Ajaygarh Fort

Eighty kilometres out of Khajuraho, along the highway to Panna, and then through village roads, the explorer reaches the small town of Ajaygarh. For reaching the Ajaygarh Fort, you have to climb 170 steps before you cross into the inner wall of the fort's defenses. You should pause and look at the way the walls have been constructed with large, dressed, stones and no visible mortar. Leaving the wall on your right you walk through a second gate, and pause. On your right, carved out of the living rock, are a most unusual flying Ganesh, bearing a snake aloft and carrying an axe. There are more carvings on the rocks at the side of the steps before you reach the main gate of the fort.

The gate might be locked but there is likely to be a panel missing giving access through it as if it was a wicket gate! Finally, you will come across two carved temples known as the Rang Mahal. One of the temples has the remnants of a stone tower, or shikara. The other one has standing pillars but is unroofed. Look for carvings inside the first one and on the outside of the second. They have been finely cut and look almost like engravings. This fort was built by the Chandellas who were also responsible for creating the superbly embellished temples of Khajuraho.