Culture and history · Chilapata
The brick ruins of Nalraja Garh
Inside the Chilapata forest, the overgrown walls of Nalraja Garh, the fort of the Nal kings, are the oldest built remains most visitors will see in the Dooars. The forest department's safari stops at the site, with a short walk among the bricks.
Nalraja Garh is a set of brick walls, a gateway and scattered structures in the forest near Mendabari, mostly covered by trees, roots and creepers. The thin bricks and the layout have led archaeologists to see it as an early frontier fort of the old province of Pundravardhana, and some date it to the Gupta period, around the 5th century; others are more cautious, and the site has not been fully studied. Local tradition names it after a King Nala.
The safari jeep stops near the ruins, and the guide leads a short walk around the walls. Look for the gateway, the thickness of the walls and the way trees have grown through the brickwork. Monkeys and birds use the ruins, and elephants pass through the area, so stay with the guide and do not wander off the path.
Do not climb on the walls or remove bricks. The site has little signage, so read up before you go, and ask the guide what local people tell about the fort.
Cost: Included in Chilapata safari, ₹2,500–3,500 a jeep (indicative)
Questions people ask
Good to know
How old is Nalraja Garh?
Its date is uncertain. Some sources place it around the 5th century, in the Gupta period, as a frontier fort of the province of Pundravardhana; others are more cautious. The site has not been fully excavated. Local tradition links it to a King Nala.
Can we visit Nalraja Garh without a safari?
No. The ruins are inside the Chilapata forest, where entry is by the forest department's jeep safari with a guide. Walking in alone is not allowed and would be unsafe, as elephants and rhinos use the area.
Is Nalraja Garh worth the safari?
If you enjoy history and atmosphere, yes. The ruins are modest, but finding early brick walls deep in a forest is memorable, and the safari route also gives a chance of elephants, rhinos and forest birds. Combine it with a night at Mendabari.
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