Sirpur Fort

Sirpur Tandur, also known as Sarbar or Sirbar and formerly Suryapuram, is a town and mandal in the Komaram Bheem district of Telangana. It was once a prominent ancient center of power and culture, successively ruled by Hindu, Buddhist, Gond, and Maratha rulers before being integrated into the Nizam’s dominion and finally into independent India.

Sirpur Fort is built by King Bhim Ballal Singh, Sirpur Fort was the original capital stronghold of the Gond dynasty before the capital shifted to Ballarsha and then Chanda. The fort, located on the right bank of the Wardha River, served as a strategic defense center and royal seat for eight generations. It symbolized the transition of tribal authority into organized monarchical power in Central India.

1 Early History – Bhadravati and the Buddhist Era

In very early days, a great Hindu city known as Bhadravati, dedicated to Bhadra (a name of Shiva), flourished here. It served as the capital of the Vakataka kings.
The Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang (A.D. 639) recorded that Bhadravati had over one hundred monasteries and ten thousand Buddhist priests.
Eventually, Buddhist Kosala faded and was succeeded by the Manas or Nagvansi (snake-worshipper) kings of Wairagarh.

2. Kakatiya Period (12th – 13th Century)

In 1199 AD, Kakatiya king Ganapatideva granted land to a Brahmin named Manchibhattopadhyaya to establish Sirpur taluk in Adilabad district through Chennur Allumprola Raja.
This marked the administrative integration of Sirpur into Kakatiya dominions.

3. Origins and the Founding of the Sirpur-Chanda Gond Dynasty

Gond Legends and the Rise of Bhim Ballal Singh (c. 870 AD)
According to Gond traditions, Bhim Ballal Singh organized the Gonds and established his rule in Sirpur around 870 AD, overthrowing the Mana dynasty.
He is considered the founder of the Sirpur–Chanda Gond Kingdom, with Sirpur as the capital and Manikgarh Fortas the main stronghold.
The Gond royal emblem bore a lion and an elephant, and their family names included Singh and Shah.
The Gondi language, known as Koyator, has several variants: Southern Gondi, Adilabad Gondi, Northern Gondi, and Aheri Gondi.
Religion followed was Brahmanical Hinduism, with the Cult of the Persa Pen (clan deities) and ancestor worship.

4. Malik Kafur’s Invasion (1310 AD)

In 1310 AD, during Alauddin Khilji’s southern campaign, Malik Kafur besieged Sabar (identified with modern Sirpur).
According to historian Kishori Saran Lal, the attack was sudden; defenders committed jauhar to avoid capture.
Ananir (Ananur), brother of the fort commander, surrendered and was appointed as governor by Malik Kafur.

5. The Sirpur–Chanda Gond Dynasty (c. 1330 AD – 1751 AD)

Founder: Kol Bhill (Kol Bheel or Kolkhil)
Capitals: Sirpur → Ballarsha → Chanda (Chandrapur, Maharashtra)
Early Rulers (Sirpur-based)
Bhim Ballal Singh – Founder, built Sirpur Fort
Kharja Bhallal Singh – Son of Bhim Ballal Singh
Hira (Heera) Singh
Andia Bhallal Singh
Talwar Singh
Kesar Singh
Dinkar (Dinakar) Singh
Ram Singh

Surja Ballal Singh alias Ser Shah (1405–1437 AD)

Continued consolidation of Gond territories.

Khandkia Ballal Shah (1472–1497 AD)

Changed the capital from Sirpur to Ballarsha, and later to Chanda, marking the administrative transition of the Gond Kingdom.

6. Local Gond vassals loyal to Chandrapur kings 

After the royal seat moved south, Sirpur was left in the hands of local Gond sardars (Atram, Bhusare, and related clans) who maintained the fort (“garhi”) and collected revenue for Chanda.

Chanda Rulers

1497 AD - 1522 AD: Heer Shah
1522 AD - 1542 AD : Bhuma and Lokba
1542 AD - 1572 AD : Kam Shah
1572 AD - 1597 AD : Babaji Ballal Shah
1597 AD - 1622 AD : Dhundia Ram Shah
1622 AD - 1640 AD : Krishna Shah 
1640 AD - 1691 AD : Bir ShahBir Sha
1691 AD - 1735 A.D - Ram Shah
1735 AD - 1751 A.D - Neelkanth Shah

Govind Rao (1611 AD)

Granted sardeshmukh and jagir rights in Sirpur and nearby villages by Emperor Jahangir.

7. Bhonsle and Maratha Rule (1751 AD – 1803 AD)

Raghoji I Bhonsle 1751–1755 Annexed Gond territories.
Janoji Bhonsle 1755–1772 Maintained control over Chanda-Sirpur.
Mudhoji Bhonsle 1772–1788 

Ceded Manikgarh to Nizam (1773 AD).
Raghoji II Bhonsle 1788–1803 

Maratha-Nizam war; 

Jukut Rao 

a Gond chief, held Sirpur region as Jagir.

8. Nizam’s Era and British Intervention

1803 AD – After the Treaty of Deogaon, Berar was ceded to the British, who handed Sirpur and adjoining regions to the Nizam.

Ramji Gond  (1857 CE - April 9 1860 CE)

led local resistance movements.

1864 AD – Salarjung I implemented ryotwari system; Gond Rajas lost their jagirs except the 

Raja of Sirpur (jagirdari) and Raja of Utnur (maqta).

9. Later Sirpur Rajas (Atram Dynasty)

Yadav Shah I (1860 CE - c.1875 CE)

Gond ruler recognized under Nizam.
1869 CE:  20 Zamindaris created; 17 Gonds, 2 Hindus, 1 Muslim. 

1872 CE: Sirpur-Tandur sub-district created (Edulapuram, Rajura, Sirpur talukas).

Ram Shah (c.1875 CE - 1905 CE)

Formation of Adilabad district.

Deo Shah  1905–1906 CE 

Uncle of Ram Shah.

Govind Shah 1906 CE 

Brother of Ram Shah.

Dinker Shah (1906–1918 CE)

Son of Govind Shah. 

HQ shifted to Asifabad (1913–14) 

Dinker Shah died in 1918 and his Son Yadav Shah was the last holder of the pension.

Yadav Shah II (1918 CE - 1948 CE)

HQ shifted back to Adilabad (1940–41). 

Last ruler under Nizam’s Hyderabad State.

10. The Atram Clan and Kanchanpalli Lineage

Raja Atram Jangu Bapu of Kanchanpalli (Sirpur-Utnur Mandal)

Founder of the Kanchanpalli branch.

Narsing Rao

Recognized Deshmukh of Mamidpalli.

Atram Bheem Rao  (1942 CE - 1948 CE)

Govind Rao and Rajesh Rao – Assisted Bhim Rao of Kanchanpalli in Sirpur’s administration.

Assisted ethnographer Haimendorf and his wife in 1942.

Sitagondi Branch – Founded by Israi Jangu Babu.

11. Ethnographic Legacy

In 1942, Austrian ethnographer Christoph von Fürer-Haimendorf conducted field studies at Kanchanpalli with the help of Bheem Rao Senior.
His research significantly improved understanding and welfare of Raj Gonds and other Adivasi tribes.
The present-day descendant Atram Bheem Rao continues to honor his memory a top a 250-metre hill shrine near Kanchanpalli.

13. Legacy and Importance

Sirpur marks the earliest Gond political center in the Deccan.
Served as a bridge between Telangana and Central India in culture and governance.
The Atram Rajas preserved tribal traditions even under changing regimes.
Sirpur Fort and Kanchanpalli estate remain symbols of Gond pride and endurance.