{{Short description|Fort in India}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}} {{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}} {{more citations needed|date=January 2024}} {{Infobox military installation | name = Keoti Fort | partof = Madhya Pradesh, {{flag|India}} | location = Rewa District, Madhya Pradesh, India | image = Front Left Outer SE View Keoti Fort MP Jan24 A7C 08736.jpg | image_size = | caption = Keoti Fort, front and south side, ca. 2024 | map_type = India Madhya Pradesh | map_relief = yes | map_size = | map_caption = Keoti fort within Madhya Pradesh | type = Fort | coordinates = {{coord|24.81714|81.45725|type:landmark|display=inline}} | code = | built = | builder = | materials = | height = | used = | demolished = | condition = dilapidated | ownership = | open_to_public = yes | controlledby = | garrison = | current_commander = | commanders = | occupants = | battles = | events = | image2 = | caption2 = }}
'''Keoti Fort''' (also '''Keonti Fort''') is an Indian fortress ''(qila)'' situated on the Rewa Plateau about {{convert|53|km}} north-east of the city of Rewa, in Rewa district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.
== History == Keoti Fort is said to have been constructed by Raja Parmal Dev in 1500 AD, who was a Baghel Rajput King and son of Maharaja of Rewa (princely state)<ref name=RewaRiyasat>{{Cite news |last=Baghel |first=V.S. |date=20 January 2023 |title=प्राकृतिक सुन्दरता और इतिहास को समेटे हुए है रीवा का 'क्यूटी फोर्ट', प्रशासनिक उपेक्षा से खो रहा वजूद (Rewa's 'Keoti Fort' boasts natural beauty and history, being lost due to administrative neglect) |url=https://www.rewariyasat.com/rewa/rewas-keoti-fort-boasts-of-natural-beauty-and-history-being-lost-due-to-administrative-neglect-101272 |access-date=22 July 2024 |work=RewaRiyasat.com}}</ref> mentioned in an account of the Indian Rebellion of 1857. Thakur Ranmat Singh Baghel was a descendent of Kothi Royal Family of Kothi State, a former sardar (commander) in the army of Maharaja Rewa (princely state) and later a prominent leader in the Rebellion in Rewa State during 1857 revolt in Baghelkhand, went into hiding in Keoti Fort. In a battle at the Keoti Fort, he killed a British officer who came to arrest him, thereby defeating the British authorities however the Maharaja of Rewa (princely state), under British pressure, eventually turned against Ranmat Singh. The Maharaja of Rewa wanted Ranmat Singh to surrender to the British authorities with the assurance that he would not be killed. However his Diwan Dinbandhu Pandey of Rewa acted as an informant for the British, which led to the capture of Ranmat Singh by the British authorities. He was hanged in 1860 for the murder of the British officer along with his active role in 1857 revolt against the British authorities in Baghelkhand where he defeated the British authorities in multiple battles across areas like Nagod, Bhilsain, Chitrakoot, Nowgong, and Keoti.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Thakur Ranmat Singh |url=https://indianculture.gov.in/node/2820033 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240121154306/https://indianculture.gov.in/node/2820033 |archive-date=21 January 2024 |access-date=21 January 2024 |website=Ministry of Culture (India) |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Srivastava |first=A.C. |date=1961 |title=THAKUR RANMAT SINGH OF REWA [Summary] |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/44140758.pdf?refreqid=fastly-default%3Acf4b241e6be0fa91bcd7069928558ce8&ab_segments=0%2Fbasic_search_gsv2%2Fcontrol&origin=&initiator=search-results&acceptTC=1 |journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress |volume=24 |pages=224–225 |publisher=Indian History Congress}}</ref>
During the Revolt of 1857 in Baghelkhand, the Kothi State (Kothi princely state, Satna) is noted for helping Thakur Ranmat Singh Baghel. Historical accounts mention that Raja Bahadur Avdhoot Singh Baghel of Kothi State provided rebels with shelter, ammunition, food, money, and support for recruiting fighters.
== Geography == Keoti Fort is situated on the Rewa Plateau near the northern end of the Vindhya Escarpment.<ref name=Hawkes2014>{{Cite journal |last=Hawkes |first=J.D. |date=25 March 2014 |title=One Size Does Not Fit All: Landscapes of Religious Change in Vindhya Pradesh |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02666030.2014.892370 |journal=South Asian Studies |publisher=Routledge |volume=30 |issue=1 |pages=2-3}}</ref> The fort is built on the right bank of a ravine that the Mahana River has cut into the escarpment. The {{cvt|98|m|ft|abbr=on}} high Keoti Falls is on the opposite side of the ravine, visible from the northern part of the fort. The elevation of Keoti Fort is {{cvt|280|m|ft|abbr=on}} above mean sea level.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}
Keoti Fort is about {{cvt|53|km|mi|abbr=on}} from the city of Rewa.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rewa-Keoti Fort route |url=https://www.openstreetmap.org/directions?engine=fossgis_osrm_car&route=24.5359%2C81.2934%3B24.8177%2C81.4562#map=11/24.6857/81.3479&layers=C |access-date=21 January 2024 |website=OpenStreetMap}}</ref> The nearest airport is located at Prayagraj (Allahabad) in Uttar Pradesh, a distance of {{cvt|114|km|mi|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Prayagraj (Allahabad) Airport - Keoti Fort route |url=https://www.openstreetmap.org/directions?engine=fossgis_osrm_car&route=25.4369%2C81.7342%3B24.8177%2C81.4562#map=10/25.1279/81.6579&layers=C |access-date=21 January 2024 |website=OpenStreetMap}}</ref>
== Architecture == thumb|left|Entrance in the east facade thumb|Loophole with 3 angles of fire thumb|left|North-east wall with loopholes facing the flat plateau The west wall of the fort runs along the Mahana ravine for about {{cvt|200|m|ft|abbr=on}}. The south wall extends about {{cvt|100|m|ft|abbr=on}} east from the ravine. The east wall with the main entrance is about {{cvt|40|m|ft|abbr=on}} long. There after, the fort depth narrows to about {{cvt|25|m|ft|abbr=on}} at the northern end of the fort. The total area enclosed by the walls is about {{cvt|1.0|ha|acre|abbr=on}}. Towers are located at the corners of the outer walls.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}
The construction material is stone and clay mortar. Loopholes with three angles of fire are built into the outer walls at regular intervals and at various heights. These are useful for defense against enemy coming across the flat plateau.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}
== Tourism == thumb|Ornamental tiles near he east entrance The fort is open to the public. Entrance is free (January 2024).{{citation needed|date=January 2024}} Fairs are held annually which attract many people. The carvings and stone artefacts, the natural beauty and the view of the Keoti Falls across the gorge behind the fort are attractions that draw visitors.<ref name=RewaRiyasat />
== Controversies == In 2016, the MP Government denotified the fort as a "protected heritage site" and transferred it to the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board to be developed as a heritage hotel. In July 2021, the MP Tourism Board issued a tender for development of the Keoti Fort.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://tourism.mp.gov.in/Uploaded%20Document/Tenders/130720210257112_RFP_Kyoti_fort_Rewa.pdf |title=Request for Proposal for Development of Heritage Hotel at Kyoti Fort, Rewa in Madhya Pradesh |date=9 July 2021 |publisher=Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board |access-date=22 July 2024}}</ref> However, it was reported that the fort had not been leased out and was falling into a state of disrepair.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Shukla |first=A. |date=16 March 2023 |title=Years after plan to develop ‘protected’ heritage sites as hotels, 7 still in ‘Madhya Pradesh of utter neglect’: CAG report |work=The Times of India}}</ref> A local news report claims that the fort is being neglected by the administration and is frequented by petty criminals. These factors may deter tourists.<ref name=RewaRiyasat />
== Popular culture == The Hindi movie Bindhi aur Bandook (1972) was shot at Keoti Fort.<ref name=RewaRiyasat />
== Gallery == === Exterior views === <gallery mode="packed" heights="120px"> File:Front Facade Keoti Fort MP Jan24 A7C 08740.jpg|Front (east) facade File:Front Right Outer NE View Keoti Fort MP Jan24 A7C 08738.jpg|Front and north side File:SE Tower Keoti Fort MP Jan24 A7C 08737.jpg|Tower on south-east corner File:Mahana Gorge Keoti Fort MP Jan24 A7C 08748.jpg|Gorge of the Mahana River behind the fort </gallery>
=== Interior views === <gallery mode="packed" heights="120px"> File:Inside South Wall Keoti Fort Madhya Pradesh Jan24 A7C 08785.jpg|Inside south-west part, tower overlooking the ravine, loopholes near the top of the wall File:North Part Inside Keoti Fort Rewa Jan24 A7C 08786.jpg|Northern inside of the fort: ravine on left, north wall in centre, east wall on right File:Loophole Keoti Fort Rewa MP Jan24 A7C 08776.jpg|Loophole in outer wall for firearms File:Grinding Stone Keoti Fort MP Jan24 A7C 08761.jpg|Grinding stone inside the fort </gallery>
== See also == * List of forts in Madhya Pradesh * Keoti Falls
== References == {{Commons category}} {{reflist}}
{{Forts in India}} {{Forts in Madhya Pradesh}}
{{coord|21.4710|76.2937|display=title}}
Category:Forts in Madhya Pradesh Category:Rewa district