Pavagarh
This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. |
Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts. Some units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
Pavagarh
Hill fort in the Kalol, taluka of the Panch Mahals District, Bombay, situated in 22 31'N. and 73 36' E., about 28 miles east of Baroda and 11 miles south-east of Champaner Road station on the Baroda-Godhra Railway. It stands on an isolated hill surrounded by extensive plains, from which it rises abruptly to the height of 2,500 feet, being about 2,800 feet above the level of the sea. The base and lower slopes are thickly covered with rather stunted timber ; but its shoulders and centre crest are, on the south, west, and north, cliffs of bare trap, too steep for trees. Less inaccessible, the eastern heights are wooded and topped by massive masonry walls and bastions, rising with narrowing fronts to the scarped rock that crowns the hill.
To the east of Pavagarh lie the vast Barya State forests, and the hill seems to form the boundary between the wild country to the east and the clear open plain that stretches westward to the sea. On the east side of the north end of the hill are the remains of many beautiful Jain temples ; and on the west side, overlooking a tremendous preci- pice, are some Musalman buildings of more modern date, supposed to have been used as granaries. The southern extremity is more uneven, and from its centre rises an immense peak of solid rock, towering to the height of about 250 feet. The ascent to the top of this is by a flight of stone steps, and on its summit stands a Hindu temple of Kali, with a Musalman shrine on its spire. The fortifications include the lower fort, a massive stone structure with strong bastions stretching across the less precipitous parts of the eastern spur. This line of fortification is entered by the Atak Gate, once double, but now with its outer gate in ruins. Half a mile farther is the Moti or Great Gate, giving entrance to the second line of defence. The path winds up the face of the rock through four gates, each commanding the one below it. Massive walls connect the gates and sweep up to the fortifications that stretch across the crest of the spur. Beyond the Moti Gate, the path for about 200 yards lies over level ground with a high ridge on the left, crowned by a strong wall running back to the third line of defence. This third line of defence is reached through the Sadan Shah Gate, a winding passage cut through the solid rock, crowned with towering walls and bastions, and crossed by a double Hindu gateway.
In old inscriptions the name of the hill appears as Pavakgarh or
fire hill.' The first historical reference to it is in the writings of the
bard Chand, twelfth century, who speaks of Ram Gaur the Tuar as lord of Pava. The earliest authentic account is about 1300, when it was seized by Chauhan Rajputs, who fled from Mewar before the forces of Ala-ud-din Khilji. The Musalman kings of Ahmaclabad more than once attempted to take the fort, and failed. In 1484 Sultan Mahmud Begara, after a siege of nearly two years, succeeded in reducing it. On gaining possession, he added to the defences of the upper and lower forts, and for the first time fortified the plateau, making it his citadel. In spite of its strength, it was captured through treachery in 1535 by the emperor Humayun. In 1573 it fell into the hands of Akbar. In 1727 it was surprised by Kristynajl, who made it his head-quarters, and conducted many raids into Gujarat. Sindhia took the fort about 1761; and Colonel Woodington cap- tured it from Sindhia in 1803. In 1804 it was restored to Sindhia, with whom it remained until 1853, when the British took over the management of the Panch Mahals.
