Manikgad is an ancient fort in Chandrapur district

Chandrapur District

Chandrapur District is a district in Nagpur Division of the Indian state of Maharashtra.It is located at the boundary of Andhrapradesh. The district was formerly known as Chanda District. In 1964, it was renamed as Chandrapur. It was the largest district in India until it was split into the...

, Maharashtra

Maharashtra

Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...

. It is a hill fort 507 metres above sea level built by the Naga kings in the 9 CE. Currently the forts is in a state of ruins and is frequently by wild animals that live in the vicinity like panthers and boars. Several monuments of historical importance are also present in the area.

History

Manikgad was built by the last Mana Naga

Naga people

The term Naga people refers to a conglomeration of several tribes inhabiting the North Eastern part of India and north-western Burma. The tribes have similar cultures and traditions, and form the majority ethnic group in the Indian state of Nagaland...

 King - Gahilu. The Mana Nagas settled in this area around 9 CE. Initially, the fort was named Manikagad after the patron deity of the Mana Nagas - Manikadevi - but later on this got shortened to Manikgad. Local legend holds that the fort was built by a Gond

Gondi people

The Gondi, Goindi or Gond people are people in central India, spread over the states of Madhya Pradesh, eastern Maharashtra , Chhattisgarh, northern Andhra Pradesh, and Western Orissa. With over four million people, they are the largest tribe in Central India.The Gondi language is related to...

king named Mankyal(hence the name Manikgad). However, the lintel of the entrance gate has a Naga image carved in relif and not the Gond emblem of lion and an elephant. So this legend is not true.

Major features

The fort is built of large black stones and it would have been a formidable fort in its time. Rampart walls of the fort enclose a valley which has ruins of old buildings and store-houses. Outlines of some apartments are visible against the rampart walls. The southern bastion along with its supporting wall has collapsed. In the valley below lies a cannon which likely was mounted on that bastion. Unlike a cast iron cannon, this cannon made of several iron straps welded together. The gateway of the fort is still intact.