Durgavati maravi (October 5, 1524 June 24, 1564) was a ruling Queen of Gondwana from 1550 until 1564. She was born in the family of famous Rajput Chandel Emperor Keerat Rai. She was born at the fort of Kalinjar (Banda, Uttar Pradesh) in Chandel Dynasty, which is famous in the Indian history for the defense of king Vidyadhar who repulsed the attacks of Mahmud of Ghazni. Her love for sculptures is shown in the world famed temples of Khajuraho and Kalinjar Fort. Rani Durgavati maravi's achievements further enhanced the glory of her ancestral tradition of courage and patronageIn 1542, she was married to Dalpat Shah, the eldest son of king Sangram Shah of Gond Dynasty. The Chandel and Gond dynasties were allied because of this marriage. This resulted in Keerat Rai gaining the help of the Gonds. She gave birth to a son in 1545 who was named Vir Narayan. Dalpat Shah died in 1550 and Durgavati took the reins of the Gond kingdom . Diwan or Prime Minister Beohar Adhar Simha and minister Man Thakur helped the Rani in looking after the administration successfully and effectively. Rani moved her capital to Chauragarh in place of Singaurgarh. It was a fort of strategic importance situated on the Satpura hill range.
