CSIR- Central Building Research Institute, Roorkee

HERITAGE STRUCTURE DATA-SHEET

STUDENT INFORMATION
NAME: Vishwajeet Ranjan
FATHER’S NAME: Kashi Nath
PHONE NUMBER: 7210043646
EMAIL ID: ranjan.vishuaryan.vishwajeet@gmail.com
COLLEGE/INSTITUTE/UNIVERSITY: Ganeshi Lal Bajaj Institute of
Technology And Management , Greater Noida.

COURSE TYPE: B.TECH ✓ B.ARCH OTHERS

YEAR: 4th year

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 HERITAGE STRUCTURE DATA-SHEET
GENERAL
1. Monument ID (to be filled by CBRI) :

2. Name of the Monument :CHUNAR-FORT,MIRZAPUR

3. Grading and Listing : A B C D Other

4. Location : Place CHUNAR
District MIRZAPUR
State UTTAR PRADESH

:Longitude 25°12’34’’N
5. Location Coordinates Latitude 82°87’57’’E
6. Ownership : Government/ Private

7. Conservation Agency(ies) : U.P State Archaeology Department.

PHOTOGRAPH(S)

Fig: 1.1 (Side view)

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 Fig 1.2(Photograph with Monument )

Fig 1.3 (Photograph with Regional Archaeological Officer, Dr. Subhash Chandra Yadav)

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Fig 1.4(Short Illustration about monument)

Fig 1.5(Restoration data)

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ARCHITECTURAL & PLANNING DETAILS

8. Period of construction : From 1029 AD To 1575 AD

Century 11th Century to 19th Century

Era “Mughal & British era”

9. Style of Architecture : MUGHAL ARCHITECTURE

10. Past and Present usage

PAST- Settlement have been recorded here since 56 BC, from

the time of “Vikramaditya” of Ujjain.
• In 1532, Sher Khan acquired Chunar fort by strategic marriages
to enhance his reputation.
• Akhbar, the 3rd Mughal Empreror, had visited Chunar for
hunting in 1575. He acquired it as he considered the fort
strategically located to guard the Ganges and the major land
routes to eastern India. During his rules the west gate was built
in the fort entrance with the date 1586 having been engraved
on the stone archway.
• The British East India Company, under Major Munro, attacked
the fort through initially they lost ground, they subsequently
breached the south west part of the fort and annexed it. The fort
with all its territory was formally ceded under a treaty to the
East India Company in 1768.
• In 1791, Chunar Fort became the Headquarter of an invalid
battalion of European and Indian troops serving in India.
• From 1815, the fort also housed the state prisoners.

Previous usage and history has been shown in tablet as shown

in Fig-1.6 below.

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 Fig-1.6(Time records)

PRESENT- Presently the fort is used in two different purposes

• It has been conserved by ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY
OF INDIA for its preservation and conservation
• As per government permission, the open area of Chunar
fort is taken under POLICE DEPARTMENT for Training
purposes with respect to half yearly basis.

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11. Architectural and Structural Elements of Monument :
Sub-Structure : Height of the Chunar Fort is 280 feet and was
surrounded by four short domes. It consist a central dome in
“SONWA MANDAP” of approx 20 feet as shown in Fig-1.7. Total four
(4) chamber are made near the main fort. Complete fort has been
made and completed by CHUNAR SANDSTONE. The area bounded
by the fort covers a length of 750 yards (690 m) in the north-south
direction, with a maximum width of 300 yards (270 m) on the northern
face, close to the river bank. The peripheral length of the fort is 1,850
yards (1,690 m). The ramparts of the fort have towers built at regular
interval with height varying from 10-20 feet (3.0-6.1 m).

Super-Structure: The Chunar Fort of total 280 feet surrounded by

small four (4) domes with some chambers around have a well within
this area is 15 feet (4.6 m) in diameter and sunk deep as shown in
FIG(); its water is commonly not potable. There is an underground
dungeon, which is used as a store room now. It has total 28 pillars in
an open pavilion built in Hindu style of architecture. Several OGEE
ARCHES are constructed in the fort for entrance or other locations as
shown in the Fig1.9, Fig-2.0 & Fig-2.1 respectively. It has been said
that the fort consist several tunnels to different destination. There are
approximately 36 tunnels said to be connecting cities like
“NAVGARH”, “SAKTESGARH”, “VIJAYGARH”, “CHUNARGARH”.

Fig-1.7

Fig-1.8

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Fig-1.9 Fig-2.0

Fig-2.1

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12. Painting(s): No

13. Sculptures(s): Sculptures of Chunar Fort has been preserved and

kept inside the Warren Hasting house and several sculptures are
carved on the river Ganges side of the mountain. Approximate
numbers of sculptures present are more then 12 dozens
respectively

Fig-2.2(House of Warren Hasting)

14. Carvings/Motifs:
Complete fort is carved on the sandstone of the pillars, arches and the
fort itself. Complete SONWA MANDAP and its 28 pillars are carved as
shown in Fig-2.3, an engraving on its mehrab is believed to be filled
with gold.

Fig-2.3

15. Inscriptions/Text: No

16. Environmental Details :

The fort stands on a rock , a detached part of the Vindhya Range, at an
elevation of 280 feet (85 m) above sea level. The four main seasons are
winter, from December to February ; pre-monsoon or summer, form
March to April; monsoon from May to September ; and post-monsoon,

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form October to November. During winter, temperature range from 13 to
27°C (55 to 81°F), while in the summer they fall between 24 to 36°C (75
and 97°F)

17. Earthquake zone : Seismic Zone II III IV V

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18. Wind zone (Wind Speed in m/sec) : 33 39 44 47 50 55

19. Significance :

From the very early period of time this fort has it’s own significance,
as it was used for various purposes by several kings and britishers,
and in present time it has been used for Police training centre and
camp. The value of structural architecture is high and having
economic maintenance. It is used for social cause and also open for
public visit for tourism and educational perspective.

20. Topographical Features :

The Chunar Fort is located 14 miles (23 km) south west of

VARANASI. The southeastern part of the fort is on the rocky bank of
the Ganges River. The fort stands on a rock, a detached part of the
VINDHYA RANGE, at an elevation of 280 feet (85 m) above sea
level. The rocky face of the fort is impregnable because of its steep
slope. Most of the enclosed fort area consist of plains overgrown with
grass and a few trees. The location of Chunar Fort is shown in below
figure.

Fig-2.4

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 Fig-2.5

Fig-2.6

21. Nearby Place(s) : VARANASI, NAVGARH, VIJAYGARH

SAKTESGARH,RAJGARH

22. Photographs/Maps/Drawings/Illustrations etc.:

a) Number of Photographs uploaded 16 photographs

b) Number of Maps uploaded 1 Map

c) Number of Drawings uploaded NIL

d) Number of Illustrations uploaded 4 photographs

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MATERIAL DETAILS

23. Material used :

Foundation: Bed Rock, Stones and fine aggregates.

Walling: Chunar Sandstone, Brick

Flooring: Sandstone, Red Marble

Roofing: Sandstone, Brick, Wooden Girders

Joinery: Sand-Bajra mixture, Lime Mortar.

Finishing: Cutting pieces of Sandstone

Any Other: No

24. Fascia/ Cladding material (if any) : Wooden sheets

25. Material related issues (if any) : No such material related issues
has been observed, due to recent restoration of monument and
preservation facility.

Fig-2.7(WALLING) Fig-2.8(WALLING)

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 Fig-2.9(Flooring) Fig-3.0(Roofing)

26. Photographs/Illustrations with description:

a) Number of Photographs uploaded 4 Photographs.

b) Number of Illustrations uploaded NIL

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STRUCTURAL DETAILS

27. Structural Systems :

A huge wall and typical components of a fort having arcuated

architecture with little touch of trabeated system consist an individual
well of 4.6 m diameter.

28. Structure related issues (if any): Construction material got affected
from chronological factors such as Minor cracks, Vegetation and
several structural defects. Maximum percentage of structure seems
to be affected form “vegetation attack” as shown in Fig-3.1, 3.2 ,
Cracks and breaks found on sculptures patterns carved on the
walls and the Wooden girders have wide crack pattern (more than 2
mm) as shown in Fig-3.3 , 3.4 , 3.5. Major defect found in wooden
cladding as shown in Fig-3.6.

.
Fig-3.1

Fig-3.2

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Fig-3.3

Fig-3.4

Fig-3.5

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 Fig-3.6

29. Photographs/Illustrations with description:

a) Number of Photographs uploaded 6 Photographs

b) Number of Illustrations uploaded NIL

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 30. Previous Restoration/ Reconstruction/ Additions/ Alteration Works:

By the 30th December 2013 to 29th December 2014 previous restoration

and reconstruction processes has been done. The work comes under
“UTTAR PRADESH STATE ARCHAEOLOGY DEPARTMENT”. Total
533.06Lakh estimated and spend for restoration process. H.K
CONSTRUCTION was the agency chosen for alternation works.

31. Scope of Conservation :

The heritage monument CHUNAR FORT has been controlled by

Archaeological Survey of India Ministry of Tourism , As we can observe
1,850yards (1,690 m) peripheral length fort has been covered with high
vegetation dominantly. From the fencing to even structural members
also get affected from vegetation. Since vegetation is one of the major
problem for heritage monuments so they should be treated as soon as
possible. As the Fort is open for public there should be proper warning
sign regarding wells, paths public facilities and accidental vacant area
on the ground near well section.

32. Bibliography/ References : (Total Number SIX )

1. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chunar_Fort

2. Dr.Subhash Chandra Yadav, Regional Achaeological Officer

State Archaeology Department.
3. http://www.history.com/topic/Chunar_Fort
4. http://indiamapia.com/place.php?distric=Mirzapur&cit=Chunar_Fort
5. www.upstatearchaeologydepartment.com
6. www.intensitymapofIndia.com

Date: 13/01/2018 (Signature)

Vishwajeet Ranjan

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