{{for|city in Jharkhand|Garhwa}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}} {{Use Indian English|date=February 2020}} {{Infobox historic site|name=Garhwa Fort|native_name=गढ़वा क़िला |native_language= hi |native_name2=|native_language2=|native_name3=|native_language3= |image=File:Garhwa fort temple.jpg | image_size= |caption=Garhwa fort, temple complex |locmapin= |map_width= |map_caption= |coordinates={{Location|25.226151|81.585903}} |gbgridref= |location=[[Shankargarh]], [[Prayagraj district]] |area=|elevation=|height=|beginning_label=|beginning_date=|formed=|founded= |built=5th-6th CE|built_for=|demolished=|rebuilt=|restored=|restored_by=[[Archaeological Survey of India]]|architect=|architecture=[[Hindu architecture|Hindu]]|visitation_num=|visitation_year=|governing_body=[[Archaeological Survey of India]]|}}
'''Garhwa fort''' is a medieval fortified enclosure, housing a temple complex in [[Prayagraj district]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], India, belonging to the [[Gupta Empire|Gupta Period]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://ignca.gov.in/Asi_data/60606.pdf |title=GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ARCHAEOLOGY CENTRAL ARCHÆOLOGICAL LIBRARY |website=Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts |publisher=[[Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts]] |location=India }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/travel/some-iconic-historical-landmarks-that-lent-allahahad-its-identity-a-new-name/articleshow/67162635.cms |title=Some iconic, historical landmarks that lent Allahahad its identity & a new name |last=Kumar |first=Arjun |date=2018-12-20 |website=The Economic Times |publisher=[[The Economic Times]] |location=India |access-date=2019-10-04}}</ref> It is most known for its [[Gadhwa Stone Inscriptions]] early 5th-century CE Sanskrit inscriptions by [[Chandragupta II]] and [[Kumaragupta]]. The fort is situated 50 km south-west of [[Prayagraj]], on the [[Jabalpur]] road, 5 km from [[Shankargarh]].<ref name="o227">{{cite web | title=Places of Interest | website=District Prayagraj, Government of Uttar Pradesh | date=20 May 2018 | url=https://prayagraj.nic.in/places-of-interest/ | access-date=19 February 2025}}</ref>
The ancient name of Garhwa was Bhattpraya; in fact, there is a village called Bhattgarh nearby, which is currently named Bargarh. <ref name="o176">{{cite web | last=Mishra | first=Rajneesh | title=प्रयागराज के गढ़वा किले की जानें ऐतिहासिक दास्तान, इतिहास समेटे हुए है यह किला, यूं ही नहीं पर्यटकों को है लुभाता | website=Jagran | date=21 January 2021 | url=https://www.jagran.com/uttar-pradesh/allahabad-city-the-garhwa-fort-located-in-shankargarh-area-of-prayagraj-was-built-by-baghel-king-vikraditya-21293917.html | language=hi | access-date=20 February 2025}}</ref> The ruins of the temple were fortified in the 1750 by Vishwanath Singh Deo, a [[Baghelkhand]] ruler belonging to [[Rewa (princely state)|Rewa princely state]]. The [[fortification]] consisted of a square enclosure and [[parapet]]s, giving a fortress kind of look. There are also two bawli (stepwell) in the complex.<ref name="o176"/> The temple has many relics belonging to the Gupta period, which date back to as far as the 5th and 6th centuries. The most notable item in the fort is a carved slab of stone, 6-7 feet high, representing all [[Dashavatara]] (10 avatars) of [[Lord Vishnu]], belonging to the 11th or 12th century.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/history-and-culture/rising-from-the-ruins/article4558717.ece|title=Rising from the ruins|last=Rashid|first=Omar|date=2013-03-30|work=The Hindu|publisher=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=2019-10-04|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jagran.com/uttar-pradesh/allahabad-city-12719519.html|title=गढ़वा के किले में होगा इतिहास का दीदार|website=Dainik Jagran|publisher=[[Dainik Jagran]]|language=hi|access-date=2019-10-04}}</ref>
Only 1 km away from the fort complex lies Bhita, an archeological site dating to [[Mauryan]] and Post-Mauryan era (320 BCE - 185 BCE). Here the remains of an ancient Indian town were discovered, complete with extensive housing blocks along several streets, where some houses had up to fifteen rooms arranged around a large open courtyard. This site was first explored by [[Alexander Cunningham]] in the 1870s, uncovered a series of [[Gadhwa Stone Inscriptions|5th-century CE Sanskrit inscriptions]] of [[Gupta era]], and later by [[John Marshall (archaeologist)|John Marshall]]. Subsequently, a [[Mukhalinga]], that a Shivlinga with five faces. dating to the 2nd century BCE was also discovered on the site. <ref name="m603">{{cite web | last=Kumar | first=Arjun | title=Discovering the rich heritage of Prayagraj: Exploring sites beyond Sangam | website=Firstpost | date=19 January 2025 | url=https://www.firstpost.com/opinion/discovering-the-rich-heritage-of-prayagraj-exploring-sites-beyond-sangam-13854226.html | access-date=19 February 2025}}</ref>
==Raghava-Yatra Inscription== On December 18, 2024, one of the earliest known [[prashasti]] (eulogy) inscription found in India mentioning worship of King [[Rama]] during [[Ram Navami]] festival, was discovered here. It dates to [[Chaitra]] [[Shukla paksha]] [[Ekadashi]], 1152 [[Vikram Samvat]] (11th day in Chaitra month, 1096 CE), in the reign of the [[Chandela]] king [[Kirttivarman (Chandela dynasty)|Kirtivarman]] (1060-1100 CE), whose minister Vatsaraja issued the edict. The ruined temple in the Garhwa Fort complex commemorates the site on the banks of the [[Yamuna River]], where Rama, Lakshman, and Sita spent a night on their way to [[Chitrakuta]], from where they proceed to crossing [[Ganges River]] at [[Shringverpur]].<ref name="o154">{{cite web | last=Kumar | first=Avatans | title=A Thousand-Year-Old “Prashasti” Inscription Sheds Light On The Ramayana | website=[[India Currents]] | date=9 February 2025 | url=https://indiacurrents.com/a-thousand-year-old-prashasti-inscription-sheds-light-on-the-ramayana/ | access-date=19 February 2025}}</ref> [[File:Garhwa fort- sculptures.jpg|left|thumb|Sculptures]]{{clear}}
==Gallery== <gallery>File:1870 photo of Hindu temple ruins at Garhwa, Allahabad District, Uttar Pradesh.jpg|Temple ruins at Garhwa in 1870. File:Sculpture of Aditya, the Sun god, of Gupta period, from Garhwa, Allahabad, 1870s.jpg|Sculpture of [[Surya|Aditya]], the Sun god, of Gupta period, from Garhwa, Allahabad, 1870s photo File:KITLV 88154 - Unknown - Relief at Garhwa in British India - 1897.tif|[[Kurma]] (Tortoise) avatar and Reliefs at Garhwa, 1897 File:Matsyavatara (fish incarnation of Vishnu), Garhwa, Allahabad District.jpg|[[Matsya]] [[avatar]] (fish incarnation of Vishnu) File:KITLV 88152 - Unknown - Relief at Garhwa in British India - 1897.tif|A relief File:KITLV 88155 - Unknown - Sculptures at Garhwa in British India - 1897.tif| Sculptures at Garhwa File:KITLV 88156 - Unknown - Sculpture Garhwa in British India - 1897.tif|Brahma sculpture. </gallery>
== References == {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commonscat|Garhwa Fort}} {{coord|25.2262|81.5858|type:landmark_region:IN|display=title}}
{{Prayagraj landmarks}}
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Prayagraj]] [[Category:Gupta Empire]] [[Category:Forts in Uttar Pradesh]] [[Category:History of Prayagraj]] [[Category:Buildings and structures in Prayagraj]] [[Category:Prayagraj district]] [[Category:Hindu temples in Uttar Pradesh]]