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Kelzhar: Ancient Hill Village in Vidarbha with Temples, Fort Ruins, and Mythological Links

Kelzhar: Ancient Hill Village in Vidarbha with Temples, Fort Ruins, and Mythological Links
Kelzhar: Ancient Hill Village in Vidarbha with Temples, Fort Ruins, and Mythological Links

Tucked into the hills of Seloo taluka in Wardha district, Kelzhar is one of Vidarbha’s many villages with a population under six thousand.


But the story of this village stretches far beyond present-day demographics. Known for its ancient Ganesh temple and the ruins of a medieval fort, Kelzhar has quietly drawn the attention of archaeologists, historians, and temple-goers.


Its cultural presence is marked not by headlines but by stone structures, stepwells, and idols dug up from beneath the soil.


Centuries Built into Stone


Kelzhar’s elevated geography has long made it a focal point. The village is located approximately 26 kilometres from Wardha and just over 50 kilometres from Nagpur, and sits directly on State Highway 245.


What appears now as a rural community has foundations that extend back to the Yadava dynasty of the 13th and 14th centuries.

Archaeological findings indicate that Kelzhar was once home to temples built in the Hemadpanti architectural style, commonly associated with the Yadava kingdom of Devagiri.


These temples included a stone foundation featuring a Shiva linga and a seated Nandi bull, both common markers of medieval temple design. Local records and ruins suggest that invasions from the Bahmani Sultanate or earlier campaigns led to partial destruction of these structures. Excavators from Nagpur University identified fragments of these ruins near what is now the main temple complex.



A key structure found during recent digs is a double-flight stone stepwell, known locally as Ganeshkund. Built with symmetry and sloped steps descending from two sides, the well is believed to date to the Bhonsla period.

It was used to provide water to the religious sites and the fort complex at the hilltop. While some portions of it remain damaged, its core design remains visible. Plans have been proposed to conserve the site for both functional and cultural purposes.


The hill itself once supported a small fort. Today, only a few bastions and a gateway arch survive. The rest of the hill is dominated by the temple complex that has expanded around it over the years.


The presence of a pushkarni, or stepped tank, further supports the assumption that this was once a fortified and inhabited space with religious as well as defensive structures.


A Centre of Worship


The most active site in Kelzhar today is the Varad Vinayak temple, located at the summit of the hill.


The idol of Ganesha here is noted for having its trunk turned to the right, a feature that is considered highly auspicious and somewhat rare in temple architecture.

The temple is visited year-round, and during the ten-day Ganesh Chaturthi celebration, it becomes the centre of activity for devotees from Wardha and surrounding districts.


The religious function of the site extends beyond the main shrine. Behind the Ganesh temple is a Mahalakshmi temple, added during recent renovation efforts.



During construction, workers uncovered two Vishnu carvings embedded within the foundation. These idols have been retained and now form part of the new sanctum. On one of the surviving bastions of the old fort stands a small shrine dedicated to Hanuman, referred to locally as Maruti.


Jain heritage has also been confirmed in Kelzhar. A 13th-century stone idol of Bhagwan Vrishabhanatha was found near the area identified as an old Buddha Vihara.

Additional idols of Chandraprabhu Swami and Mahavir Swami have also been uncovered, pointing to a significant Jain presence during the medieval period. These findings have added another layer to the village’s religious profile.


Roughly ten kilometres from Kelzhar, in a settlement known as Chowki Kelzar, stands a temple dedicated to Brihaspati, or Guru. Local residents and temple caretakers claim this to be one of only two such temples in India, the other being in Allahabad. This site receives a separate set of visitors seeking blessings from the deity associated with wisdom and teaching.


Demographics and Present-Day Status


According to the 2011 Census, Kelzhar had a population of 5,066 people across 1,178 households. The gender ratio stood at 993 females for every 1000 males.


The literacy rate, at 84.90%, is higher than the state average, with male literacy recorded at 90.9% and female literacy at 78.8%.

Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes constitute roughly 13.6% and 13.8% of the population, respectively.


Kelzhar operates under a Gram Panchayat system and falls within the Wardha assembly and parliamentary constituencies. The village is primarily agrarian, with local shops, a school, and bus connections serving day-to-day needs.


The nearest railway station is located more than ten kilometres away, while the closest major hub is Wardha Junction, roughly 24 kilometres south.



Although Kelzhar does not currently receive large-scale tourism, interest has been growing due to the recent archaeological activity and its historical sites. The Ganesh temple already attracts pilgrims, especially during festival periods.


Local authorities have expressed intent to develop the area for tourism, particularly through preservation of the fort ruins and restoration of the stepwell.

Kelzhar’s standing in Vidarbha lies not in widespread fame but in the concentration of architectural and religious heritage built into a single hill. The patterns carved into the stone stepwell, the alignment of the temples, and the Jain idols brought up from beneath the earth tell a story that moves through centuries.


These physical remnants have brought the village into focus for both researchers and regional planners. Kelzhar’s significance today is not drawn from narrative alone, but from the artefacts that continue to surface from beneath its soil.


References




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