Nainagarh is a hill fort and palace near Chunar in Mirzapur district, Uttar Pradesh, famous for its connection to the classic Hindi novel Chandrakanta by Devaki Nandan Khatri. Readers of the novel — and viewers of the TV series — will recognise Nainagarh, Vijaygarh and Chunar as the settings for the story’s tilism (enchanted labyrinth) and aiyyari (spycraft).
The Chandrakanta connection
Devaki Nandan Khatri lived in this region and set Chandrakanta (published in the 1880s) among the forts and forests around Chunar. Nainagarh is the kingdom of the hero Virendra Singh in the story, while the rival kingdom is Naugarh. The mysterious ruined forts, hidden passages and dense forests of the Chunar area gave Khatri the perfect backdrop, and to this day fans visit Nainagarh to walk through the real-world locations of the tale.
What you’ll see at Nainagarh
The site today is a weathered hilltop fort and palace ruin, quiet and atmospheric, surrounded by the Vindhya scrub. It is less developed than Chunar Fort, which is part of its charm for history and literature lovers. Wear sturdy shoes and carry water.
Where is Nainagarh?
Nainagarh lies near Chunar in Mirzapur district, a short drive from Chunar Fort. Most visitors combine both in a single day trip from Varanasi.
Internal links to add: link to Chunar Fort (Page 1), Places to visit in Chunar (Page 3) and your existing Chandrakanta / Charanadri article.
FAQ
Is Nainagarh the real Chandrakanta fort? Yes — Nainagarh near Chunar is one of the real forts that inspired Devaki Nandan Khatri’s novel Chandrakanta.
How far is Nainagarh from Chunar Fort? It is a short drive; both are usually visited together on a Chunar day trip.