The history of Narwar seems to extend back a very long time, all the way to mythology in fact. Traditionally said to have been the capital of Raja Nala from the Sanskrit epic Mahabharata, the town below the fort was called Nalapura until the 12th century.
Archaeological evidence would seem to suggest that Narwar was ruled by the Naga rulers from 0 AD to 225 AD under a succession of nine Naga kings. Curiously, for the next eight centuries the archaeological record falls silent with no coins or inscriptions found in the area, although an inscription discovered at Eran may suggest that the region was ruled by the Toramana dynasty.
Exactly how long the Toramana dynasty lasted is not known either, but we do know that from the 12th century onwards Narwar was held successively by Kachwaha, Parihar, and Tomar Rajputs (warrior caste) until its capture by the Mughals in the early 16th century. It was subsequently conquered by the Maratha Maharaja Scindia in the 19th century.
Access to Narwar Fort is from the east, you can clearly see the pathway on Google maps leaving the town and heading north before taking a sharp left just by Alamgir Gate, previously known as Pisanhari Gate and rebuilt in the Moghul style by Aurangzeb.
The climb is quite steep, initially just an incline but eventually becoming steps, be sure to have plenty of water with you The original door of the second gate, Saiyidon Ka Darwaza (seen above), is still in situ although now in a state of disrepair.
There are no remains from the Hindu period at Narwar Fort except for a handful of inscriptions, none of which I found or even knew about prior to my visit. All the Hindu structures were obliterated by Sikandar Lodhi in 1508 AD. Ferishta records that Sikandar’s men remained at the fort for six months tearing down temples and building mosques and other structures.
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