Deogarh (Fort of Gods) is a historical and religious town, 33 km from
Lalitpur in
Uttar Pradesh. It is on the banks of the
Betwa River. This historically important center holds the remains of structures built by several dynasties as the Guptas, Gurjara-Pratiharas,
Gonds,
Mughals, Bundelas and Marathas. There are also several temples and Jain shrines in the area.
Dashavatar temple, dedicated to Lord
Vishnu here, is fascinating for its historical and sculptural values. The 31 Jain temples inside the fort at Deogarh is a popular attraction. Of these, the temple of Jain Tirthankar Shantinath is noted for its uniqueness. The Chandela kings gifted temples with the marvelous panels depicting scenes from the Hindu scriptures like Gajendra Moksha, Nar-Narayan Tapasya and Anantasayi Vishnu, that excel in piety and beauty. The temples display sculpted scenes from the epics
Mahabharata and
Ramayana. Equally significant are the inscriptions on these monuments
in Sanskrit and Prakrit.
The best season to visit the place is September to May. Light clothes in summer and woolens in winter are suitable. Vehicles can be readily hired here. Easiest access is by rail at Jakhlaun, the nearest station 13 km from Deogarh.
