Bandogarh

Bandhavgarh is a hill fort rising above the forests of Baghelkhand. Its high plateau, cliffs and ancient rock-cut remains made it a formidable stronghold. Local tradition connects its name, the “brother’s fort,” with Rama and his brother Lakshmana. The fortress became the seat of the Baghela rulers whose kingdom gave the surrounding country its name.

Accounts of the Baghela house relate that Karan Deo received Bandhavgarh through marriage and moved his court there. The fort remained a royal centre for centuries, although its history included changes of control and conflict with neighbouring powers. In 1597 Mughal forces attacked the fort under Akbar. The Baghela rulers later moved their capital to Rewa in the early seventeenth century, leaving the old stronghold in its forested hill setting.