Chanderi is a small historical village in Ashoknagar district in the state of Madhya Pradesh. It has a population of 35,000 people. It is believed that this town was established by Raja Shishupal. I visited Chanderi with my grandfather, Dr. Rajendra Lahoti.
In the 13th century the Chanderi sari weaving tradition began. The textile business of Chanderi reached its peak during the Mughal period. Chanderi has become additionally important because of the handloom industry since the 13th century and is still vibrant. The government has set up a Handloom Park to encourage training of new tailors. The design in the Chanderi saree is made during weaving hence it is a time consuming process. Thread is either silk or cotton and is usually imported.
The vast Chanderi fort was made by King Kirti Pal in the 11th century. The last rule was of the Scindhias. The fort has witnessed many wars and takeovers between Bundela Rajputs and Mughals and later between the British and the Scindhias.
Chanderi is mid-way between Bundelkhand and Malwa. Because of its location on the trade map, Chanderi was important to all. Once, the Mughal emperor decided to visit Chanderi. The governor wanted to throw a surprise to the emperor. He declared that the person who would carve a gate for the emperor by cutting through a hill would be handsomely rewarded. Workers started building the gate and soon the gate was ready. But since the worker failed to put hinges for the doors on the gate, he was not given his reward. Following the death of the worker, he was buried next to the gate. Since this gate was built by cutting through a mountain, it was named Katighati gate.
Beautiful architecture of Koshak Mahal on the outskirts of Chanderi. It was to be built 7 stories but because of the early death of the emperor, it was built only upto 4 stories.
There are many other sites worth visiting like Shehzadi ka Roza, Badal Mahal, mausoleum of Baiju Bawra, a resting place for camels and underground connected stepwells. There are many Hindu, Jain temples and mosques worth seeing. There is a good museum too. There are 2 MP tourism hotels. It is worth visiting the city in the monsoon and winter season.
