Timangarh Fort

Timangarh, earlier called Tribhuvangiri or Tahangarh, is a ruined fort near Masalpur in Karauli district, on the old Agra–Karauli highway. It was built for Tahanpal of the Jadaun Rajputs, who probably ruled from 1093 to 1140, whose father Vijayapal had left Mathura to escape repeated invasions. In the 12th century it was a major centre of Shaivism, particularly the Pashupata sect, and Jain texts describe it as a thriving seat of learning and temples. A later ruler of the line, Kumarapal, lost it to Muhammad of Ghor, and it remained a military and administrative post under the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughals.

The fort spreads over about 51.5 hectares. Within it are the remains of a township with palaces, bazaars, houses and temples, their pillars and ceilings carved with geometric, floral and religious designs and figures of deities. With no protection in place, many of its roughly 50 temples have been destroyed, and idols were smuggled away after 1947, in 1985 even by helicopter.