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{{Infobox military installation
|name = Kanthkot Fort
|native_name =
|partof = [[Gujarat]]
|location = [[Kutch]], [[Gujarat]], [[India]]
|image = Kanthkot Fort Entrance Gate.jpg
|caption = Kanthkot Fort Gate
|map_type =
|map_size = 280
|map_caption =
|type = [[Fort]]
|coordinates=
|code =
|built = 843 CE
|builder = [[Kathi (caste)|Kathi]]s
|materials = [[Granite]] [[rock (geology)|Stones]] and [[lime mortar]]
|height =
|used =
|demolished =
|condition = [[Ruins]]
|open_to_public =
|controlledby = [[Government of Gujarat]]
|garrison =
|current_commander =
|commanders =
|occupants =
|battles =
|events =
}}
'''Kanthkot fort''' is located near Kanthkot village, [[Bhachau]] [[Taluka]] of [[Kutch]], Gujarat kutch kanthkot जाम श्री रायधन जी के पाटवी कुमार विक्रम संवत १२५६.मै आये है जाम श्री देदाजी के चार कुमार हुए थे जिनका आधा करछ मै भागीदार रहा है,,, देदाजी के वंशज मै पेटा साख और गाम गरास सब से बडा है,,

==History==
Kanthkot is an old fort on the top of an isolated rocky hill about three miles (5 km) in circumference, has walls built of massive blocks repaired in many places by smaller stones. It is said, in the eighth century, to have been the capital of the [[Kathi (caste)|Kathi]]s and to have been taken from them by the [[Chavda]]s.<ref name=c/><ref name=a/><ref name=b/>
<ref name="gbp">{{cite book|title=Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Cutch, Palanpur, and Mahi Kantha|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dLUBAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA210|year=1880|publisher=Printed at the Government Central Press|page=222}}</ref>

According to the local story the present fort was begun about 843 ([[Samvat]] 900). A part of the wall crossed the fireplace of the great ascetic Kanthadnath, who in anger destroyed it. Then the builders appeasing the ascetic called the fort after his name, and were allowed to finish it. About the middle of the tenth century, under the name Kanthadurg, it appears as the place to which the [[Chaulukya]] king [[Mularaja]] fled, when pressed (950) by [[Tailapa II]] of [[Chalukyas of Kalyani|Kalyani]]. In the eleventh century (1024) it is believed to be the fort Khandaba, forty ''parasangas'' from [[Somnath]] and between that place and the desert, where [[Bhima I]] sought shelter from [[Mahmud Ghazni]]. About the middle of the twelfth century (1143) the Raja of Kanthagam, probably Kanthkot, from the west is mentioned as joining the Nagor chief against [[Kumarapala (Chaulukya dynasty)|Kumarapala]] of Anhilwad Patan.<ref name="gbp"/>

In the thirteenth century, it was the capital of the [[Vaghela dynasty|Vaghela]]s from whom, about the close of the century (1270), it was taken by Mod and Manai Samma. Mod befriended Vaghela who not only gave Kanthkot but also his daughter in marriage to Mod’s son Sad. Sad lived in Kanthkot and made it his capital. Sad’s son Ful named the fort Kanthadurg.<ref name=a/><ref name=b/><ref name="gbp"/>

In the beginning of the fifteenth century (1410) it was besieged by [[Muzaffar Shah I|Muzaffar Shah]] (1390-1411). It afterwards passed to the Deda branch of the [[Jadeja]]s. During the reign of [[Jadeja]]s, Kanthkot was given as an estate to Dedaji, the second son of Rao Raydhan Ratna. At the close of the sixteenth century is mentioned by Mughal [[vizier]] [[Abu'l-Fazl ibn Mubarak]] as one of the chief Kutch forts.<ref name="gbp"/>

In 1816, it surrendered to a British detachment under Colonel East, when the fortifications were razed to the ground before the [[Cutch State]] accepted the suzerainty of British in 1819. Although, the Kanthkot remained under Jadeja rulers till independence of India in 1947.<ref name=a/><ref name=b/><ref name="gbp"/>

==Architecture==
[[File:Kanthadnath Temple - Kanthkot.jpg|thumb|Kanthadnath temple, Kanthkot Fort]]
In the west of the hill in a ravine are two large deep wells and one ruined [[stepwell]] built of blocks of sandstone. Of these wells one called Bhamario is 12 feet in diameter and 76 deep, the other the Nogan well is 18 feet round and 63 deep.<ref name="gbp"/>

On the hill are the remains of three temples, one to the ascetic Kanthadnath, the second an old Jain temple to Mahavir, the third a temple to the Sun.<ref name=c>[https://books.google.com/books?ei=4pzQTYS8CYP5rQeNhu2nCw&ct=result&id=uksbAQAAMAAJ&dq=kanthkot++kutch&q=kanthkot#search_anchor Kanthkot, Kutch] Indian archaeology:a review by Indian Dept. of Archaeology., 1959</ref><ref name=a>[http://www.kutchforever.com/Forts.aspx Kanthkot fort, kutch] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100827051815/http://www.kutchforever.com/Forts.aspx |date=2010-08-27 }}</ref><ref name=b>[http://www.panjokutch.com/geography/Fort.htm Kanthkot]</ref><ref name="gbp"/>

Kanthadnath's shrine on the west point of the hill was, about 1820, built by Deda Jadejas in the place of a much larger temple, probably the work of Mod Samma (1270), ruined by the [[1819 Rann of Kutch earthquake]]. The present shrine, built on a high platform, is domed and measures 28 feet by 14 and 28 high. It has a fine domed porch supported on four pillars, and inside a white marble image of Kanthadnath sitting cross-legged.<ref name="gbp"/>

The much ruined Jain temple of Mahavir has had a double entrance hall, ''mandap''. A writing on a pillar in the entrance hall dated 1283 ([[Samvat]] 1340) states that the builders were Atmadevnath's sons, Lakha and Sohi. On a pilaster in the screen on the outside, Atmadev's son Pasil is said to be the builder. The family who built the temple are believed to be relatives of [[Jagdusha]] of [[Bhadresar]].<ref name="gbp"/>

Close to the Jain temple, the ruin is an old temple to the Sun, [[Surya]], the Kathis' favourite god. There is a writing, described as an incorrect stringing together of the praises of Shiv under the incarnation of [[Rudra]]. The temple still contains the image of the Sun god, represented with a male and female attendant on each side. The figure is much like that of [[Vishnu]]. Near a more modern shrine on the wall are a number of graves of Shaiv Atits, some of unusual form, a ling mounted on a series of round or square plinths laid one over the other.<ref name="gbp"/>

Kanthkot fort is now a tourist attraction of Kutch.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.panoramio.com/photo/25204855# |title=Photo Kanthkot fort |access-date=2017-10-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170624200248/http://www.panoramio.com/photo/25204855# |archive-date=2017-06-24 |url-status=dead|df= }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
* This article incorporates [[Public Domain]] text from {{cite book|title=Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Cutch, Palanpur, and Mahi Kantha |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dLUBAAAAYAAJ|year=1880|publisher=Printed at the Government Central Press|pages=224–225}}

{{Commons category|Kanthkot Fort}}

[[Category:Forts in Gujarat]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Kutch district]]
[[Category:History of Kutch]]

Kanthkot Fort - Revision history

2409:4040:D94:C583:0:0:A709:9610 at 10:01, 29 July 2022