Kalinjar is a fortress-city in Banda district of Uttar Pradesh, India. It was ruled by several dynasties, including the Guptas, the Vardhana dynasty, the Chandelas, Solankis of Rewa, Mughals and the Marathas.

The fortress has several temples dating back to the Gupta dynasty of the 3rd–5th centuries. It is strategically located on an isolated rocky hill at the end of the Vindhya Range, overlooking the plains of Bundelkhand.

Kalinjar Fort is located on the Vindhya mountain range in Banda district. The fort is famous for its strong walls and massive gates. It houses several ancient temples, among which a Shiva temple holds special significance. The Neelkanth Mahadev Temple of Kalinjar is considered very ancient and sacred. According to legend, it is believed that Lord Shiva consumed the poison that emerged during the churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthan) at this very place. Every year, a fair is held here on the occasion of Kartik Purnima.

Name

Kalinjar was historically known as Kālañjara, from Sanskrit kāla, meaning "time".<!-- Bisschop 2013, pp. 280, 282 --> The 17th-century Mahābhārata commentator Nīlakaṇṭha Caturdhara interpreted the name as "one who destroys or subdues [the effects of] time".<!-- Bisschop 2013, p. 280 --> At least later on, this was connected to Shiva's role as the lord of time; for example, Kalinjar is mentioned in the opening lines of the Rauravasūtrasaṃgraha as the abode of Sadāśiva, "the lord of time... the creator of time, the knower of time".<!-- Bisschop 2013, p. 282 -->

The name is also attested in the Prakrit forms Kālaṃjara and Kāliṃjara in Jain texts.<!-- Mehta and Chandra 1970, pp. 170, 173 -->

History

Early history

Kalinjar was already an important pilgrimage centre in early times.<!-- Bisschop 2013, p. 280 --> It is mentioned three times in the Mahābhārata: twice in the Tīrthayātrāparva in Book 3 and once in the list of tīrthas in Book 13.<!-- Bisschop 2013, p. 280 --> The first reference in Book 3 describes Kālañjara as "a famous place where one should bathe at the Devahrada" and says that if one dies by performing prāyopaveśa (self-starvation at the end of life when old and ailing) at Kālañjara, one's ātman rises straight up to heaven.<!-- Bisschop 2013, p. 280 --> The second mention identifies Kālañjara as the site of Hiraṇyabindu, the ashram (spiritual retreat) of the revered sage Agastya.<!-- Bisschop 2013, p. 280 --> The reference in Book 13 mentions another place called Ṣaṣṭihrada at Kālañjara.<!-- Bisschop 2013, p. 280 --> These verses indicate the presence of one or more sacred pools at Kalinjar, which could refer to any of the many natural pools on the mountain.<!-- Bisschop 2013, p. 280 --> However, there is no indication in the Mahābhārata of any sort of connection with Shiva.<!-- Bisschop 2013, p. 280 --> From then on, Kalinjar is mentioned in almost every Chandela text or inscription.

In 1023, Mahmud of Ghazni attacked and received a tribute from Kalinjar. Around this time, al-Biruni mentioned Kalinjar, along with Gwalior, as "two of the most famous fortresses in India".<!-- Rezavi 2002, p. 1241 --> In the late 11th century, an inscription from the reign of Kirttivarman records that the king's guru, Śrīmūrti, was responsible for the construction of the maṇḍapa of the Nilakantha temple at Kalinjar.<!-- Rezavi 2002, p. 1241 --> A 1205 inscription refers to Trailokyavarman with the title Kālañjarādhipati once again, indicating that it was under Chandela control by this point.<!-- Rezavi 2002, p. 1242 --> He was temporarily buried at Kalinjar, on a small hillock called Kalinjari to the east of the main fort, before being moved to his permanent tomb at Sasaram.<!-- Rezavi 2002, p. 1244 -->

Air

The nearest airport is at Khajuraho, away but has limited connectivity. Kanpur Airport which is well connected with metropolitan cities of India is and 4 hours drive from Kalinjar.

Tourism

According to the national Ministry of Tourism statistics based on ticket returns, Kalinjar Fort received some 128,834 visitors in 2024-25, of whom 128,447 came from India and 387 from other countries.

<gallery>

File:Pillared building at one corner of Kalinjar Fort.jpg|Pillared building at one corner of Kalinjar Fort

File:Broken sculpture of Kuvera riding on his vehicle, near temple of Nilkanth.jpg|Kuvera riding on his vehicle, near temple of Nilkanth

File:Architectural details from temple of Nilkanth.jpg|Architectural details from temple of Nilkanth

File:Kurma avatar.jpg|Kurma avatar

File:Sculpture of Varaha avatar.jpg|Varaha avatar

File:Sculpture of Ganesh from temple of Nilkanth.jpg|Sculpture of Ganesh from temple of Nilkanth

File:Neelkanth Mandir 2.jpg|Neelkanth Mandir view from top

File:Kalinjar fort11.jpg|Temple in the Fort

File:Kalinjar fort.jpg|Fort (inside view)

File:Pillar inside Rani Palace, Kalinjar Fort.jpg|Pillar inside Rani Palace, Kalinjar Fort

File:Gateway of Nilakanth temple in Kalinjar fort.jpg|Gateway of Nilakanth temple in Kalinjar fort

File:6th century Gajasursamharamurti and Parvati bas-relief, Kalinjar Fort 027.jpg|Gajasursamharamurti and Parvati bas-relief, Kalinjar Fort

File:0121921 Neelkanth temple, Kalinjar Fort, Uttar Pradesh 025.jpg|Approach to the Nilakantha temple

File:Panoramic view of Kalinjar Neelkanth Temple.jpg|Frontal view of the Nilakantha temple

File:011721 Venkat Bihari temple, Kalinjar Fort, Uttar Pradesh 008.jpg|The Venkat Bihari temple, a Vishnu temple from the 18th century

File:0121921 Ram Janaki temple, Kalinjar Fort, Uttar Pradesh 006.jpg|The Ram Janaki temple at Kalinjar

</gallery>

See also

  • List of forts in Uttar Pradesh

References