Shergarh is a fort located beside the Parbvan river in Atru Tehsil of Baran district of Rajasthan. A popular tourist attraction, the fort is known for its ancient Jain and Brahmanical temples. The fort is located south of the city of Baran. Shergarh fort got its name after it was captured by Sultan Sher Shah of the Sur dynasty who used it as a military outpost. So, this fort is not to be confused with the fort of the same name in Bihar built by Sher Shah or the one with the same name in the Dholpur district of Rajasthan.
There is an inscription from 790 AD about the Shergarh fort’s history, thus making it one of the oldest forts in India. The story goes, that the now ruined Shergarh Fort, was built more than 3,000 years ago.
Being a place of strategic importance with rich history, each and every place of the Shergarh fort deserves to be explored. As such a guided tour of the fort is worth it. As per historical records, the current fort was built by Raja Maldeo of Jodhpur in 1532. Sultan Sher Shah attacked and captured the fort, then, rechristened it as Shergarh. He further restored the fort in 1540 AD to protect his kingdom from the onslaughts on the western frontier in the mid-16th century. The fort served as a strong and strategically located defensive position. Shergarh Fort was in use till the beginning of the 20th century. The fort is known for enchanting images, beautifully carved sculptures of Hindu gods, and delicate Jain motifs.
After the Mughal rule was re-established, it remained with the Mughals till Emperor Farrukhsiyar gave it to Bhim Singh Jhala. He beautified the fort and several temples including Somnath Mahadev, Laxminarayan, Durga, and Charbhua temples. The fort includes Main Palace, Haveli, armory, Amir Khan Pindari’s Palace, soldiers’ quarters, and a massive granary. The fort is spread over an area of 6 sq. km with 8 huge turrets. Shergarh Fort has 4 gates but the most frequently used gate was the one on the eastern side. It also houses a Hanuman Temple, courtyards, tomb, and many other structures, most of which are in a ruined state.
A tourist’s dream, Baran is the land of picturesque wooded hills and valleys, where one can also stumble to old ruins of forts and palaces each telling their own stories of an era gone by. The city is also known for its Ram-Sita temples, picnic spots, tribal fairs, and festivals. Shergarh fort, its original name was Koshavardhan; and it is among the most popular forts for tourists visiting Baran in the state of Rajasthan. Shergarh Fort sits beside the river and is currently maintained by the Rajasthan state government. The best time to explore the ancient Shergarh fort is in the winter months of October to February, when the temperatures are pretty cool. Visiting in the summers and monsoons when the temperatures are very high and humid, thus, it is best avoided.
Tourists can visit the fort daily between 8.00 AM to 5.30 PM. There are no entry fees for tourists to visit the fort. It is well connected by air, rail, and road with all major cities. The closest airport is Jaipur, around 312 km away. There are many places to explore, besides the Shergarh fort, and tourists can go to these places using the fort as a hub. These places include the Shahabad Fort built in 1521 by Mukutmani Dev, about 80 km from Baran; Brahmani Mataji Temple located 20 km from Baran inside an old fort; Shahi Jama Masjid of Shahabad; Bhand Devra Temple, also called mini ‘Khajuraho of Rajasthan’ about 40 km from Baran; and last not the least, Shergarh sanctuary about 65 km from Baran known for its regular sightings of tigers, sloth bears, leopards, and wild boars.
