Sabalgarh Fort

Sabalgarh Fort is a 16-17th-century hill fort near Sabalgarh, Madhya Pradesh, central India. This fort is situated on a large rock in the northeastern part of Sabalgarh, which may have also contributed to the city's name. The foundation of the Sabalgarh fort was laid by a Gurjar Sardar, Sabala Singh, with the surrounding town also named Sabalgarh. Sabala singh was alaso the kiledaar of this fort and also a darbaari in the court of karauli king. Presently, the fortress is in ruins and is infamous for stories of hauntings and ghosts. The fort consists of a defensive structure and one main palaces and many other buildings. The fort has been controlled by a number of different rulers in its history.EtymologySabalgarh means place of strong fort. "Sabal" means strong and "Garh" means fort.HistorySabalgarh belonged to the Raja of Karaoli, a petty state in Rajasthan and now a Tehsil, having a fort and a pool. In August, 1795, Maratha forces under Lakhwa Dada attacked Sabalgarh. After a stubborn struggle, they reduce the strong fort of Sabalgarh to submission and they attacked Bijaipur and it was also captured and placed in charge of Ambaji Ingale. In 1806, Daulat Rao Sindhia imprisoned Ambaji and demanded Sabalgarh, from him but he refused, though later on he surrendered a few places in the territory to the Raja of Karaoli. The Raja thus came into the possession of Sabalgarh. But these places were again taken back by Scindia’s forces and incorporated in his dominions. It was at Sabalgarh, as mentioned earlier, that Daulat Rao Sindhia and Jaswant Rao Holker met for an alliance against the East India Company in 1805. The fort of Sabalgarh is noteworthy among the medieval monuments. There is a ‘Bandh’ built in the Sindhia period behind the fort. The foundation of Sabalgarh was laid by a ‘Gujar’ named Sabla of Baisla clan. The fort was constructed on a high cliff by Gopal Singh Bainsla, the Raja of Karauli. Sikandar Lodi sent an army to take control of the fort. The Marathas, in their campaign through northern India, retook the fort and returned it to the Raja of Karauli.