Bayana Town
Distance : 45km from Bharatpur, 76km from
Fatehpur Sikri
The ancient name of Bayana was Sripatha
or Sriprastha. It became an important town under the Mughal emperors
(early 16th-mid19th century). It was close to this place that Babur
defeated Sangram Singh (aka Rana Sanga) of Chittor and it was after
this major battle that the Rajput town of Sikri became the famous
Fatehpur Sikri (which is situated in what is now Uttar Pradesh, very
close to the border). Since then Bayana became a stronghold of the
Mughals. The remains of some of their relics can be seen.
¤ Main Attractions of Bayana
The Old Fort
The highpoint of a trip to Bayana is the old fort, Vijaygarh, perched
on a low hill. A curious mixture of Hindu and Muslim relics, the fort
has been the scene of many historical events. Much of this huge
complex is in ruins, but the solid rounded outer walls and colossal
watchtower speak volumes of its past glory. Scrubby growth fills the
gaps in the edifice, and goats and cows are the only regular visitors
to the place. Although most of this red sandstone fort might look like
rubble from a distance, some portions like a darwaza (door) here and
an arch there are intact. But the surprises are many. Some of the
gateways and panels show extremely beautiful carving. A forgotten
barrel lies somewhere in the bushes. There’s also a pillar with
inscriptions in Pali (an ancient language, of around the 4th-5th
century BC). In other places are writings in Urdu, the language of the
Muslims. Yet in another place is a carved slab showing the sacred
footprints of a person, perhaps of a sadhu (Hindu saint) who passed
that way.
The Barah Khambon ki Chhatri
The Barah Khambon ki Chhatri, is, as its name suggests, a pavilion
of 12 pillars. It is a red sandstone monument lying at the foothills
amidst dense bushes. There’s another cenotaph in the surrounding,
a double storeyed one, with an interesting circular pattern inside its
dome. The place make for a perfect picnic spot. In fact, Bayana is
full of such monuments. There's the Usa Masjid, built as an extension
of an older mosque which has now been converted into the temple Usa
Mandir. The old mosque was probably built in the 12th century by one
Baha al-Din Tugral, who was the first Muslim governor of the region.
These were the Ghori Sultans who were in Delhi for sometime, but did
not have a very significant niche. The Usa Masjid was then added in
about 1320-21 by one Kafur al-Sultani, a later Governor.
Lodi Minar
Another one worth seeing is the Lodi Minar, though incomplete, built
in 1519-20 by Nizam Khan, the Governor under Ibrahim Shah Lodi. The
Lodis were the rulers of Delhi in the 15th and 16th centuries until
Babur came and set up the Mughal empire. The construction of this
minaret in Bayana was, unfortunately, stalled by Babur. The Jijhri is
a little structure which was built to house Akbar for just one night.
It had a special cooling system, as it was supposedly built on a pond.
The jali (latticed) windows were to let in maximum air. The Jahangiri
Gate stands like a stray structure, dilapidated and aloof. However,
there are traces of carving in the pillars and some inscriptions in
Urdu. The gateway was built to welcome Jahangir, Akbar’s son, who
had come for a visit to Bayana. |
