Agori Fort

Agori Fort
Agorigarh
Back view of Agori Fort. Pencil drawing of the Fort in December 1868, by Stanley Leighton
Location	Sonbhadra
Nearest city	Chopan and Obra
Coordinates	24°20′N 82°35′E / 24.33°N 82.58°E / 24.33; 82.58

Agori Fort is a fort located about 10 km from Chopan near Obra by the Son River, in the Sonbhadra district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. A Kali temple is there. It is a religious place for the Agori Baba.Agori Fort was the palace of the Khayaravala and Narayana dynasties.^[1] This fort was with in control of Nawab of Awadh under Mughal empire. Nawab has appointed Chandel Rajputs as guards of the fort. Kashi Naresh Maharaj Balwant Singh had captured the fort in year 1747 after defeating Chandel. This fort was used by Kashi Naresh as their military base till the arrival of Britishers. Kashi Naresh Maharaja Chet Singh was the last Indian ruler of this fort.

The Rihand and Sonnadi rivers meet in Agori. A Persian inscription of 1026 Hijri (1616 AD) is in one part of the fort. The agori fort was captured by Chandel Rajputs in 1187 they settled near Bardi Raj and Agori Barhar. They defeated the local Khairwar chief who to used rule in this area. In 1182 the Chandela dynasty was ruled by Maharajadhiraja Parmardi Deva. They faced a raid by Maharajadhiraja Prithviraja Chauhan in 1182, at the same Maharaja Parmardi Deva was busy campaigning in Baghelkhand and Tripuri on the Kalchuris (inscription dated 1183). At that time Maharaja Prithviraja's army and Chandel's army fought in Madanpur. Later, Madanpur was captured by Prithviraja Chauhan but within 6 months Chandels recaptured it.^[2] During the campaign of Parmardi Deva in Baghelkhand and Tripuri, he defeated the Kalchuris.

In 1187 one of the Parmardi Deva's son Raja Bhram Jit (Bhram Deo) came there in the region of Bardi and Agori Barhar and defeated the local Khairwar chief and started to rule. He had 2 sons Bharimal and Primal. Bharimal became the independent Maharaja of Bardi and Parimal became the independent ruler of Agori. Throughout history, the Chandels of Agori barhar fought many battles. In 1226 the younger brother of raja of bardi Bir Bikram Singh founded the Gidhaur Raj in Bihar. Later on in 1620 Agori Barhar came under Mughal rule. In the 17th century the Bhumihar ruler of Beneras State/ Kashi State attacked Agori and defeated the Chandel guard of Nawab . Laal Khan a Military commander of Artillery guns of Banaras State had fired upon the Chandel guards causing heavy damage to chandels. Large number of Chandel soldiers were killed during the artillery attack by the troops of Laal Khan. Later Babu Ramruch Singh who was military commander of Cavalry and Infantry of Banaras State had captured the fort and masted the Flag of Royal Banaras State/ Kashi State. Kashi Naresh Maharaja Balwant Singh had set up his military base over the fort. Agori Bbarhar had 400 villages under their rule and a revenue of around 2 lakh rupees in 1871. It is said that the Agori fort was renovated by Kashi Naresh Maharaja Balwant Singh and Kashi Naresh Maharaja Chet Singh twice during rule of Narayana Kashi Naresh Maharaja Chet Singh was the last Indian ruler of this fort Beneras State.

The fort is surrounded by rivers from three sides: Bijul/Vijul/Vrijul, Rihand and Son River. It has been enclosed with trenches on all sides to protect it from any attack.

The war between Molagt King and Veer Lorik was held there. An artistic idol of the Goddess Durga sits in the fort at the courtyard entrance. A well is there. Thousands of people visit to worship.

A stone in the form of an elephant sits at the center of the river called Krmaamel elephant of Molagt King who was killed by Veer Lorik. The fort can be reached by boat from Chopan.

• Stanley Leighton
• Vijaygarh Fort
• Sonbhadra

• "Agori Barhar (Zamindari) - The History Bro : Agori Barhar Zamindari". 25 June 2024. Retrieved 27 July 2025.