Have a dip in the Royal past of Rajasthan with these Magnificent Forts.

04 Jun 2021 by Swati Mamgain

Famous Forts of Rajasthan

The stories of the rulers and kings might be history in Rajasthan but the forts remain to be the major highlight of the state. The beautiful state of Rajasthan has numerous forts and palaces that are even today standing strong and speak of a glorious past. Be its tremendous architecture or rich history it truly attracts every visitor. As one wanders through narrow passages and captures pretty carvings on the walls one can feel the kind of craftsmanship. The state of Rajasthan has over a hundred fortifications on hills and mountain terrains.

The six most exotic forts are located in Chittorgarh- Chittorgarh Fort, Kumbhalgarh- Kumbhalgarh Fort, Sawai Madhopur- Ranthambore Fort, Jhalawar- Gagron Fort, Jaipur- Amer Fort and Jaisalmer- Jaisalmer Fort. Some of these forts have defensive fortification walls up to  20kms long. Make sure to witness the massive forts of Rajasthan that depict the glorious past with astonishing architecture.

1. Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur

Mehrangarh Fort or Mehran Fort was constructed by Rao Jodha in the year 1459 in Jodhpur. Mehrangarh Fort is one of the largest forts in India. This majestic fort is nestled at the top of a 410 feet elevated hill and is guarded by massive walls. It has appeared in several movies like- The Dark Knight Rises, Awarapan, and Thugs of Hindustan. This fort has seven gates- Victory Gate, Fateh Gate, Gopal Gate, Bhairon Gate, Dedh Kamgra Gate, Marti Gate and Loha Gate. These gates were built at different times and serve a very specific purpose. The major attraction here at Mehrangarh Fort is the intricate carvings on its walls, the sprawling courtyards, deep and interesting history, museums and galleries. The other major highlight of this fort is the view of Blue city.

There are so many other attractions near Mehrangarh fort - Jaswant Thada, Balsamand Lake, Umaid Bhavan Palace, and Kaylana Lake. One can find local people performing folk dance in front of the main entrance that is very soothing and exciting to watch. Make sure to indulge in Ziplining activity that starts from the top of the fort. As one glide through Jodhpur, one gets to experience the scintillating view of Jodhpur.

Timing - 9 AM - 5 PM

Entry Fee - For international guests INR 600, including the audio and for Domestic Guests it is INR 70.

How to Reach

Jodhpur is well connected with rail, road and air networks with all the prominent cities of India. The nearest railway station is the Rai Ka Bagh. One can avail deluxe or express bus service. On reaching Jodhpur one can travel by auto-rickshaws, cabs, or by bus to reach their destination.

2. Amber Fort, Jaipur

Amber Fort or Amer Fort is one of the most stunning forts in India. Amber Fort is around 11kms away from the Pink City Jaipur. Enjoy an elephant ride up the stairs to the Amber Fort that is truly an amazing thing to do. This majestic fort was inducted into UNESCO World Heritage Site List as part of the Hill Forts of Rajasthan along with five other forts. Amber Fort has a traditional Hindu and Rajputana style of architecture.

One gets allured by the intricate paintings of the ancient hunting styles and portraits of prominent Rajput rulers. This marvelous fort is divided into four sections and each section has its separate entrance and courtyard. The main entrance is known as the Suraj Pol or Sun Gate that leads to the main courtyard. On your visit to Amber Fort make sure to attend the 50 minute light and sound show that is held every evening here that showcases the history of Jaipur and the fort. This show celebrates local legends, folklore, and folk music. There are other attractions near Amer Fort that are truly worth visiting- Jal Mahal, City Palace, Hawa Mahal and Nahargarh Palace.

Timing - 9 AM to 6 PM, for Light Show-English- 7:30 PM, Hindi- 8 PM

Entry Fee - For Indian - INR 25, students- INR 10, and for Foreigners- INR 200. The charge for an Elephant ride for two at Amer Palace is INR 900.

How to Reach

Amber Fort is around 11kms away from Jaipur city. Jaipur is well connected to all the prominent cities of India by air, rail and by road. One can avail cab service to reach their destination. The public buses ply from Ajmeri Gate and MI road and take around 20 minutes to reach Amer Fort.

3. Jaisalmer Fort, Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer fort is beautifully nestled on the golden sands of the Thar Desert. Jaisalmer Fort is not only a fort but yes a mini-town with houses, temples, shops and restaurants. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and falls under the category of Hill Forts of India and was constructed in the year 1156. This fort is standing at a good height of 250ft and is surrounded by 30ft tall walls. One can capture the astounding and stunning views of Jaisalmer city from here.

Jaisalmer fort or Sonar Quila is a massive structure that exhibits its aesthetic beauty. One can find more than 3000 people living within the fort walls. The major attraction here is the Maharawal Palace that is renowned for its marble thrown. One can witness the five-storied tower called Tazia Tower that is standing right opposite the Maharawal Palace. Ther is another attraction that is the Jawahar Palace with a pretty laid out design and architecture.

There are other major attractions near Jaisalmer fort- Bada Bagh, and Salim Singh ki Haveli. On your next visit to Jaisalmer make sure to visit Jaisalmer fort that is the only living fort in India. The entire complex is a maze of winding lanes with houses and temples lined along with numerous handicraft shops, guesthouses and restaurants.

Timing - 9 AM - 5 PM

Entry Fee - For Indians, it is INR 30, for foreigners, it is INR 70, for the still camera, it is INR 50 and for video camera it is INR100.

How to Reach

The stunning Jaisalmer is nestled in the heart of Rajasthan while the Jaisalmer fort is on the Southern edge of the city. One can avail of auto-rickshaw or cab service to reach this fort.
 

4. Chittorgarh Fort, Chittorgarh

The majestic Chittorgarh Fort is one of the largest forts in India. This fort was declared a UNESCO’S world heritage site in 2013. Chittorgarh Fort is located in the Rajasthan state of India and was previously the capital of Mewar and currently situated in Chittorgarh. This fort is beautifully spread over a hill of around 590 feet in height and is spread across 692 acres of land. One can find a long road of 1km that leads to Chittorgarh fort. The other name for Chittorgarh fort is Water Fort as it had 84 water bodies once but today there are only 22.

The key attraction of this fort is the towers- Vijay Stambh, refers to the tower of victory and Kirti Stambh, refers to the tower of fame. One can even witness several temples and palaces within the premises of the fort. Apart from Vijay Stambh and Kirti Stambh, here is the list of the major structures within the fort- Rana Kumbha Palace- which is situated towards the entrance of the Vijaya Stamb.

It is the oldest monument in Chittorgarh, Padmini’s Palace- is a three-storied structure and is a 19th-century reconstruction of the original palace and is located towards the Southern part of the Chittorgarh fort, Gaumukh Reservoir- is located near the Samadheshwar temple and was the major water source whenever Chittorgarh was under a siege, Meera Temple- was built in her memory.

As per the legends, she was the princess from Chittorgarh who gave up her royal life to worship God, Krishna. Some other temples and palaces truly need to worth visiting.  The Chittorgarh fort is truly a treasure trove of history and a sage of bravery, courage and sacrifice. Between the 15th and 16th century it was captured 3 times.

Timing - 9:45 AM- 5:45 PM

Entry Fee - For Indians it is INR 15 and for Foreigners, it is INR 200

How to Reach

Chittorgarh Fort is situated at a good distance of around 112kms from Udaipur on an elevated slope near the Ganbheri river in the state of Rajasthan. One can reach here either by availing bus service or hiring a taxi from Udaipur city.
 

5. Jaigarh Fort, Jaipur

Jaigarh Fort is a majestic structure nestled on the top of the Cheel Ka Teela hills in the Pink city, Jaipur. Jaigarh fort reflects the city’s prosperous past and is named after the ruler who constructed it- Swai Jai Singh II. There are some stunning architectures inside the fort that are worth witnessing- Lalit Mandir, Vilas Mandir, Laxmi Vilas, and Aram Mandir. There are two beautiful temples- Ram Harihar-constructed in the 10th century, and Kal Bhairav temple-constructed in the 12th century. The major attraction here is the world’s greatest cannon on wheels called Jaivana Cannon and a vast palace complex.

One can even witness a well-tended garden along with an armoury and a museum. The red sandstone walls of the massive Jaigarh fort are spread over a length of 3kms and are about a km wide. The fort is known for the huge treasure that was believed to be buried under it. It is strongly believed that the treasure was seized by the government of Rajasthan in the year 1970. Make sure to visit this astounding fort on your next trip to Jaipur.

Timing - 9:30 AM - 4:45 Pm

Entry Fee - for Indians it is INR 35 and for Foreigners, it is INR 85.

How to Reach

The astonishing Jaigarh fort is located just outside the Jaipur city around 11km away and therefore can be easily reached through local bus service, auto-rickshaw or a taxi.

6. Kumbhalgarh Fort, Kumbhalgarh

The majestic Kumbhalgarh fort is one of the 5 hill forts of the Rajasthan state of India. In the year 2013, it was declared as the UNESCO world heritage site. Kumbhalgarh fort is situated almost 82kms from Udaipur. Kumbhalgarh Fort has the second largest wall after the great wall of China. The beautiful fort is built on the foothills of Aravalli ranges and is surrounded by 13 hill peaks of the ranges and is nestled at an elevation of 1914m. It was constructed by Rana Kumbha in the 15th century under the direction of Mandan- a very renowned architect of that time.

One can find a Lakhola tank that is inside the fort and was built by Rana Lakha between 1382 and 1421 CE. Plan a trip to Kumbhalgarh fort and witness some of the major monuments that are present inside this fort- Ganesh Temple, Vedi temple- constructed by Rana Kumbha and is located near the Hanuman Pol.

It was built for performing the rituals after the completion of the fort, Parsvanatha Temple, Bhawan Devi temple, Kumbh Palace, Badal Mahal- constructed by Rana Fateh Singh and is the highest point of the fortress. One can attend the light and sound show that starts at 6:45 PM that depicts the story of the Rajput Royals. This show is truly worth watching and is indeed the key attraction here.

Timing - 9:00 AM - 6:00PM

Entry Fee -  For Indians, it is INR 10 and for Foreign Tourists it is INR 100. One who is in favour of attending the Light and Sound show then the price for it is INR 100.

How to Reach

Kumbhalgarh Fort is around 84kms away from Udaipur. Rajasthan State Government-run ordinary and deluxe buses that stop around 50kms from the fort and from there one can hire a taxi to reach the Kumbhalgarh fort.

7. Junagarh Fort, Bikaner

Junagarh Fort initially called Chintamani is a majestic structure in Bikaner. In the 20th century, it was renamed Junagarh or Old Fort. Junagarh fort has seven gates. There is a royal temple of the fort- Har Narayan temple that is devoted to Lord Lakshmi Narayan and his wife Lakshmi. One can even visit the Ratan Behari temple is located near Junagarh fort that is devoted to Hindu God Krishna.

Witness the palaces in this fort that are truly marvellous pieces of art and architecture- Karan Mahal- that was constructed by Karan Singh, Phool Mahal-is the oldest palace in the fort built by Raja Rai Singh, Anup Mahal, Chandra Mahal, Ganga Mahal, Badal Mahal, and Bikaner Havelis. Visit the museum in the fort that was constructed by Maharaja Dr Karni Singh in the year 1961.

The museum consists of numerous paintings, jewels, and other commemorations depicting the royal life the fort had once witnessed. Visit the nearby attraction- National Research Centre on Camel that will give you a unique experience. Visit this fort to witness the lavish structure it and the exquisite beauty of each structure.

Timing - 10 AM - 4:30 PM

Entry Fee - for Indians it is INR 50, for Foreigners, it is INR 300. For Audio Tour it is INR 350, and for visiting Phool Mahal and Chander Mahal it is INR 100.

How to Reach

The beautiful Junagarh Fort is located in Bikaner near Sursagar in Junagarh Fort Road. One can reach here by RSRTC shuttle bus, Local Shuttle bus or local taxi.

8. Ranthambore Fort, Ranthambore

Ranthambore Fort is declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and is one of the prominent Hill Fort of Rajasthan. The construction period of the Ranthambore fort is unknown but the archaeologists suggest that the construction may have begun during the reign of the Sapldaksha in the 10thcentury. Ranthambore fort is nestled atop a large rocky outcrop amidst the Ranthambore National Park. Ranthambore Fort has a protective wall and seven gates- Navlakha Pol, Hathi Pol, Ganesh Pol, Andheri Pol, Delhi Pol, Satpol, and Suraj Pol. Ranthambore Fort has a Kachaheri named Hammir Kachaheri that has three chambers.

One can witness a beautiful Palace- the Hammir Palace, which was built during the reign of Hammir Singh inside the fort premises. There is a big hall that has around 84 columns. The hall is called the Badal Mahal and was used to hold conferences and meetings. There is a Ganesh temple inside the fort premises that is quite popular among the devotees.

Timing - 6:00 AM- 6:00 PM

Entry FeeThe entry fee for adults is Rs.15 per person and for children, it is Rs 10 per child.

How to Reach

Ranthambore fort is situated at a good distance of 17kms from the town of Swai Madhopur. One can reach the Ranthambore fort from Sawai Madhopur via Ranthambore road. Tourists can avail themselves of public transport to reach the fort. Bus and auto-rickshaws are the convenient way to reach here.

9. Gagron Fort, Gagron

The majestic Gagron Fort is located in the Jhalawar district of Rajasthan. The Gagron Fort was constructed in the 12th century and was built by Dor Rajputs but later it was ruled by the Mughals for many generations. It is truly a masterpiece of Rajput architecture and yes a striking example of a hill and water fort.

This fort is constructed on top of a hillock and thus offers a stunning 360-degree view of the landscape below. One can find a museum outside the fort gates and a mausoleum of Sufi Saint Mitthe Shah. The saint is highly revered by the local people. A Fair is conducted every year during Muharram to mark the respect for him.

In the year 2013 Gagron Fort was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The major attraction is the pristine river on three sides. There are other attractions near Gagron Fort that one can visit- Prithvi Vilas Palace, Bhawani Natya Sabha and Chandrabhaga temples. This fort witnessed 14 battles and still is standing strong.

Timing - 8 AM to 7 PM

Entry Fee - INR 50

How to Reach

The nearest airport is Kota that is 87 km away. NH 12 passes through the town of Jhalawar. One eager to reach by train can avail of train service. The railway station is around 2kms from Jhalawar city.

10. Taragarh Fort, Ajmer

Taragarh Fort or Star Fort was built in the year 1354. It is one of the most visited forts in Ajmer. It is indeed counted among the most stunning forts in Rajasthan. It served as a center for military activities during the Mughal rule in Ajmer. It was renowned for its tunnels that went through the entire hill it stands on. Taragarh fort has three main gateways- Gagudi Ki Phatak, Lakshmi Pol, and Phuta Darwaza that are the major tourist attractions and are engraved with carvings of elephants. 

The other attractions of the fort are- Rani Mahal- which boosts its stained glass windows and murals that still are adorned with the charm of the bygone era and Miran Saheb Ki Dargah. This stunning fort offers an impressive view of the area. Visit this fort and enjoy the panoramic and breathtaking views of the entire city of Bunid located in the Nagpahari of the Aravalli ranges.

Make sure to visit this fort and get enriched by the rich history and culture. One can even visit the top attractions near this massive fort- Sukh Mahal, 84- pillared Cenotophs and Dhabai Kund.

Timing - 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM

Entry Fee -  No Entry Fee

How to Reach

Taragarh fort is located around 10kms away from Dargah. One can drive down here in just 20 minutes from Dargah or can hire an auto-rickshaw to reach Taragarh fort. One can even reach here by jeep. One can even reach a steep 1.5 hours climb that starts beyond the Adhai din Ka Jhonpra mosque.

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