Located in the ancient land of Jejakbhukti, an integral part of Bundelkhand, this fort and town were of strategic importance during medieval times. Kalinjar is 147 km from Jhansi. The fort was a Chandela stronghold from the 9th to the 15th centuries and remained invincible upto the time of the Mughals, Akbar finally conquered it in 1569 and gifted it to Birbal, one of the "nine jewels" of his court. From Birbal it went to the legendary Bundela warrior, Chhatrasal and thence to Hardev Shah of Panna Before being captured by the British in 1812.

Situated at a height of 700 ft, on the Vindhya ranges, this fort is accessible through seven gateways- the Alamgir Darwaza, Ganesh Dwar, Lal Darwaza, Buddh Bhadra Darwaza, Hanuman Dwar, Chauburji Darwaza and Bara Darwaza. Within the fort are two palaces- the Raja Mahal and the Rani Mahal, as well as several other places of interest.

These include Sita Sej, a small cave containing a stone bed and pillow once used by hermits; a reservior known as Patal Ganga; Pand-Kund, where water trickels from the horizontal crevices of stratified rocks; Budha-Budhi taal, whose waters are believed to possess healing qualities; Bhairon-ki-jharia or Manduk Bhairon; the Mrigdhara or Antelope’s spring situated within an inner chamber of the rampart, and Koti Tirth, which is an important place of pilgrimage where lepers are believed to be cured.