'An 11th century fortress, Madan Mahal is one of the oldest monuments of Jabalpur. The fort is located on a rocky hilltop and is believed to be carved out of a single granite rock. The fort was built by Raja Madan Shah, a ruler of the Gond tribe. It was used as royal pleasure palace by the king and his successors. Situated at a height of 515 meters from the plains, it offers a sweeping view of the scenic countryside surrounding it. During the rule of the Gond dynasty, the Madan Mahal Fort also functioned as a watchtower in order to look out for enemies.'