The ruined forts of Palamu speak about the rivalry between the Mughals and the Tribal Chero Dynasty. The two forts are the major heritage tourism of Jharkhand. Know about the history, architecture, timings, the best time to visit, Palamu Fort.
Contents
Where is Palamu Fort located?
Palamu Fort is located in the Palamu district of Jharkhand. The fort lies within the dense forest area of Betla National Park. Daltonganj also known as Medininagar is the headquarter of Palamu district. The district is rich in natural resources with a large part of it covered under forest.
What is the history of Palamu Fort?
The Old Fort of Palamu, known as the Purana Qila does not have any evidence about the year it was built. It is predicted that the Fort was built by the King of Raksel Rajput Dynasty. The Raskel Rajput dynasty was however invaded by the Chero King, Bhagwant Rai in the year 1613. It was during the reign of the successor of Bhagwant Rai, Medini Rai, who ruled Medininagar (Daltonganj) of Palamu district for 13 years from 1661 to 1674, the fort was renovated for security purposes. The kingdom of Medini Rai extended to South Gaya and Hazaribagh.
Medini Rai invaded Doisa now known as Navaratragarh and with the war reward constructed the New fort known as the Naya Qila.
The fort was invaded by the Mughals in 1574, during the reign of Akbar, under the guidance of his trusted general, Raja Man Singh. However, soon after the death of Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1605, the Mughals lost the fort.
It was during the rule of Sahajahan that the Mughals wanted to give a tribute to the King of Raskel Dynasty which was refused by the Chero Kings. It did not go well with the Mughals and they made three attacks to the Palamu fort under the command of Daud Khan. Chero king lost both the forts and took shelter in the jungle. Later the British East India Company took control over both the forts.
The architecture of the twin forts
Old Fort
The old fort is located in the plains and spread over an area of 3 km sq. The fort is constructed with lime and surkhi motar. It has three gates of which the central one, known as the Singh Dwar is the largest. On average the gates have a width of 7 feet. The second gate leads to three Hindu temples which were later modified into mosques by Daud Khan. The fort has courtrooms in the middle. The western part of the fort has a gateway that opens near the Betla National Park. The fort has a Naubat khana on the first floor. The South-Western part of the fort has two watchtowers and one lake. One of the watchtowers has a small temple on it.
New Fort
The new fort is located west to the old fort on a hill. It has a Mughal architecture. The entrance gate of the new fort is known as the Nagpuri gate and has Nagpuri style carvings on it. The fort has two pillars with Arabic, Persian and Sanskrit verses carved on it.
Weather at Palamu Fort
The area near Palamu Fort has a tropical climate. The Summer range from the month of March to June and the temperature varies between 35 to 40-degree centigrades. The month of April and May are the hottest. The area receives moderate rainfall during the rainy months of July to August. The winter stretches between the month of November to February with the temperature falling between 10-degree centigrade to 15-degree centigrade. The month of December and January are the coldest.
Best time to visit Palamu Fort
The best time to visit Palamu Fort is during the chilly winters i.e from October to February.
What is the timing of Palamu Fort?
The fort remains open from 7 AM to 6 PM from Monday to Sunday.
Which is the nearest town from Palamu Fort?
The nearest town from Palamu Fort is the town of Daltonganj.
The distance of Palamu Fort from Daltonganj
Which is the nearest railway station from Palamu Fort?
The nearest railway station from Palamu Fort is Barwadih Junction (Station Code: BRWD), located at a distance of 17.5 km via Barwadih Chhipadohar Rd.
Which is the nearest airport from Betla National Park?
Birsa Munda Airport, Ranchi is the nearest airport from Betla National Park located at a distance of 164.6 km via NH39.
How to reach Palamu Fort from Kolkata?
By Rail
Board a train from Howrah Junction to Barwadih Junction. It is a 12 hrs to 15 hrs journey. Take a cab or auto from Barwadi to Palamu Fort.
The distance between Barwadi Junction to Palamu Fort
- 17.5 km via Barwadih Chhipadohar Rd.
By road
You can self-drive from Kolkata to Palamu Fort or book a rental cab from Kolkata
The distance between Kolkata to Palamu Fort
- 566.6 km via NH19.
- 570.2 km via NH39.
By air
Take a flight from Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata to Birsa Munda Airport, Ranchi. It takes approx one to one and a half hours to reach Ranchi by air. After reaching take a cab from the airport to Palamu Fort.
The distance between Birsa Munda Airport and Palamu Fort
- 164.6 km via NH39.
- 229.7 km via NH43.
Is Palamu Fort Safe for tourists?
Palamu fort is safe for the tourists. It was under the Naxal terror for long but in recent times, it is out of danger.
Where to stay while visiting Palamu Fort?
Budget hotels and lodges are available at Daltonganj where one can plan a stay. Also, if you are planning to visit Betla National Park, you can check the below options.