Utila Fort

Utila (IAST: Utīlā, Hindi: उटीला) is a village and a fort in Gwalior district in Madhya Pradesh. Utila is located at a distance of 20 km from Gwalior city in east direction on Gwalior –Hastinapur-Behat Road.

History

There is a small fort in Utila known as ‘Ranaon ki Garhi’. The fort was constructed by Gohad ruler Maharaja Bhim Singh Rana around 1740. The fort is situated on a hillock and surrounded by deep ditch to protect it. The Jat rulers of Gohad had constructed this fort for the central defence of Gohad Fort. The soldiers posted at this fort used to send light signals to Singhpur fort from where these were transmitted to Gohad and Behat forts. The jat rulers were in regular warfare with Sindhias so these forts were of immense importance to them. The palace is surrounded by four high burj. The defence strategy of the fort is example of architectural skills of the Gohad Jat rulers. [Ranvir Singh:, “Utila Garhi”, Jat-Veer Smarika, Gwalior, 1992, p. 45]

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