After 20-Year Wait, 400-Year-Old Twin Forts Deep In Jharkhand's Palamau Jungle To Be Restored

After more than 20 years of delays due to forest clearance and bureaucracy, the government has finally approved the restoration of the Palamau Tiger Reserve's (PTR) 400-year-old twin forts in Jharkhand. Authorities have finally removed all impediments, allowing conservation efforts to commence, reported The New Indian Express.

PTR Deputy Director Prajesh Kant Jena stated that the Indian Trust for Rural Heritage and Development's detailed project report (DPR) is assembled and prepared for final review by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) agencies.

“All the hurdles, which were coming in the way of its restoration, have been cleared and the stakeholders have already given a go-ahead to the project,” said Jena. “Now, they have to find out a proper party or agency which can do justice to this cultural heritage,” he added.

History
The two forts — Purana Quila and Naya Quila — were built by the Chero dynasty in 1628 during the early Mughal era, deep within the jungle on the banks of the Auranga River, some 30 kilometers from Medininagar.

“It’s a dilapidated building of medieval architecture, built in 1628 and it needs technical intervention. In 2005 and 2011, proposals had come and ASI had visited the place, but somehow, it could not take off,” said Jena.

Outreach and Restoration Plan in Motion
In 2024, officials initiated a comics-based campaign to enhance awareness of the forts' historical significance. In 2025, a high-level conference convened by Tourism Minister Sudivya Kumar and other key authorities initiated the tendering process. The rehabilitation is projected to cost between Rs 40-50 crore.

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