 Raibania fort | |
 | |
| 21°55′35″N87°11′12″E / 21.9264°N 87.1867°E /21.9264; 87.1867 | |
| Location | Raibania,Balasore,Odisha |
|---|---|
| Designer | Narasingha Deva I |
| Type | Fort |
| Material | RedRedstone |
Raibania fort is a group of ancientforts inBaleswar district,Odisha, India.[1] This fort complex is considered as the biggest medieval fort of eastern India.[1]It was built during the reign ofEastern Ganga rulerNarasingha Deva I. There are 161 fort goddesses which are as "Durga devata" or "Iṣṫa devata" and Daṣasharu which is ananiconic form of the goddessJayachaṇḍi.[2]Although three forts were recorded in theAin-i-Akbari,[3]four forts have been found here: two of the larger ones are closer to the villageRaibania, and the other two are closer to the villagePhulta (Phulahatta).[4]According to The Balasore Gazetteer, the forts were devastated after theKalapahada invadedUtkala. Post-invasion remnants of the forts except Raibania have been utilized for construction by the localZamindars and villagers of the locality.[5]
The Raibania fort complex is located inLaxmannath, 9 miles (14 km) fromJaleswar and 2 miles (3.2 km) from the riverSubarnarekha.[4]
Narasingha Deva I, king of theEastern Ganga dynasty ofUtkala from 1238 to 1264, built the forts after conquering Humayun Khan to obstruct the entry of theTurks into Odisha.[6]
