Chaiturgarh Fort

Chaiturgarh, also called Lafagarh, crowns a plateau of about 5 sq km at over 3,060 feet in the Satpura Range of Korba district, Chhattisgarh, within the Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve. It lies roughly 70 km from Korba and 21 km from Pali, on the Korba–Bilaspur road. One of the 36 forts of Chhattisgarh and an ASI-protected monument, it took shape under the Kalachuri dynasty, with Raja Prithvideva I credited as its builder. Akbar's forces took it in 1571 and the Mughals held it until 1628.

Cliffs dropping 200–300 feet on every side make it a natural fort, so walls were built only in a few places, and narrow passes lead up through gates named Menaka, Humkara and Simhadwar. The plateau holds temples, caves and man-made ponds. Its Mahishasur Mardini temple, with a 12-armed image of the goddess, has long drawn pilgrims, and 3 km away is Shankar cave, a 25-foot tunnel entered by crawling. The site now suffers from neglect and encroachment.