STATE PROTECTED MONUMENTS OF CHANDERI

Chanderi was first settled in the 11 century A.D hepratihara King, Kirtipal 7 in a line of 13 Kings mentioned in a Sanskrit inscription The town dominated the trade routes of Central India on the borders of Malwa and Bundelkhand and became an important military outpost. Today it is a well-preserved medieval town famed for the craft of sari weaving, with beautiful structures executed in the Bundelkhandi style. It is said that Chanderis former prosperity depended on its strategic position as a sort of base camp for armies moving south from the time of the Sultans of Delhi. However, the documented history of Chanderi goes back to the early 11th century, which is a kaleidoscope of movement and activity prompted, by its strategic location. On the borders of Malwa and Bundelkhand, the town dominated the trade routes of Central India, proximate to the arterial route to the ancient ports of Gujarat as well as to Malwa, Mewar, Central India and the Deccan. Consequently, Chanderi became an important military outpost, prized by rulers with power and repeatedly experienced the might of men who moulded the destiny of Hindustan. Chanderi also came up as pilgrimage center with the coming up of Jain temples in the 9th and 10th century Chanderi is not very far from Gwalior. It can be approached from two different roads. The first passes through Datia, Dinara and Pichor before reaching Chanderi while the other goes via Shivpuri and Daharda. Situated on the flanks of the Vindhyachal, Chanderi was a lush green, thickly forested but bustling city back in the 11th century. Though most of these dense forests have been wrecked by now there is still a tract of thick woods when you approach it from Shivpuri. A story relates that the forests around Chanderi were so abundant that it took Babur six months to locate the fortress. II-CHHATRIS The first chhatri was built in 17th cent. A.D. Beautiful amalgamation of Mughal and Bundell architecture can be seen In the chhatri which has 12 pillars and is raised on a high platform. The domed shikhar is decorated with lotus shaped todi, sharped arches and ceiling the tome seems to be belongs to a saint. Another chhatri belongs to Sultan of Ahmednagar, Bahadur Nizam Shah. He died in the fort of Gwalior in 1682 A.D. and was burled at this place. This chhatri is built in Mughal style in the later part of 17th cent. A.D.   Top of the page