Asirgarh Fort

About Asirgarh Fort

Far From City: 18 kms from city center
Cost: About Asirgarh Fort Weather: Time Required:1-2 hrs Cost:No entry fee

History of Asirgarh fort The Asirgarh Fort was built by the Ahir dynasty emperor Asa Ahir in the 15th century. When Nasir Khan of Khandesh, a ruler of the Faruqui Dynasty, requested Asa Ahir to provide shelter to his family members, especially women, in the fort since these people were under some potential threat, the latter agreed. This, however, was a conspiracy and no sooner had the family members been allowed to enter that some trained soldiers under Nasir Khan killed Asa Ahir and all his family members. The fort then came under Nasir Khan's empire. Nasir Khan's descendant Miran Bahadur Khan, who ruled from 1596 to 1600, refused to pay homage to the Mughal Emperor Akbar and his son Daniyal and asserted his independence. Enraged, Akbar marched Burhanpur in 1599 and captured the entire city. He then also besieged the fort and captured it on 17 January in 1601. Finally, during the Second Anglo-Maratha War, the British forces took the pettah of Asirgarh on 18 October 1803. Eventually, the fort's garrison surrendered on 21 October in the same year. Architecture of Asirgarh Fort The Asirgarh Fort was deserted after the departure of the British and is now in ruins. The architectural style of the fort was heavily influenced by the Mughals and is a combination of the Islamic, Persian, Turkish and Indian styles of architecture. The fort has been constructed of stone, lead and limestone. Structure of Asirgarh Fort The fort houses a temple which is known as the Gupteshwar Mahadev Mandir and is dedicated to the Hindu deity Shiva. According to local legends, Ashwatthama, a famous character from the Indian epic Mahabharata, visited this temple on a regular basis to worship Lord Shiva and offer him flowers. Other than the temple, the Asirgarh fort also houses a ruined mosque with minarets, which is known as Asir Masjid, and a gurudwara. There is also a place inside the fort just opposite the Shiva temple where criminals were hung and later on thrown from over the cliff. A vast natural water tank in the fort serves as the water source for the residents of the Fort. One can also find ruins of British origin, British graves, human-made ponds, balconies that showcase the royal medieval Indian architecture, and tombs inside the fort. Asirgarh Fort Haunted Story To avenge the death of this father Guru Dronacharya, Ashwathama killed all the five sons of the Pandavas and even attempted to kill Abhimanyu's son Pareekshit while he was still in his mother's womb. Lord Krishna then cursed Ashwathama and stated that he would bear the load of the misdeeds of other people on his shoulders, and always roam like an apparition and get no sympathy or affection. He also stated that Ashwathama would live away from the society in complete isolation. Ashwathama was also requested to give up the gem that was on his forehead. From that time onwards, people believe that Aswathama finds his death, but he never finishes. It is believed that Aswathama has been roaming around in the Asirgarh fort for the past five thousand years. He is the first one to worship Lord Shiva in the morning, and mysteriously enough, there are fresh flowers and sandal that are offered to Lord Shiva every morning. Some people also believe that Ashwathama lingers around the Asirgarh Fort at night time, and asks people for turmeric and oil to stop the bleeding of his forehead. He also takes a bath in the pond which is on the campus of the fort and worships Lord Shiva in the temple of the Fort. Anyone who sees this apparition either goes mad or loses his mental stability.

Best time to visit Asirgarh Fort The best time to visit the Asirgarh Fort is from October to March when the weather is the most pleasant there. How to Reach Asirgarh Fort To visit the Asirgarh Fort, you will first have to reach Burhanpur via Indore. Burhanpur is situated on the State Highway 27, which links it to Indore. From Indore, it is best to drive down to Burhanpur or hire a taxi or bus. The Asirgarh Fort is located about 20 kilometres to the north of the city of Burhanpur. From Burhanpur, you can hire an auto-rickshaw, which will cost you around INR 500 for a round trip to and from the fort.

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