रोहतासगढ़ rohattāsgaṛh
‘Rohtas Fort’ Hill fort, Bihar (Bih)
From Hin: gaṛh, ‘fort’, and Rohitāśva, legendary son of King Harishchandra.
Rohtasgarh crowns the Kaimur plateau, its massive ramparts enclosing an area of over 4,000 acres. Though myth links the site to Rohitāśva, the historical fort rose to prominence under Sher Shah Suri in the 16th century. He fortified it with palaces, mosques, and reservoirs, making it one of the mightiest strongholds in India.
Later incorporated into the Mughal empire, Rohtasgarh remained strategically significant, guarding the approaches from Bengal into northern India. Its sheer size and isolation deterred siege, but it fell into decline under the British.
Today, weathered ruins still dominate the plateau — a reminder of Sher Shah’s short-lived but ambitious empire.
For related place names see Indian Place names and Bihar place names.