Bhimlat Pillar

The Bhimlat Pillar is a 26.3-foot monolithic red sandstone column located within the Bijai Garh Fort complex in Bayana. Erected in 371 CE by King Vishnuvardhana of the Varika dynasty, it features a Sanskrit Brahmi inscription recording a Pundarika sacrifice. As Bayana's oldest dated monument, it stands on a precipitous cliff-edge overlooking the town and represents a significant example of Gupta-era epigraphy and architecture.

Visitors can expect to see an ancient red sandstone pillar standing on the edge of a cliff within the ruins of Bijai Garh Fort. The site offers panoramic views of the Bayana town and surrounding Aravalli hills. The pillar bears visible ancient inscriptions. The fort complex itself contains other historical structures such as the Lodi Minar, Akbari Chhatri, and various gateways, requiring moderate trekking to access.

The pillar was erected in 371 CE by King Vishnuvardhana, a feudatory of the Gupta emperor Samudragupta. It records the performance of a Pundarika sacrifice and is considered Bayana's oldest dated monument, predating other local structures by over 700 years. The fort itself was later built by Jadon Rajput King Bijai Pal in the 11th century and was described by Babur as one of the most famous forts in India.

The site is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) as a Monument of National Importance. It represents the transition of power in the region from the Gupta era through the Delhi Sultanate and Mughal periods.