Manikgarh Fort

Manikgarh Fort, also known as Gadchandur or Manikgad, is a 9th-century hill fort located in Jiwati tehsil, Chandrapur district, Maharashtra. Built by the Mana Naga King Gahilu around 9 CE and later expanded by Gond rulers, it sits at an elevation of 507 meters within dense deciduous forest. The fort is currently in ruins and features ancient ramparts, stone water tanks, a Vishnu temple ruin, and a unique iron-strap cannon. It is primarily visited for trekking and historical exploration rather than as a maintained tourist monument.

Visitors can expect a rugged trekking experience through dense forest to reach the ruined fortifications atop a 507-meter hill. The site contains visible remnants of ancient rampart walls, building foundations, stone water tanks, and a Vishnu temple within a valley enclosed by the fort's perimeter. A distinctive welded iron-strap cannon lies below the collapsed southern bastion. The area is uninhabited wilderness frequented by leopards and wild boar, with no facilities, shops, or maintained paths available on-site.

Built around 9 CE by Mana Naga King Gahilu and named after patron deity Manikadevi, the fort served as a formidable military stronghold. Control passed from the Mana Nagas to Gond rulers of Chanda who expanded its defenses, then to the Marathas in 1751, and finally to the British in 1818. The Naga relief carving on the entrance gate lintel provides physical evidence of its original builders, distinguishing it from local legends attributing construction to Gond king Mankyal.

The fort represents the architectural and military heritage of the Mana Naga dynasty, one of the early ruling powers in Vidarbha region. Local tribal communities including Gonds maintain cultural connections to the area, with annual gatherings at nearby Keslapur fair reflecting enduring regional traditions.