107-643: The Munger Fort , located at Munger (also spelt as Monghyr during the British Raj ), in the state of Bihar , India, is built on a rocky hillock on the south bank of the Ganges River . Its history is not completely dated but it is believed that it was built during the early rule of Slave dynasty of India. The Munger town where the fort is situated was under the control of Muhammad bin Tughluq of Delhi (1325–1351 CE). The fort has two prominent hills called
214-501: A Hindu or a Buddhist structure. The famous monuments located within the fort are: Pir Shah Nufa, originally of Persin origin, was a Sufi saint who was sent to Munger by his guru Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti of Ajmer . His tomb dating his death to A.H. 596 (1177 AD) is located near a rampart in the fort close to the southern gate. It was built over an area of 100 feet (30 m) square with retaining walls supporting all round, on
321-816: A Mughal army in July 1537, and advanced towards Chunar . The Mughals reached the fort in November 1537 and laid siege to it. The siege lasted over six months before the fort finally fell. Following this, Sher Shah began a second invasion into Bengal, seizing Rohtasgarh in March 1538 through stratagem. He used Rohtasgarh to situate Afghan families and loot he obtained during the war. Following up his victory, Sher Shah besieged Gauda, which fell in April 1538. Split detachments would also be sent to conquer Chittagong . Another force battled against Mahmud Shah led by Khawas Khan Marwat ,
428-603: A ghat (stepped approach to the river edge from the high bank built in stones) was constructed, which has a legend linked to it. An inscription at Kannauj records that Govind Chandra of Kannauj , a Gahadvala King, granted land on the bank of the river to build a ghat, after bathing in the Ganges river at Mudgagiri (Munger) on the occasion of the Hindu festival known as Akshaya Tritiya . There are several antiquities that have been unearthed at this ghat such as: an inscription of about
535-561: A 25 feet (7.6 m) high heap of earth . The carved stones of these ancient ruins were pitted by holes and depressions, with the belief that such disfiguring would cure certain diseases of children. The domed tomb chamber, 16 feet (4.9 m) square with circular turrets, also encloses a prayer room and a restroom. Though locally known as the 'Palace of Shuja', the Mughal Prince, it is inferred to have been built earlier by Nawab Mir Qasim Ali, who also ruled from Munger. The palace
642-615: A capable general. His reorganization of the empire and strategic innovations laid the foundations for future Mughal emperors, notably Akbar . Sher Shah died in May 1545 while besieging Kalinjar fort . Following his death, the empire descended into civil war until it was eventually re-conquered by the Mughals. During his rule as Emperor of the Sur Empire, Sher Shah implemented numerous economic, administrative, and military reforms. He issued
749-562: A deemed university. It attracts students from all over the world. Around 400 Australians , Americans and others register for the yoga course every year, with this figure rising continuously. Munger fort and the Munger town are well connected by road, rail and air communications through Patna, the capital city of Bihar. Patna is connected by air to all major cities in India. It has a very good network of rail and road links with all major cities in
856-503: A dish he was unfamiliar with eating customarily. In response, he drew his dagger cut the dish into smaller pieces, and then ate it with a spoon. Babur took notice and informed his minister Mir Khalifa : Keep an eye on Sher Khan, he is a clever man and the marks of royalty are visible on his forehead. I have seen many Afghan nobles, greater men than he, but they never made an impression on me, but as soon as I saw this man, it entered into my mind that he ought to be arrested for I find in him
963-453: A force of over 20,000 men. The heads of Iqtas were known by various titles such as Hakim , Faujdar , or Momin and typically commanded bodies of men usually numbering less than 5,000. Their responsibilities included maintaining order and enforcing law within their jurisdictions. Iqtas were further divided into districts known as Sarkars , each overseen by two chief officers: the Shiqar and
1070-874: A formidable kingdom and threat to his rule, Sher Shah began preparing for war in August 1542. In early 1543, Sher Shah Suri, with a force of 80,000 cavalry, set out against Maldeo Rathore , the Rajput king of Marwar . The Afghan army advanced through Merta before Maldeo advanced with his own army of 50,000 to face Sher Shah, which had halted in the village of Sammel in the pargana of Jaitaran , near Jodhpur . Establishing defenses, Sher Shah's strong position made it difficult for Maldeo to launch an attack, while Sher Shah's position became dangerous due to supply difficulties for his large army. Sher Shah thus resorted to intrigue by dropping forged letters near Maldeo's camp, falsely indicating that some of his commanders intended to defect to
1177-458: A general of Sher Shah, which saw Mahmud Shah decisively defeated and mortally wounded. With these victories, Sher Shah held his first coronation. After the fall of Gauda, Sher Shah offered favorable peace terms to Humayun, proposing to pay 10,000,000 dinars, and the cessation of Bihar in exchange for control of Bengal. Humayun refused the offer, not wishing to leave the Bengal's rich resources to
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#17327825567231284-569: A generic term for any silver coin, during his rule the term rūpee came to be used as the name for a silver coin of a standard weight of 178 grains, which was the precursor of the modern rupee . The Rupee is today used as the national currency in India, Indonesia , Maldives , Mauritius , Nepal , Pakistan , Seychelles , and Sri Lanka . Gold coins called the Mohur weighing 169 grains and copper coins called Paisa were also minted during his reign. According to numismatists Goron and Goenka, it
1391-586: A horse trader and eventually became a landlord (Jagirdar) in the Narnaul area of present-day Haryana . He represented his patron Jamal Khan Lodi Sarangkhani, who assigned him several villages in Hissar Firoza . Sher Shah's father, Hasan Khan Sur, entered the service of Jamal Khan. In 1494, Jamal Khan was promoted and established in Bihar by Sikandar Khan Lodi . At Jamal Khan's request, Sikandar granted Hasan
1498-527: A hostile state. Additionally, the wounded Mahmud Shah, who had entered Humayun's camp, urged him to continue the war against Sher Shah. Mahmud Shah died from his wounds soon after. Following this, Humayun marched towards Bengal to confront Sher Shah. However, the Mughal army was troubled with heavy rains, causing the loss of their baggage between Patna and Monghyr . Humayun eventually reached Gauda and seized it without opposition on 8 September 1538. However,
1605-523: A house on the hill, which was later converted by the British to a saluting battery. In 1766, this base on the hill was crucial in subduing rebellion by some European officers of the garrison. Further refurbishing of the fort occurred during General Goddard 's time when it was converted as the large residence (as it exists now) of the Commanding Officer of the British garrison. This building
1712-648: A monetary reward negotiated by Vansittart. This deal involved payment by the East India Company 's merchants of an ad valorem duty of 9 percent, against an Indian merchant's duty of 40%. The fort became a place of considerable importance to the British in Bengal till 1947 (Indian independence). The fort houses a number of religious and historic monuments such as the Tomb of Pir Shah Nufa (died 1497), Palace of Shah Suja, Tomb of Mulla Muhammad Said (died 1704 CE),
1819-453: A per capita income of INR 42,793 in FY 2020-21. Indian Railways operates of Asia's largest and oldest railway workshops at Jamalpur . This was set up by the British Raj in 1862. Munger has also ITC Factory established by the British. Ordinance Gun Factory Munger, ITC Milk Dairy and many others. Munger is known for Sita Manpatthar (Sita charan) Sitacharan temple situated on a boulder in
1926-522: A rebel leader under General Alivardi Khan took control of the fort when its defences had weakened. After a few days of stay in the fort, he continued his campaign towards Patna with lots of guns and ammunition taken from the fort. In the 4th Maratha war of 1744, the Maratha army had raided through Bihar and Munger. Jean Law , the French adventurer and partisan of Siraj ud-Daulah (1733 – 2 July 1757),
2033-463: A reputation for his reforms that brought prosperity to the region. However, due to family intrigues, he eventually relinquished his position over the jagirs. Sher Shah then moved to Agra , where he stayed until his father's death. This event allowed him to return to his family's jagirs and take control, thereby solidifying his leadership and furthering his rise to power. Sher Shah spent time in Agra after
2140-618: A siege of Kalinjar , immediately withdrew, crossing the Ganges and began a battle against Mahmud Lodi at Dadrah in 1531. The Afghan forces were decisively defeated, and the coalition was shattered. Mahmud Lodi fled to Orrisa , while Sher Shah emerged on top by keeping Southern Bihar. Humayun followed up his victory by besieging Chunar, a fortress owned by Sher Shah, in September 1532. The siege continued for over four months to no avail. In order to make peace, Sher Shah offered his loyalty to
2247-429: A strong military fortification. The fort was an impressive structure with massive gates, one of which had been a strong fortification with square towers, with a deep moat. The moat was 175 feet (53 m) in width, surrounding the land side of the fort, thus making it strategically formidable. It opens to the Ganges river (which is 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) wide here, but crossed only by boats) at either end thus enhancing
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#17327825567232354-745: A successful attack on the Raja of Kharagpur who had opposed the Nawab of Bengal. Monghyr was thus occupied by Mir Qasim Ali , the Nawab of Bengal (from 1760 to 1764). In 1763, Quasim shifted his capital from Murshidabad to Munger . His new appointee General Gurgin Khan from Isfahan patterned the Bengal Army on the lines of the British forces . At this fort, a factory for arsenal, for manufacturing of fire-arms
2461-512: A young man, he killed a tiger that leapt suddenly upon the governor of Bihar, Behar Khan Lohani. Sher Shah was born in Sasaram , located in present-day Bihar , India. His birth date is disputed, with some accounts stating he was born in 1472, while others claim 1486. He was of Pashtun Afghan origin, belonging to the Sur clan. Sher Shah's grandfather, Ibrahim Khan Sur, began his career as
2568-575: Is Jay Prakash Narayan Airport in Patna around 180 km away, which is served by all major airlines. Nearest international airport is Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata Which is around 480 km away from Munger. Sher Shah Suri Sher Shah Suri ( Pashto : ﺷﯧﺮ ﺷﺎﻩ ﺳﻮﺭﻱ ; Persian : شیرشاه سوری ), (Farid al-Din Khan; 1472 or 1486 – 22 May 1545), also known by his title Sultan Adil ( lit. '
2675-438: Is humid subtropical . As per 2011 census, Munger Municipal Corporation has a total population of 213,101 out of which 113,173 were males and 99,928 were females. It had a sex ratio of 883. The population between 0 and 6 years was 29,260. The literacy rate of the 7+ population was 81.83 per cent. Munger, along with Jamalpur are the major industrial cities in Bihar. Munger is also one of the most prosperous cities in Bihar with
2782-522: Is a twin city and a Municipal Corporation situated in the Indian state of Bihar . It is the administrative headquarters of Munger district and Munger Division . Munger was one of the major cities in Eastern India and undivided Bengal during Mughal period and British Raj . It is one of the major political, cultural, educational and commercial center of Bihar and Eastern India . Munger
2889-420: Is also linked to the period of King Karna and his wife. The second famous rock hillock (no specific name is given to this) within the fort is, in fact, an artificial rectangular raised platform where a citadel of the fort probably existed in the past. An old building called as 'Damdama Kothi' ('kothi' means "house"), conjectured to have been built by Muslim rulers or even earlier Hindu kings that existed here,
2996-470: Is bounded by high rise walls on three sides and the Ganges river on the west side. As in any palace of the Mughals, it consisted of a Khas Mahal or 'Zanana Palace', the 'Diwane-I-Am' or Public Audience Hall and the Tope-Khana or Armoury (made of 10–15 feet (3.0–4.6 m) thick walls) (now a dormitory). There was also a mosque on the west side of the palace, now in ruins, but used as storehouse. There
3103-588: Is clear from coins dated AH 945 (1538 AD) that Sher Shah had assumed the royal title of Farid al-Din Sher Shah and had coins struck in his own name prior to the battle of Chausa. The Sur Empire was divided into many subdivisions called Iqtas , which were often ruled by military governors. Haibat Khan , who governed the Punjab , commanded over 30,000 men and could distribute jagirs to his soldiers. Khawas Khan , another military governor, ruled over Rajasthan with
3210-456: Is situated about 180km from east of capital city Patna , about 480km west of Eastern India 's largest city Kolkata and 1200km from country's capital New Delhi . Historically, Munger is known for being an ancient seat of rule. The twin city comprises Munger and Jamalpur situated on the southern bank of the river Ganges . It is situated 08 km from Jamalpur Junction , 180 km east of capital city Patna and 430 Km from Kolkata
3317-498: Is that the name could have derived from either sage Mudgala or Maudgalyayana , a disciple of Buddha . A further explanation by General Cunningham is that it could have been named after the Mundas , its earliest inhabitants. C.E.A. Oldham gives a version that it was a "Munigriha" (the hermitage of a saint Muni ). During British rule it was often spelt Monghyr or Monghir . The Fort's history has been traced from 1330 AD onwards, under
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3424-554: Is the location of a shrine, which is a village deity of goddess Chandi (Chandi or Caṇḍīika is the name by which the Supreme Goddess is referred to in Devi Mahatmya ). It is considered as one of the 64 shakti peethas (a tantric cultural centre) in India. It is depicted in the form of a hole in a rock dated to the rule of king Karna Vikrama. The conjecture that it could be part of an ancient temple that existed here
3531-539: Is the main railhead for the city while the latter, which was earlier called Purabsarai Railway Station, acts as suburban facility. Stations are connected with Sahibganj Loop . The rail system provides connection to cities such as New Delhi , Mumbai , Surat , Yesvantpur Junction , Jamshedpur , Jammu Tawi , Dibrugarh , Guwahati , Lucknow , Patna , Ranchi , Agartala , Hyderabad , Deoghar Junction , Muzaffarpur Junction and Dhanbad . The Munger Ganga Bridge , which takes both rail and road-traffic, connects Munger to
3638-428: Is yet to be established by archaeologists by exploration of the area. A natural rocky hillock dated to the ancient Raja Karna is named after him as the 'Karnachaura' or 'Karanchaura' or 'Karan Chabutara' (meaning: slab of Raja Karan). It is the highest point in the fort. Since the location commands a fine view of the surroundings, Raja Karan (he was a contemporary of Vikramaditya , the famous king of India) had built
3745-575: The Chenab river before arriving at Khushab. At Khushab, Sher Shah sent two detachments under Khawas Khan and Qutb Khan to pursue Humayun and his contingent out of the region. The pursuit as far as the Panjnad River , before withdrawing back to Khushab and merging with Sher Shah's force. Remaining encamped at Khushab, Sher Shah received the submission of Baloch chiefs including prominently Ismail Khan, Fateh Khan, Ghazi Khan, and many others who ruled
3852-477: The Ganges river. Humayun crossed the river and engaged in skirmishes with Sher Shah's forces. During the fighting, many of Humayun's nobles hid their insignia to avoid recognition by the Afghans, and several fled the battle. The Mughal army was ultimately defeated, forcing Humayun to flee. Following this victory, Sher Shah was crowned a second time on 17 May 1540, being declared the ruler of Hindustan and adopting
3959-542: The Grand Trunk Road . The tomb finished its construction on 16 August 1545, three months after his death. Hermann Goetz posited that one of the motivations for Sher Shah choosing his birthplace, Sasaram, as the sight of his tomb, was that: "For Sher Shah Sasaram was the very symbol of his life and glory". Decades after his death, the Tarikh-i-Sher Shahi was commissioned by Akbar to detail
4066-842: The Karmanasa River , where his army was vulnerable to attack, Sher Shah capitalized on the Mughal army's fragile state and attacked at the Battle of Chausa . The Afghans descended on the Mughal army, which was 200,000 strong. Overwhelmed, the Mughal army was completely routed . Humayun barely escaped with his life, with the Mughals suffering over 7,000 casualties, including many prominent noblemen. With his defeat, Humayun returned to Agra, and restored order after unrest began due to his brother, Hindal Mirza . Humayun then began mobilizing another army and advanced against Sher Shah, who raised his own army, although being numerically inferior. The two armies met at Kannuaj , mirroring each other across
4173-928: The Teliagarhi pass. Mahmud Shah repeatedly requested the Portuguese to aid him, which they did by fortifying the Teliaghari and Sakrigali passes. Sher Shah, however, out-flanked the combined armies and reached Gauda by way of Jharkhand . Mahmud Shah immediately capitulated, and was forced to pay over 13,000,000 gold coins, and cede territory up to Sakrigali. Eager to conquer the Bengal Sultanate, Sher Shah prepared for another invasion, and an opportunity came when Mahmud Shah failed to send annual tribute, forcing him to seek refuge in Gaur and frantically ask Humayun for aid. In response, Humayun mobilized
4280-619: The 10th century AD on the wall of the gateway that refers to king Bhagiratha and the construction of a Shiva temple; discovery of carvings and sculptures by archaeologist Bloch in 1903; an inscribed image of Dhyani Buddha (Buddha in meditation pose) describing the Buddhist doctrine ; preserved now in the Indian Museum at Kolkata ). Hence, this location is venerated by the Hindus. Chandisthana (meaning: place of goddess Chandi)
4387-543: The Afghan army to attack the Rajputs while they were still leaving the fort. The Rajputs killed their women and children before engaging in battle with the Afghans, before being defeated as the Afghans massacred them. This act is considered the darkest mark on Sher Shah's reign. Having initially attempted to aid Humayun in regaining his throne, as well as having failed to capture Humayun for Sher Shah, and Marwar itself being
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4494-503: The Afghans in Bihar, Sher Shah distinguished himself, and his estates were restored in 1528. With his jagirs secured, Sher Shah accompanied Junaid Khan to Agra where he met Mughal emperor Babur. During this time, Sher Shah was conferred the title of Sher Khan after killing a tiger that leapt upon the ruler of Bihar. Sher Shah remained in Agra, observing Mughal military organization and administration. During one occasion while dining with Mughal Emperor Babur, Sher Shah encountered
4601-453: The Afghans were at Sultanpur Lodhi . With the approach of the Afghans, the Mughals fled Lahore. At Khushab , Humayun and Kamran quarreled and parted ways, with Humayun leaving for Sindh , and Kamran to Kabul . As Humayun began withdrawing, Khawas Khan initially gave up the pursuit, halting on the Jhelum river. Sher Shah then advanced from Sirhind toward Lahore, and then continued toward
4708-503: The Afghans. This caused great distress to Maldeo, leading him to abandon his commanders and retreat to Jodhpur with his men. Maldeo's generals, Jaita and Kumpa, split off a contingent of 12,000 men to fight against the Afghans. In the resulting Battle of Sammel, Sher Shah emerged victorious. Following the victory, Khawas Khan Marwat took possession of Jodhpur and occupied the territory of Marwar from Ajmer to Mount Abu in 1544, with Bikaner also submitting to Afghan rule. Following
4815-639: The English army and other personnel who were captured in Patna. His criminal atrocities in Patna are known in the historical annals as the ‘Massacre of Patna’. Subsequently, the fort lost its glory. Lord Cornwallis , the Governor General , in British India , had built a country house here. History also records a "White Mutiny" by disgruntled officers of the East India Company (who controlled
4922-562: The Gakhars, devastating much of the countryside, and taking many prisoners. To further secure his rule, Sher Shah established Rohtas Fort and stationed 50,000 men in Punjab under his generals Haibat Khan Niazi and Khawas Khan Marwat. Subsequently, Sher Shah turned his attention to Bengal, where the governor he had appointed had become rebellious. Recognizing the importance of Bengal , Sher Shah focused much of his administrative efforts in
5029-670: The Just King ' ), was the ruler of Bihar from 1530 to 1540, and Sultan of Hindustan from 1540 until his death in 1545. He defeated the Mughal Empire , founding the Sur Empire and establishing his rule in Delhi . The influence of his innovations and reforms extended far beyond his brief reign. During his time in power, he remained undefeated in battle and was renowned as one of the most skillful Afghan generals in history. By
5136-471: The Karnachaura or Karanchaura, and the other a built up rectangular mound deduced to be the location of a citadel of the fort with historical links. The fort had a succession of Muslim rulers (Khaljis, Tughlaqs, Lodis, Nawabs of Bengal, followed by Mughal rulers, till it was finally acceded to the British by Mir Quasim (1760–72), after unseating his father-in-law Mīr Jafar on the grounds of old age, for
5243-604: The Kashtaharini Ghat on the Ganges River, Chandisthana (an ancient temple) and an 18th-century British cemetery . In recent times, a famous School of Yoga was established here. The etymology of the word Munger prefixed to the fort and to the town also called by the same name is Mudgagiri with links to the Mahbharata epic . A copper plate inscription of Devapala alludes to Munger. Another version
5350-526: The Kothi, during Buchanan's archaeological explorations. The Bihar School of Yoga founded by Swami Satyananda Saraswati in 1964 to impart traditional yoga teachings to the world is headquartered inside the Munger fort. Apart from providing spiritual instruction to candidates, the school undertakes yoga projects and medical research in association with other agencies. It is the World's first Yoga University and
5457-596: The Lohani nobles opposed Sher Shah's dominance. Although he offered to share power, the Lohani nobles rejected his proposal and instead fled to Bengal with Jalal Khan, seeking the support of Nasiruddin Nasrat Shah , the ruler of the Bengal Sultanate . Consequently, Sher Shah became the sole ruler of Bihar . However, he did not adopt any grand titles, preferring to style himself as Hazrat-i-Ala. Taj Khan,
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#17327825567235564-460: The Mughals gained power, observing the leadership of Babur . After leaving Agra, he entered the service of the governor of Bihar. Following the governor's death in 1528, Sher Shah obtained a high position in Bihar and, by 1530, became the regent and de facto ruler of the kingdom . He engaged in conflicts with the local nobility and the Sultanate of Bengal . In 1538, while Mughal Emperor Humayun
5671-608: The Mughals on the condition that he remained in control of Chunar, offering to send his third son, Qutb Khan, as hostage. Humayun accepted and lifted the siege in December 1532, returning to Agra due to the rising threat of Bahadur Shah , the ruler of the Gujarat Sultanate . Humayun did not wish to split up his forces under the command of a noble to continue the siege, as this would split his strength, additionally giving reason for peace to be established. Makhdum Alam,
5778-408: The Mughals that rallied most of the significant Afghan leaders in India. Sher Shah however, recognized the division among the Afghans and Mahmud's incompetence, thus refusing to aid Mahmud. Intending for the unification of all Afghan leaders, Mahmud marched with his army to Sasaram, persuading Sher Shah to join the rebellion. Hesitatingly, Sher Shah accompanied the expedition with his own set of men, and
5885-459: The Munsif. The Shiqar was responsible for civil administration and could field 200-300 soldiers to maintain law and order. The Munsif handled revenue collection and civil justice, while chief Shiqars often dealt with criminal justice cases. Sarkars were in turn divided into smaller units called Parganas . which consisted of a town and its surrounding villages. Each Pargana had a Shiqar, a Munsif,
5992-764: The administrator of Hajipur , refused to recognize Ghiyasuddin Mahmud Shah as the Sultan of Bengal accusing him of assassinating Sultan Alauddin Firuz . He formed an alliance with Sher Shah, who saw this as an opportunity to crush the power of the Lohani nobles allied with Mahmud Shah. Mahmud Shah sent several expeditions against Sher Shah, which were all defeated. Makhdum Alam however, was killed and his estates fell to Sher Shah upon his death. In 1534, Mahmud Shah sent an army of artillery , cavalry and infantry under Ibrahim Khan to conquer Bihar, with Jalal Khan accompanying
6099-485: The age of 73 or 59. At the end of his reign, Sher Shah's empire spanned nearly the entirety of Northern India, excluding Assam , Kashmir , Gujarat , and the North-West Frontier Province . He was succeeded by his son, Jalal Khan, who took the name Islam Shah Suri . Sher Shah was buried in the tomb of Sher Shah Suri , which stands in the middle of an artificial lake at Sasaram , a town on
6206-522: The campaign. However, Sher Shah launched a sudden attack on the combined forces of the Lohani chiefs of Bihar and Mahmud Shah of Bengal, defeating them at Surajgarh in March 1534, winning a decisive victory. Ibrahim Khan was killed admist the battle, and Jalal Khan was forced to retreat to Bengal. Following the victory, Sher Shah consolidated his control over Bihar. Between 1536 to 1537, Sher Shah followed up his victories by invading Bengal and defeating Mahmud Shah numerous times, occupying all lands west of
6313-544: The cannons." But the Governor of the fort provided him boats. In February 1760, Major Caillaud of the Nawab of Bengal and his supporters defeated the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II (1728–1806). The Emperor and his army moved out not only from the fort but also from the district. With this victory, the rule of Mir Qasim , the Nawab of Bengal began with Johan Stables, in charge of Munger fort, launching
6420-482: The capital of West Bengal . Munger is said to have been founded by the Guptas (4th century CE) and contains a fort that houses the tomb of the Muslim saint Shah Mushk Nafā (died 1497). In 1763, the Nawab of Bengal Mir Qasim made Munger his capital and built an arsenal and several palaces. It was constituted a municipality in 1864. The climate of Munger is subtropical (warm in summer and cold during winter). The Köppen climate classification sub-type for this climate
6527-457: The chief supervisor of the Muqtars . These reforms increased the prominence of Afghans in Bengal, leading many to settle in the region. Some of these Afghan settlers later established the Muhammad Shahi dynasty , which ruled Bengal from 1553 to 1563, and the Karrani dynasty , which ruled from 1563 to 1576. In 1542, Sher Shah embarked on a campaign to Malwa . Qadir Khan, the ruler of the Malwa Sultanate , had offended Sher Shah by claiming he
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#17327825567236634-597: The city had been abandoned by the Afghans, and the treasury looted. Humayun remained in Gauda for months, restoring order to the city as he was trapped with his army due to the weather. Sher Shah capitalized off of this, seizing Bihar and Varanasi , reclaiming control over Chunar, and laying siege to Jaunpur . Other detachments of the Afghan army extended as far as Kannauj . As a result, Humayun found himself effectively stranded in Gauda with no lines of communication. Learning of unrest in Agra , Humayun immediately sought to settle for peace with Sher Shah. However, as he crossed
6741-499: The city. On the 10th day evening, one side rushes to the Polo Grounds for Ravan Badh, while the other side prepares for a unique ritual known as "Shobha Yatra." The “Shobha Yatra of Badi Durga of Sadipur ” marks the importance of Badi Durga of Munger all over the country. People from all over the city join this yatra, and the deity is immersed early in the morning in the holy river Ganges. Munger has two railway stations known as: Jamalpur Junction and Munger Railway Station . The former
6848-440: The conquest of Marwar, Sher Shah besieged Kalinjar Fort in 1544. Due to continuous resistance from the Rajputs, he besieged the fort for seven months. The circumstances regarding Sher Shah's death are uncertain. Some sources state that he was mortally wounded by a gunpowder explosion when one of his cannons burst. Another account suggests that during a battle, as he descended from a rampart and ordered his men to hurl bombs into
6955-658: The country. The road distance from Patna to Munger is 173 kilometres (107 mi). The Ganges river, which has been declared as the National Waterway 1 flows to the south bank of the Munger town. It extends from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh to Kolkata in West Bengal . En route, the towns covered are Bhagalpur , Munger , Patna and Buxar . A tourist cruise service authorised under a Memorandum of understanding with Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has been launched recently to cover this navigational route to visit several tourist destinations, including Munger fort. Munger Munger , formerly spelt as Monghyr ,
7062-617: The death of Bahadur Shah of Gujarat, Puran Mal regained control of Raisen , which had been annexed by Bahadur Shah in 1532. Following the re-capture of the city, Puran Mal was accused of committing tyrannies unto the Muslim populace, which Puran Mal denied. After assembling an army, the Rajputs, facing defeat, surrendered under the promise of safe conduct. Puran Mal withdrew from the fort with 4,000 Rajputs, including their families. However, after being ill-advised by fanatic Muslims, as well as Muslim widows appealing to him after allegedly suffering under Puran Mal's rule, Sher Shah gave permission for
7169-404: The end of his reign, his empire covered nearly all of Northern India . Born between 1472 and 1486 and given the name Farid Khan, his early childhood saw him flee from home due to internal family strife. He pursued an education in Jaunpur , where his rise to power began after his father offered him a managerial position over his jagirs . Sher Shah effectively governed these territories, gaining
7276-447: The epithet Sultan Adil, meaning "Just King." He further took on the name Sher Shah. As Humayun fled, Sher Shah pursued him with split detachments. He then seized Agra , defeating the Mughals there and sent Khawas in pursuit of Humayun. The pursuit and flight of Humayun allowed Sher Shah to capture and enter Delhi , beginning the consolidation of his rule there by reorganizing its administration. As Humayun reached Lahore in July 1540,
7383-406: The estate by defeating one of his governors. In 1526, the Lodis were overthrown , bringing the Mughals to power under Babur . During this time, Behar Khan Lohani established an independent state in Bihar and assumed the title of Sultan Muhammad. With the aid of Junaid Khan, the Mughal governor of Jaunpur, Sher Shah joined Mughal service. In April 1527, after Babur launched a campaign against
7490-519: The first Rupiya organized the postal system of the Indian subcontinent , as well as extending the Grand Trunk Road from Chittagong in Bengal to Kabul in Afghanistan, significantly improving trade. Sher Shah further developed Humayun's Dina-panah city, renaming it Shergarh , and revived the historical city of Pataliputra , which had been in decline since the 7th century CE, as Patna . Additionally, he embarked on several military campaigns that restored Afghan prominence in India. His birth name
7597-410: The formidable army of Ibrahim Khan of Munger was defeated and he was killed by Sher Shah Suri who established the Suri Empire . Thus, the fort came under Sher Shah Suri's overlordship (1486 – 22 May 1545). In the subsequent war that took place between Sher Shah and Humayun , the Mughal Emperor , Munger was the centre of battle between the Afghan and the Mughals . Sher Shah won and the Mughal rule
7704-521: The fort during the reign of Prince Danyal of Bengal (son of Sultan Alauddin Husain Shah ) who held the post of Governor of Bihar, after the defeat of Jampur rulers by the Sultan of Bengal. It is also stated that Prince Danyal of Bengal built the shrine of Sufi saint Shah Nafah within the south gate of the fort, in 1497 AD. In 1534 CE, in a battle which took place in the plains of Surajgarha ,
7811-473: The fort walls on the west and partly in the north. On the landward side, there is a 175 feet (53 m) wide moat, which acts as a defence to the fortifications. There are four entry gates, within the octagonal fortress, with ramparts. The main gateway, called the Lal Darwaza, is still in good shape, even though the rest of the fort is mostly in ruins. This gate has a carved stone, which is said to belong to
7918-441: The fort's security. The fort is spread over an area of 222 acres (90 ha) over rocky hills with a peripheral length of2.5 miles (4.0 km). The fort has 4 feet (1.2 m) thick inner walls while the outer walls are 12 feet (3.7 m) thick forming the fortification, which is 30 feet (9.1 m) thick. The intervening space of 14 feet (4.3 m) between the inner and outer walls is filled with earth. The Ganges river hugs
8025-479: The fort) in the precincts of the Munger Fort, which was put down in 1766 by Lord Clive . The mutiny broke out over the reduction of an extra monthly payment called bhatta to soldiers on active duty. After the suppression of the mutiny, a small garrison was thereafter stationed at the fort. Over the years, the maintenance of the fort was neglected. Under the Mughal rule, the fort was substantially expanded as
8132-485: The fort, one bomb reflected back and hit a cache of bombs, causing a large explosion. Some people escaped with minor burns, while Sher Shah was found half-burned and taken to his tent, where he remained for two days. Despite his critical condition, he ordered his men to swarm the fort, advancing close to the fort with his troops. Upon hearing that the fort had finally fallen, he remarked, "Thanks to Almighty god." Sher Shah succumbed to his wounds and died on 22 May 1545, at
8239-405: The governor of Chunar , was assassinated by his stepson. In the aftermath, his wealthy widow, Lad Malika, sought a protector to secure her position. Recognizing Sher Shah's growing influence, she agreed to marry him. Through these negotiations, which were kept secret from Taj Khan's sons, Sher Shah gained control of Chunar. This acquisition significantly bolstered Sher Shah's power and influence in
8346-440: The governor of Gauda . However, suspicious of Sher Shah's intentions, Qadir Khan fled to Gujarat , leaving Malwa annexed to Sher Shah's domain. Sher Shah consolidated his new territories before returning to Agra, also receiving submission from the ruler of Ranthambore . Shujaat Khan was appointed as the new governor of Malwa, with further attempts from Qadir Khan to reclaim Malwa ending in failure against Shujaat Khan. After
8453-405: The insurrection initially succeeded, capturing Ghazipur and Banaras . However, upon the arrival of Mughal forces, Mahmud Lodi abandoned the army. After this, many Afghan nobles including Sher Shah submitted to Babur. In early 1530, the death of Dudu Bibi enabled Sher Shah to become the regent for Jalal Khan, effectively making him the de facto ruler of Bihar. Despite his growing power, many of
8560-1097: The jagirs of Khwaspur, Sasaram, and Hajipur in Bihar. Hasan had several wives and fathered over eight sons, with Nizam Khan being Sher Shah's only full brother. One of Sher Shah's stepmothers was cruel to him, and Hasan, being too submissive to his wife, was unable to intervene. As a result, Sher Shah sought refuge with Jamal Khan, aiming to gain experience and further his education. Sher Shah pursued his education in Jaunpur for several years, studying subjects such as history and religion. On one occasion, Hasan visited Jamal Khan in Jaunpur and encountered some of Sher Shah's relatives, who spoke of Sher Shah's potential for future greatness. Impressed by these accounts, Hasan invited Sher Shah to manage his domains in 1497. Sher Shah accepted his father's offer and embarked on implementing numerous reforms. His early administrative career focused on combating corruption. One of Sher Shah's significant reforms as administrator of his father's domains
8667-427: The last independent Nawab of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa was running away after the Battle of Plassey . In July 1757, the British attempted an attack on the fort. Eyre Coote, the British officer (heading the British force) reached Munger in pursuit of Jean Low. But he could not enter the well-fortified fort. He did not dare to attack the fort because the fort garrison had lined up "the ramparts with their matches held near
8774-702: The late 16th century, Monghyr was controlled by the Mughal Emperors . Raja Todar Mal , Minister in the Mughal empire had camped at this fort when he was deputed to put down the rebel forces of Bengal. He substantially refurbished the fortifications of the fort. After a series of intriguing changes in the governorship of Munger Shah Shuja , the second son of Shah Jahan , the Mughal Emperor and Aurangzeb 's brother, had fled to this place to escape persecution, during his fight with his brothers for power. He
8881-574: The major cities and other destinations. Citybuses, Taxies, Autorikshaw, E-Rickshaw, etc. are available all the times in the entire city for transportation. The Munger Ganga Bridge link Munger to various districts of North Bihar and north-eastern India by 2021. Munger Airport is located in Safyabad, which is 5 km from Munger. It was re-inaugurated by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on 24 May 2016. Munger has no international airport with commercial service. Domestic airport with commercial service
8988-503: The middle of the Ganges in Munger (Anga Region) is the main center of public faith regarding Chhath festival. It is believed that Mata Sita performed the Chhath festival in Munger. It was only after this that Chhath Mahaparv started. That is why Chhath Mahaparva is celebrated with great pomp in Munger. Munger is also famous for Durga Puja Mahotsav which is celebrated for 10 days. The first nine days are celebrated with great fervor across
9095-720: The nearby cities of Begusarai , Saharsa Junction , Katihar and Khagaria Junction as well as various districts of North Bihar . The bridge is the third-largest rail-cum-road bridge in India. Munger is connected to major parts of India by various National and State Highways. The major cities of Bihar and Jharkhand - such as Patna , Ranchi , Bhagalpur , Purnia , katihar , Bihar sharif , Muzaffarpur , Jamshedpur , Dhanbad , Gaya , Bokaro and Darbhanga - can be reached by [REDACTED] NH 33 , [REDACTED] NH 333B , [REDACTED] NH 333A , [REDACTED] NH 31 and [REDACTED] NH 333 and various state Highways. Regular bus service are provided by BSRTC for all
9202-602: The palace and the Public Audience Hall inside the fort, which are now seen mostly in ruins, are used as a jail and a school for the convicts. Tomb of Mullah Mohammed Said was situated on the bastion at the south-west of the fort, but has since been removed. Mulla Mohammed Said hailing from Mazandran near the Caspian Sea , was a Persian poet (under the nom-de-plume of Ashraf). He was employed by Emperor Aurangzeb to tutor his daughter Zebunnisa Begum . He
9309-440: The qualities of greatness and the marks of mightiness. Suspecting a rising plot against him, Sher Shah departed Agra and left Mughal service, returning to his Jagirs in 1528. He sought refuge under the protection of Sultan Muhammad of Bihar. Upon Sher Shah's arrival, he was warmly received and appointed as the guardian of Muhammad's son, Jalal Khan. In October 1528, Sultan Mohammad of Bihar died, and his queen, Dudu Bibi, assumed
9416-653: The region between the Chenab and the Indus rivers. Sher Shah then entered into conflict with the Gakhars , who had historically been difficult to subjugate despite attempts by previous rulers. Sher Shah initially attempted diplomacy, inviting the Gakhar chief to acknowledge him as the emperor of India. However, the Gakhar gave an insulting response which enraged Sher Shah. In retaliation, Sher Shah marched through Punjab, subjugating
9523-584: The region, as he now controlled a significant fort and a large treasury. The death of Mughal Emperor Babur in December 1530 saw the Afghan insurrection rejuvenated, and Mahmud Lodi again returned. Sher Shah immediately ignored Mahmud's attempts of garnering Sher Shah's aid until he was promised all of Southern Bihar . After further being visited by Mahmud, Sher Shah acquiesced. The combined Afghan forces marched on Banaras and Jaunpur , with Junaid Khan withdrawing to Agra. The Afghan forces followed up their victories by seizing Lucknow . Humayun, entrenched in
9630-401: The region. In March 1541, Khijir Khan , the governor of Bengal under Sher Shah, led a revolt, as well as marrying a daughter of the former Sultan, Mahmud Shah. Sher Shah mobilized an army and personally led it to defeat Khijir Khan, restoring Bengal to his suzerainty. He then divided Bengal into 47 smaller administrative divisions, each overseen by a shiqdar , with Kazi Fajilot established as
9737-404: The reign of Sher Shah. Written by Abbas Sarwani , the source was significant toward detailing the conquest of Bengal by Sher Shah as well as the magnitude of his reforms, and greatly benefited in contribution towards the history of medieval India. The system of tri-metalism which came to characterize Mughal coinage was introduced by Sher Shah. While the term rūpya had previously been used as
9844-433: The role of regent . Sher Shah was appointed as her deputy governor, allowing him to begin consolidating his position in the region through a myriad of military and administrative reforms. These reforms significantly strengthened his position, making him one of the most influential Afghan leaders in India. In 1529, Sher Shah anticipated joining Mahmud Lodi, the younger brother of Ibrahim Lodi in his insurrection against
9951-459: The rule of Muhammad bin Tughluq of Delhi . But its ancient history, as a town, mostly ruled by Hindu kings, is initially traced from a stone inscription to Chandra Gupta Maurya (4th century BC), (after whom it was initially called Gupta Garhis) and later dated to the kingdom of Anga , the capital of which was at Champa near Bhagalpur , and the Pala kings in the 9th century AD. Munger, which
10058-465: Was Farid Khan. After 1526, he was conferred the title Sher Khan, and following his ascension as Sultan of Hindustan in 1540, he became known as Sher Shah. His surname 'Suri' was taken from his Pashtun Sur tribe. He was a distant kinsman to Babur's brother-in-law, Mir Shah Jamal, who remained loyal to Humayun. The name Sher (means lion in Persian) was conferred upon him for his courage, when as
10165-404: Was a Turkish bath (hammam) and a dressing room to the west of the present day jailer's office. An interesting feature noted below the floor of the mosque is a dry well or pit of 10–12 feet (3.0–3.7 m) depth, which leads to several tunnels running in different directions. The well was, in earlier times, connected to the river through an opening, which has since been shored up. The Khas Mahal of
10272-463: Was also known for encouraging culture and had many scholars in his court. But all this ended soon as he had serious differences on trade and other administrative practices with the British. Mir Qasim later had to use the fort as a base for waging war against the British. But he was defeated in 1764. Later, he turned out to be a poor looser as he disgraced himself by committing serious atrocities on his own people in Munger fort and also in Patna, and also on
10379-455: Was also under the employment of Azim Shah, grandson of Aurangzeb, and who was the viceroy of Bihar. The Mullah, while on his way from Bengal to Mecca , died at Munger fort in 1704 and his tomb existed inside the fort. The Ganges river that flows in front of Munger fort takes a turn in its flow direction towards the north ('Uttara vahini' in Sanskrit means: "north flowing"). At this location,
10486-467: Was destroyed by the British to build the 'Collector's Bangalow'. When this strong Kothi (a masonry structure) was demolished by blasting, underground rooms were found. In addition, in a well in the compound of the bungalow, two arched passages were found; one lead to the house and the other in an opposite direction to the Shuja palace (now a prison). Stone carvings and sculptures were seen in exposed masonry of
10593-519: Was engaged in military campaigns elsewhere, Sher Shah overran the Bengal Sultanate and established the Suri dynasty. He defeated the Mughals and drove them out of India, establishing himself as emperor in Delhi. As ruler of Hindustan, Sher Shah led numerous military campaigns, conquering Punjab , Malwa , Marwar , Mewar , and Bundelkhand . A brilliant strategist, Sher Shah was both a gifted administrator and
10700-453: Was equal to him, as well as failing pledged aid against the Mughals. Upon arriving in Gwalior , the governor of the city submitted to the Afghans. The Afghan army continued their march to Sarangpur . Believing defeat was imminent, Qadir Khan left Ujjain and awaited at Sarangpur for Sher Shah's arrival. Sher Shah received him, they together advanced into Ujjain. Sher Shah then made Qadir Khan
10807-413: Was established. This tradition has continued to this day; several hundred families who have specialised in the manufacture of guns are continuing with this old tradition. He further added to the fortifications and also built palaces in the fort. Mir Quasim came to be known as a just ruler (he tried to eliminate corruption and injustice) but was also feared by his opponents as a fierce and ruthless warrior. He
10914-574: Was later under the ownership of Maharaja of Vizianagram and then by the Raja of Murshidabad . Since 1978, it is under the ownership of the Bihar School of Yoga . Swami Satyananda Saraswati founder of the Yoga School has renamed it as 'Ganga Darshan'. The Yoga School is now renowned as a world centre for modern yogic/tantric renaissance. An old platform near the hill, in front of the bungalow,
11021-454: Was made governor of the region after protracted negotiations with his brothers Dara Shikoh , Murad and Aurangzeb, and under the treaty of 1658 Munger was added to Shuja's reign. Shuja built a palace on the west side of the fort, which has been described as " very large house where the king (Suja) lived, walled next to the river, for about one and half Kos with bricks and stones, with a wall fifteen yards high". However, in 1745, Mustafa Khan,
11128-463: Was substituted by Afghan rule. In 1590, the importance of the fort was enhanced by making it the headquarters of Bihar army of the rulers of Gaur under their general named Kutub Khan. Nasrat Shah had succeeded Hussain Shah in Bengal and his brother-in-law, Makhdun Alam, was given control of the Munger fort, which he, in turn, passed on to his general Kutub Khan. From the time of the reign of Akbar in
11235-473: Was the assessment of land revenues, along with defining and establishing commissions for tax collectors. However, despite these reforms, Sher Shah faced resentment and intrigue from his stepmother, who had initially forced him to flee, and his step-brothers. This opposition eventually led to Sher Shah resigning from his post in 1518, after serving as manager for 21 years. Following his resignation, he initially engaged in banditry before departing for Agra , which
11342-570: Was under the rule of the Lodi dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate . Sher Shah remained in Agra until his father's death, after which he received his father's jagirs from Sultan Ibrahim Khan Lodi . Returning to his jagirs in 1520—21, Sher Shah began administering them while in the service of Behar Khan Lohani . Conflict emerged however over the split of his father's land between his brothers, and Muhammad Khan Sur initially drove Sher Shah from
11449-565: Was under the rule of the Karnataka dynasty of Mithila , was taken over by Bhaktiyar Khalji in 1225 AD and subsequently under the Khalji ruler, Gyasuddin Khalji . For a brief period, it came under the control of Sultan of Bengal between 1301 CE and 1322 CE, following a peace treaty with Khaljis. This was followed by annexation of the area to Delhi by Muhammad bin Tughluq , during 1342 CE. Inscriptions reveal that repairs were carried out to
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