Forts & Palaces Of Rajasthan

Chittorgarh Fort Chittorgarh exhibits the pride and glory of Rajasthan in the form of its various forts and monuments. It is a ruined citadel where the royal past lives in the imposing forts, graceful palaces and spectacular chhatris. The entire city echoes with the tales of romance. Location Chittorgarh is located in the southern part of the state of Rajasthan, in the northwestern part of India. It is located beside a high hill near the Gambheri River. It is 112 km from Udaipur and 182 km from Ajmer. The climate of Chittorgarh is arid. Summers are quite hot (April–June) and winters are cool (October–February). It experiences scant rainfall between June and August. Jaisalmer Fort The golden - yellow sandstone of Jaisalmer Fort, over 800 years old, crowns the Trikuta Hill. Within its walls, defended by 99 turrets, lies the old city, nearly a quarter of modern Jaisalmer. During the reign of the Bhatti Rajputs, the Merchant community acquired great deal of power. They constructed huge mansions (havelis) adjacent to each other. The havelis of merchants have decorations on walls and ceilings and carvings on outdoors and interiors. The sandstone mansions of the merchants were built by stone craftsmen. The sculptural filigree, screen windows, delicate pavilions and beautiful balconies of the mansions are worth paying attention to. Even today, these examples of superb architecture stand inhabited. Also enclosed within the fort is an entire living area within huge ramparts. The walk to the fort, through the narrow lanes, is an experience in itself. Leading to the fort are its four gates Ganesh Pol, Suraj Pol, Bhoot Pol and Hawa Pol. The Jaisalmer fort of Rajasthan also encompasses a group of Jain temples dating back to the 12th century. Top Taragarh Fort At a distance of 39 km from Kota, Taragarh Fort is a massive fort built in the year 1354. The fort was the centre of a kingdom in Rajasthan during its heydays. There are numerous attractions in and near the fort, which pulls in large number of tourist to the place. The main gateway of the fort has some meticulous carvings of elephants. Infact, there are three gateways to the fort. They are named Lakshmi Pol, Phuta Darwaza and Gagudi ki Phatak. Most parts of these impressive gateways are now in ruins. During its heydays, Taragarh fort was renowned for its tunnels crisscrossing the entire hillside. These tunnels allowed the king and his deputies to flee in case there was an imminent danger to their lives from enemies. Unfortunately, no maps of these tunnels are available in present times. From the Taragarh Fort, a spectacular view of Kota town is available. Junagarh Fort Junagarh Fort is one of the most imposing forts of Northern India and has remained unconquered till date. Built in 15th century by one of Akbar's most trusted general, Raja Rai Singh, the fort with beautifully maintained rooms now display the treasures of the Royal family. The Anup Mahal is one of the most impressive rooms in the fort complex. The ornately lacquered walls are covered in red and gold with colored glass inlay. White plaster pillars are decorated in delicate patterns and covered with gold leaf. In a land where water is rare, the Badal Mahal or Cloud Palace's walls are painted with a fresco of rain clouds. The Rain Fresco photograph shows a painting of Krishna and Radna surrounded by the blue cloud motifs. It is an unassailable fortress, which has never been conquered. Built in 1593 A.D. by Raja Rai Singh, one of the most distinguished generals in the army of Emperor Akbar, the fort is a formidable structure encircled by a moat. The main entrance to the fort is Karan Pol (Gate) that is east facing. Next to it is the Suraj Pol, the sun gate. The fort situates in it some very magnificent palaces like Anup Mahal, Ganga Niwas and Rang Mahal or palace of pleasure. The Har Mandir is the majestic chapel for the royal family for worshipping their gods and goddesses. These palaces, constructed in red sandstone and marble, make a picturesque ensemble of courtyards, balconies, kiosks and windows dotted all over the structure. The premises also house a museum which is an array of a rich collection. Top Amber Fort The Amber Fort in Rajasthan built in 1592 by Raja Man Singh, is one of the finest examples of Rajput architecture. Perched high on a barren ridge, it commands extensive views over a deep narrow valley and the wider plains beyond. Shila Devi Temple Just before the entrance to the fort, on the right side, is a staircase leading up to the Shila Devi Temple. It is dedicated to Goddess Kali. The temple is very famous for its huge silver loins and silver doors. On the doorway of the temple, is an image of Lord Ganesha, carved from a single piece of coral. Diwan-e-aam In the second courtyard of the fort, is situated the Diwan-e-aam, hall of public audience. In this hall, the king received his subjects and listened to their problems. The hall has a lattice gallery and pavilion having elephant shaped columns Jai Mandir Behind the exquisite Ganesh Pol, a gate, are the residential apartments of the Maharaja. Amongst them, is the Jai Mandir, the hall of victory. It is known for its inlaid panel and dazzling mirror ceiling. Sukh Niwas Sukh Niwas was the pleasurable residence of the Maharaja. For the purpose of cooling the palace, a channel for water flow was laid in the palace. The palace also has an ivory inlaid sandalwood door. Zenana The fourth courtyard houses Zenana, the palace of the women. A common corridor connects all the rooms of the palace. This was done to provide privacy to the Maharaja while visiting his Queens. Jaigarh Fort Built in 1726 by Sawai Jai Singh, the Jaigarh fort in Rajasthan is a sight not to be missed. Also known as the fort of victory, the Jaigarh Fort is situated in the north of Jaipur and looks quite similar to Amber Fort. Besides housing a beautiful museum..... Since Jaipur was one of the main weapon producing centers for the Mughals and the Rajputs, Jaigarh fort has several weapons on display. One of the military structures of medieval India, the Jaigarh fort contains palaces, a granary, a well-planned cannon foundry, several temples, a tall tower, etc. Also in the fort, is Jai Ban (Jaivan), the largest cannon in the world. There is a vast collection of canons in the Jaigarh fort of Jaipur, Rajasthan that are exquisitely decorated. Jaigarh fort served as the royal treasury for a number of years. The fort houses a rich collection of puppets and ancient coins. Connecting the various palaces of the fort are a number of passageways. Also, there is a huge moat surrounding the fort. The Jaigarh fort remained sealed for almost seven years. The reason was a rumor that a huge treasure of gold was buried in the fort. However, after many searches and excavations, the government found nothing. The fort has been opened to public since the past few years only. Top Kishangarh fort Kishangarh fort is situated at a distance of approximately 27 km from the Ajmer city of Rajasthan. The fort, constructed by Maharaja Roop Singh of Rathore clan, dates back to the 1650's. The Kishangarh fort, near Ajmer, has a number of palaces and monuments inside its walls and is encircled by a huge moat. A magnificent lake located near the fort plays host to numerous rare and exotic birds, making it a bird watcher's paradise. Ajmer Kishangarh fort also served as one of the main centers of the Kishangarh School of miniature paintings. Even the famous Bani Thani style of painting that is quite popular in the field of miniature paintings originated here itself. There is a legend associated with the fort that goes that the fort was constructed at the place where the Maharaja saw a sheep defending her lambs from a pack of wolves. Infact, it is one of the few forts in Rajasthan that have remained unconquered till date. The interiors of the fort are beautifully carved and reflect the taste and lavish lifestyle of the Rathore rulers. Majestic quarters, courtyards adorned with stone-carved water fountains and numerous other embellishments enhance the magnificence of the Kishangarh Fort of Rajasthan. One of the major draws of the fort is the Phool Mahal (Flower Palace). Adorning the interiors of this palace are striking murals and some amazing frescoes. Kumbhalgarh fort Kumbhalgarh fort of Udaipur is named after Rana Kumbha, who got the fort constructed in the 15th century. It is situated approximately 64 km north of Udaipur. The Mewar region has its second most important citadel in Kumbhalgarh, after Chittorgarh. Surrounding the fort are the Aravali ranges. The Kumbhalgarh fort of Udaipur, Rajasthan is another fort that has remained unconquered till date. This was so because of its inaccessibility and hostile topography. The fort has approximately thick walls wide enough for eight abreast horses. Kumbhalgarh fort is also the birthplace of Mewar's legendary King Maharana Partap. The most amazing and interesting fact about the fort is that it houses another fort in its complex. This fort is called Kartargarh fort and comprises of a palace built by Maharana Fateh Singh. The palace was constructed after destroying the palace built by Rana Kumbha. There are 365 temples and shrines in the Kartargarh fort. The huge fort complex also comprises of a number of palaces and temples. The most magnificent palace inside the fort is the Badal Mahal (Cloud Palace). In the 19th Century, Maharana Fateh Singh got the fort renovated. There is also a sanctuary, one of the few that allow people to ride on a horseback while watching the wildlife. The wildlife of the sanctuary includes wolf, leopard, jackal and a variety of birds. Top