- Vaishnavi Sharma
Along the shores of the river Ganga lies a glorious but often forgotten reminder of the Slave Dynasty.
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The Munger Fort was constructed in 1330 AD, a period marked with transformation and turbulence. Sultan Muhammad Ghori had left behind his slave Qutb Ud Din Aibak in India to govern his territories and annex new ones. During this time, Bihar came under their control and went on to be ruled by many dynasties, directly or indirectly for years to come.
Built from granite stones and lime mortar, the fort offered many strategic advantages. In fact, during the Mughal rule, the heavy arrangements were expanded. One side of the fort had a massive fortification with the clock tower, while the other had a moat. A striking feature is that the moat was 175 feet deep and opened into the river Ganga, providing formidable security against various intruders.
The octagonal fort has four entrances and the main gateway is called the Lal Darwaza. An interesting fact about this monument is that it has withstood the test of time. An earthquake in the year 1934 had left most parts of the fort in ruins but the Lal Darwaza stands strong to this day. Another tidbit is that most people believe that the carved stone in the gate belongs to a Hindu or Buddhist structure although, it's quite unsure who it actually belongs to. The citadel is famous for its clock tower which is mechanically operated.
The edifice houses several religious and historical monuments such as the Tomb of Pir Shah Nufa Kashtaharini Ghat on the Ganga river and the Chandika Sthan.
Pir Shah Nufa was a Sufi Saint of Persian origin. Following the instructions of Khwaza Moin-Uddin Chisti, he went from Persia to Ajmer and then came down to Munger. He lived here for many years and was buried here after his death. However, he was buried in an obscure spot near the ramparts of the fort and his burial site was soon forgotten. It was much later (1497 AD) when a mosque was built at the site of his burial ground by the Governor of the region, Prince Danyal. According to stories told by the locals, Prince Danyal had a divine dream about the exact location of the burial site which motivated him to build the mosque. After its completion, the mosque was known as Dargah of Shah Nafah, meaning ‘Pod of Musk’ in Persian.
The Kashtaharini Ghat or the Uttar Vahini Ganga Ghat in Munger is associated with several legends. It has been mentioned in the Ramayana and, according to it, Rama and Lakshmana came to this spot to rest after confronting the demon Taraka. Another story is that after the marriage of Ram and Sita, the wedding party had stopped here to rest while on their return journey to Ayodhya. A popular belief was that bathing in this water would relieve individuals from pain and would soothe their minds and souls.
Besides having paramount religious significance, this spot is also picturesque and a wonderplace place to spend one’s evenings.
Another site of utmost religious importance is the Chandika Sthan. Hindu folklore says that Goddess Sati’s left eye fell in Munger which transformed it into a place of worship of the divine Goddess Chandi. Another story from the Mahabharata states that the warrior Karna would visit the temple to worship Goddess Chandi every day. In turn, she blessed him to succeed in his endeavour of helping the underprivileged. It is said that she gave him around 50 kilograms of gold to distribute to the needy in Karanchaura, now a local name for the area.
Saving the best for the end - The Mir Qasim Caves.
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Mir Qasim was the last ruler of Munger before it fell into the hands of the British and his rule was a turning point in the history of the region.
After the fort was captured, Princess Gul and Prince Bahar used to hide under the tunnels by the riverside to exact revenge on the British officers. Unfortunately, one night the two children were shot dead and this lead to the end of the rule of the Muslim Kings in Bihar.
The tunnels are still a mystery for many as the end point has not yet been determined. People have tried to explore it but were unsuccessful mainly due to a lack of resources.
The Munger Fort is a true architectural wonder and gives an insight into a period of history which is quite neglected. The fascinating aspect is that there are so many features of the fort which are still unexplored which makes it so intriguing that it heads your list of destinations to visit in Munger.
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