Kalinjar Fort
कालिंजर किला
An important hilltop fortress of the Chandelas, with walls, the Neelkantha Shiva Temple and cliff carvings overlooking the plains.
Kalinjar Fort stands on a solitary peak in the Vindhya hills on the Uttar Pradesh border, roughly 100 km by road from Khajuraho. Its history stretches back to the Gupta era. It was a key military stronghold of the Chandelas and withstood repeated sieges by the Ghaznavids, the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughals. Sher Shah Suri died here in battle in 1545. Inside the fort are seven gateways, palace ruins and water tanks. The highlights are the Neelkantha Shiva Temple and a giant Shiva relief carved into the cliff face. Few visitors come, so it’s best to hire a car for a day trip and bring plenty of water.
Opening hours
Sunrise to sunset
Nearby sights
- Raneh Falls
- Pandav Falls
- Panna National Park
- Vamana Temple
- Eastern Group of Temples (Jain)
- Javari Temple
- Duladeo Temple
- Archaeological Museum Khajuraho