the place
In 1723, Dost Mohammad Khan had to surrender the Islamnagar fort to Nizam-ul-Mulk after a brief siege. Khan was reduced to the position of a kiledar (fort commander) under the Nizam after a peace treaty. The Scindias controlled the  fort from 1806 to 1817, when it was restored to Bhopal following a treaty.Several members of the royal family of Bhopal, including Shah Jahan Begum, were born in Islamnagar.
How To Reach 
It takes about an hour from Bhopal to reach here.