Manikgad

Gherakilla Manikgad, Maharashtra, India

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Manikgad Fort, also called Gadchandur, is an ancient hill fort located in Jiwati tehsil of Chandrapur district, Maharashtra.

Built by the Mana Naga kings around the 9th century AD, it was originally named Manikagad after the patron goddess Manikadevi worshipped by the Mana Nagas. The fort lies 507 meters above sea level and was constructed using huge black stones. Though now in ruins, it features a tall solid entrance gate with a carved Naga image and rampart walls surrounding a valley with remnants of old buildings and storehouses.

Historically, it was held by the Gond rulers of Chanda until the mid-18th century before succumbing to the Marathas. The fort’s remains include a cannon made of iron straps, vestiges of bastions, and ruins blending into the dense jungle habitat frequented by wildlife like panthers and boars. Manikgad stands as a significant relic of medieval tribal and regional power dynamics within Maharashtra.