Chudanga Gada Fort

Bhubaneswar, India

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Chudanga Gada Fort, located near Bhubaneswar in Odisha, India, was constructed in the 9th or 10th century by Lalatendu Kesari of the Kesari (Somavamsi) dynasty and later renovated by Baraha Kesari.

Originally known as Sarangagarh due to the abundance of lotus-filled water bodies in the area, the fort was renamed after Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva of the Ganga dynasty, who captured it in the 12th century. Spread over a rectangular area measuring about 1700 by 1500 meters, the fort features large laterite and sandstone blocks, several water bodies, religious shrines, a granary, and the ruins of a sixteen-room palace called Solapuri Uasa.

The architecture reflects the Kalingan style, with dry masonry construction, and the site served as a military cantonment and royal residence. Despite its ruinous state today, the fort remains an important archaeological and historical site protected by the Archaeological Survey of India.