RUINS OF GARH PANCHKOT.

"HISTORY IS WHO WE ARE AND WHY WE ARE THE WAY WE ARE"- David McCullough.
                        

GARH PANCHKOT is a ruined fort located in the eastern part of India at the foothills of Panchet Hill in the district of Purulia,West Bengal.The ruins of the Panchkot Palace are a silent testimony to the Bargi attack during the 18th centuary.

                   The place holds a tragic historic background and the ruins of the fort signifies the injustice from the then Maratha people.

HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE: From a historical perspective Alivardi Khan had become the Nawab of Bengal in April 1740, having defeated and killed Sarfiraz Khan. Rustam Jung, Sarfiraz's brother-in law,challenged Alivardi Khan but failed in his endeavours which prompted him to seek the help of the Maratha Rulers of Nagpur, Raghoji Bhosle who entered Bengal through Panchet and started looting along the countryside.These Maratha men came to be known as the" Bargis".For about 10 years they looted and plundered Bengal. It ended in the year 1751 after settlement was reached between the Nawab of Bengal and the Maratha King.

                             During one of these encounters GARH PANCHKOT Was attacked by the "BARGI" and having defeated the Kings guards, they destroyed it after looting and plundering the Palace.It is believed that all  the 17 wives of the king committed suicide in a nearby well during such brutal attack. Garh Panchkot laid in ruin ever since.

                                          

                                                        

The tragic story that lay hidden behind the ruins of the place is a perfect example of "where story meets History". To reach GARH PANCHKOT  it takes almost 1 hour 30 mins from Purulia Railway Station .The average distance between the two place is about 72 kms. On a visit to Panchkot it will help you to depict about the deadly attacks that plundered Bengal in the past and called for its ruins.Here you can take a walk to visit the ruins of the fort , with a nostalgic feeling like every ruined part will whisper a different part of the story of such a brutal attack.The uncanny smell of the jungle,the calmness of the place will definitely trigger your mind to recall about such a deadly attack that dragged the fort and its civilians to ruins.