Khukhragarh

Khukhragarh was a fortified capital of the Nagvanshi rulers of Chota Nagpur. Its site lies among the hills west of Ranchi, where mounds preserve traces of the old settlement. Tradition attributes the move here to the ruler Bhim Karn. The kingdom was known to the Mughals as Khukhra and attracted their attention for its diamonds as well as its strategic position.

In 1615 the Mughal governor of Bihar, Ibrahim Khan, marched against the Nagvanshi ruler Durjan Shah. The emperor Jahangir sought both submission and access to diamonds found in the rivers of the region. Durjan Shah was captured and carried away; after his release he established a new fortified seat at Navratangarh. Khukhragarh remained associated with the earlier royal house, while the move marked a new chapter in the history of the plateau kingdom.