Chunar Fort, Sandstone fort on Ganges River bank in Mirzapur, India

Chunar Fort is a sandstone fortification on a rocky hill beside the Ganges in Mirzapur district, India. The complex includes multiple entrance gates, corner bastions, and a pavilion with fifty-two columns overlooking the river.

The fortress was founded more than two thousand years ago and changed hands many times between regional rulers over the centuries. Sher Shah Suri controlled it during the sixteenth century before it later passed to the Mughals and eventually to the British.

The name Chunar comes from Charanadri, "hill of the foot", after the footprint left by Bawan Bhagwan in the legend of King Bali. The Bharathari Temple holds the samadhi of Bharthari, the hermit brother of Vikramaditya of Ujjain, and the black stone where the saint Bhatinath prayed is still worshipped in the fort. The Sonwa Mandap hall and a sundial stand among the remains of Hindu-period buildings with painted figures.

The fortress lies about forty kilometers from Varanasi and can be reached by road from Mirzapur town. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear as the terrain is uneven and steps connect different levels.

The river meets the walls of the fortress directly and changes direction northward at that point. This natural curve is visible from several vantage points within the compound.