Madan Mahal Fort – Jabalpur
The Madan Mahal Fort of Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh, is a fortified garrison standing atop a rocky hill at a height of 515 m, the fort was built by Raja Madan Shah., during the reign of Gondwana dynasty. Based on a single stone rock of granite, the fort in its earliest days served the purpose of being a watch tower & military barrack. The fort consists shrines & structures like Sangram Sagar and Bajnamath, built by Sangram Shah, between 1480 – 1540 CE.
Madan Mahal Fort served as a military post to track military expedition towards their region. The main fort or Garha fort was in the plains, where the Kings & the royal family stayed. It was Rani Durgavati, and her son Raja Madan Singh, the 10th Gond ruler. Rani Durgavati died fighting the Moguls, a martyr. She constructed temples & tanks scattered around Jabalpur, chiefly around Garha principality. Gondwana rulers reigned over Mandla, Jabalpur, and surrounding regions. Though this fort is not exactly an architectural marvel, it is among one of the ancient monuments in India.