Shergarh Fort (also known as Qila Shergarh, Bhurkuda Fort) is a ruined
fort
A fortification (also called a fort, fortress, fastness, or stronghold) is a military construction designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from La ...
in Malhipur, Chenari block of
Sasaram
Sasaram (), also spelled as Shahasaram, is a historical city and a municipal corporation region in the Rohtas district of Bihar state in eastern India.
The city served as the capital of the Sur dynasty during Sher Shah Suri's rule over India in ...
, it is well connected from Kudra and as well from Sasaram,
Bihar
Bihar ( ) is a states and union territories of India, state in Eastern India. It is the list of states and union territories of India by population, second largest state by population, the List of states and union territories of India by are ...
. It is a hill fort on a Kaimur
plateau
In geology and physical geography, a plateau (; ; : plateaus or plateaux), also called a high plain or a tableland, is an area of a highland consisting of flat terrain that is raised sharply above the surrounding area on at least one side. ...
about 800 feet in height and was fortified by
Emperor
The word ''emperor'' (from , via ) can mean the male ruler of an empire. ''Empress'', the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife (empress consort), mother/grandmother (empress dowager/grand empress dowager), or a woman who rules ...
Sher Shah Suri
Sher Shah Suri (born Farid al-Din Khan; 1472 or 1486 – 22 May 1545), also known by his title Sultan Adil (), was the ruler of Bihar from 1530 to 1540, and Sultan of Hindustan from 1540 until his death in 1545. He defeated the Mughal Empire, ...
. The fort is in dense forest, making access difficult from the bottom of the plateau. The fort lies on the banks of the
Durgavati River
The Durgavati River, ( 𑂠𑂳𑂩𑂹𑂏𑂰𑂫𑂞𑂲 𑂢𑂠𑂹𑂠𑂲 ) (also called Durgaoti or Durgauti and spelt as Durgawati) which flows through Kaimur district in the Indian state of Bihar, is a tributary of the Karmanasa.
Cou ...
.
History
The fort was built between 1540 and 1545 by
Emperor
The word ''emperor'' (from , via ) can mean the male ruler of an empire. ''Empress'', the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife (empress consort), mother/grandmother (empress dowager/grand empress dowager), or a woman who rules ...
Sher Shah Suri
Sher Shah Suri (born Farid al-Din Khan; 1472 or 1486 – 22 May 1545), also known by his title Sultan Adil (), was the ruler of Bihar from 1530 to 1540, and Sultan of Hindustan from 1540 until his death in 1545. He defeated the Mughal Empire, ...
. In the 16th century the fort was known as Bhurkuda Qila.
Architecture
The area of the fort is nearly 16 km
2. Its main entrance originally had eight small domes but now there are only five. One kilometre from the main entrance is a lake called Rani Pokhra (Queen's Pond), and on an adjacent hill is an underground fort.
See also
*
Tomb of Sher Shah Suri
The Tomb of Sher Shah Suri is a mausoleum located in Sasaram, in the Indian state of Bihar. Sher Shah Suri, who was the founder of the Sur Empire, commissioned the tomb for himself. It was completed on 16 August 1545, about three months after h ...
References
{{reflist
Forts in Bihar
Tourist attractions in Rohtas district
Sur Empire