Bhogaragarh , ruined fort of Bhogarapali, Jharsuguda

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In the Jharsuguda district of modern Odisha, there are numerous archaeological sites that are concealed from humankind. 'Bhogaragarh' is one of those historical sites. Bhogarapali is an ancient village in the Kolabira block of Jharsuguda district. Veden River flows into the southern part of the village, which had a small fort named  ''bhogaragarh'' on the banks of the river.  However, the devastating citadel has been excavated and some relics  recovered which confirms the location of the castle. Now the villagers are farming on the land around the utterly ruined fort. A few meters away from the fort is a pond called the ‘Rani Bandh'.  A spring known as 'Rani darah' situated in the veden river has emerged as a picnic spot for youth. One of the prominent shiva temple of western Odisha Bhubaneswar temple established on the other side of river.

 

( Bhogaragarh fort is located near this peepal tree in past )

Description

From persual of the chronicle book of 1600 BC reveals that – King Balarama Deva of the Chauhan dynasty established the kingdom of Sambalpur in the river basin in the sixteenth century AD. During his reign (1510-1584 AD), he invaded Surguja  kingdom (Suraguja in modern Chhattisgarh)to distheseminate  territory. As a consequence, he first occupied Gangapur (Sundergarh region of modern Odisha), a neighbouring kingdom of Surguja.

He first captured the Gangapur kingdom (Sundargarh of Moden Odisha) Consequently . Thereafter, King Balarama Deva headed the west of the kingdom with his army corps for the expansion of  area in 1514. As Suraguja Lalit Singh cognized that his kingdom would be assailed. So he reached  Bhogragarh fort located on the southern border of the kingdom with his army troops.   Owing to there was a fierce battle between the two armies.  But in the battle, many of the army, fort guards and personnel in charge of Bhogragarh, including many soldiers of  Suraguja kingdom were slain.

There is no vindication to prove who constructed  and ruled in  Bhogaragarh fort. Despite , it is heard from  folk that  Surguja state's general, army crops and employees resided with their families in the fort. In the gateway of Bhagoragarh fort,  sambar(deer) horns were installed in such a way that two horns collided with each other and producing sound when any enemy enters the citadel. Through this arrangement, the people inhabiting in the fort were getting indication about advent of the enemy .They would escape towards  Bheden river through secret tunnel before the fort's doors  unlatched.

The army corps of the Sambalpur king had  authorized fort after the Surguja king's army corps were  defeated.  At that point in time , there were no army personnel or employees of Surguja kingdom in the fort. Only wives of Fort's  Saver and Senapati (Commando) were there. Later, the army of the Sambalpur king started dissipating  the doors of Bhagoragarh fort to invade. But, before the enemy infiltrated ; wives of the army residing in the fort had escaped  toward the river by tunnel situated behind the fort. All of them committed suicide in the river. The place where they committed suicide is known as "Sati Dara". Apart from that,   the armies of both kings  combatted and made  area red colour with their blood, Locals call this area "Rakat Jharia Darh".

Eventually, Suraguja king Lalit Singh fled to his capital, realizing that he would lose  in battle. During the War his presiding God "Vishnu" had been plundered and dispatched to Sambalpur . In 1928, King Balaram Dev established a new temple and installed the idol of "Bishnu" in the temple. The "Antarsajya Temple" located in Sambalpur is  evidence of the war. However, the Army Corps of Sambalpur kingdom had captured Bhogargarh fort. But, they demolished the castle in rage of not slaying anyone. After the historic Bhagoragah war, the area of Sambalpur had expanded towards north-west side up to the Jharsuguda.

 Overtime, that  castle was destroyed.  Eventually the  abandoned fort on the banks of the Veden River  became dust, its surrounding area is called ‘Gadmal’. There was a village named Bhogorpali short distance from  Bhogoragarh where people have obtained weapons and  jewellery  from ruined fort. Horns of sambhar (deer ) were installed at the entrance of the historical Bhagoragarh fort. Therefore ,people called it "Samar Singha Gaad".In the later period , the commander and staff relocated few kilometer away from bhagoragarh, constituting a new village is  known as "Sambhar Singha Gaad" and  started residing in the village. The present name of that village is ‘Samasingha'.

Goddess Bhubaneswari  was adored in a miniature temple on the north side of the ancient Bhogragarh fort.  But after the war, Bhogragarh was  devastated, which was completely ruined by the floods and natural disasters of the Veden River.  During the reign of Jayant Singh, the Chauhan dynasty king of Sambalpur (1782-1818), the idol of Goddess Bhubaneswari was relocated from the premises of the demolished temple to the palace of Kolbira Zamindar Sansadhar Singh.

( Rani Daraha)



How to get there :-

With much grief, I am informing you that the  Bhogaragarh fort, an archaeological site, has turned into dust. However, if you want to visit the place, I have provided fort location below.


Bhogaragarh fort Location :-

Bhogaragarh fort

https://maps.app.goo.gl/jrVqKHPqyKueadT97


Rani darah location :-

Rani daraha

https://maps.app.goo.gl/rmp5xQSPzBXC9zgZ9



Written by :- Rohit Kumar Lohara

                       Purunabasti, Jharsuguda


Input from :- (1) Govind Chandra Tripathy

                        Bisruta bhogaragarh

                     (2) Villagers of Bhogarapali

                   

               -(Thank you for reading)-


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Location: Shanti City Centre, Sarbahal Rd, opp. MANMOHAN ME SCHOOL, G.F, Marwari Para, Jharsuguda, Odisha 768201, India

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