Kalinjar Fort Temple

Atop the Vindhya escarpment, the Kalinjar Fort (meaning 'destroyer of time') is one of the most formidable ancient strongholds of India. Within its walls are numerous Chandela-era rock-cut temples and sculptures, the most important being the Neelkanth Mahadev Temple with its rock-cut Shiva lingam.

The fort walls themselves bear inscriptions dating to the 7th century CE and were a major seat of power for the Gurjara-Pratiharas and Chandelas. It was also here that Sher Shah Suri, the great Afghan emperor, was fatally wounded in 1545 CE while besieging the fort.