Rajasthan is a major state of North India which is considered suitable for tourism during winter. Talking about tourism in Rajasthan, there are many things worth seeing. The culture, speech, food, and art of Rajasthan are unique in themselves. But what attracts tourists the most are the forts of Rajasthan whose architecture is a sight to behold. Rajasthan has been ruled by princely states where kings and emperors have built their forts with utmost seriousness. These forts reflect the history of Rajasthan and tell the story of the bravery of the kings. Today in this episode, we are going to give you information about those forts of Rajasthan whose architecture wins everyone's heart. Let us know about these forts...
Chittaurgarh Fort
Chittorgarh Fort is the largest fort in India. It symbolizes the bravery and courage of the Rajput Kings of Sisodia and Mewar rulers. This fort was built by the Mauryan dynasty king Chitrangad in the seventh century named Chitrakoot in his name. In 738, Guhilvanshi king Bappa Rawal captured this fort by defeating Manmori, the last ruler of the Maurya dynasty that ruled Rajputana. Parmar king Munj of Malwa snatched it from the Guhilvanshis and annexed it to his kingdom. Thus, it was dominated by the Paramaras in the 9th-10th century. It is said about Chittorgarh Fort, “Garh is Chittorgarh and all are Garhaiya”.
Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur
Mehrangarh Fort located in Jodhpur is one of the oldest forts of Rajasthan. This fort is situated at a height of 124 meters on top of the hill. The foundation of its construction was laid by Rao Jodha, the 15th ruler of Jodhpur in May 1459 and after this, Maharaj Jaswant Singh completed the construction work of this fort between 1638 and 78. There are 8 gates in the fort and a 10-kilometer-long wall surrounds the fort. There are many grand palaces located inside the fort which include Moti Mahal, Phool Mahal, Sheesh Mahal, Sileh Khana etc. Rao Jodha had immense faith in Chamunda Mata due to which he built the temple of Chamunda Mata near the fort in 1460.
Jaisalmer Fort
Jaisalmer Fort is one of the rare “living forts” in the world, located in the city of Jaisalmer in the state of Rajasthan. A quarter of the population in this city lives within the fort as there are many shops, temples, restaurants, and houses which provide them a source of income. This fort is one of the 6 UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Rajasthan popularly known as the Golden Fort or Sonar Fort as it is situated on the golden sands of the Thar Desert. The enchanting beauty of the fort and its huge structure attracts a lot of tourists. It is listed as one of the largest forts in the world. This famous heritage site was built in the year 1156 and was named after the erstwhile Bhati Rajput ruler Rao Jaisal. It is one of the must-see forts of Rajasthan where you can witness its rich culture and history enjoy the feel of royalty and explore its beauty by wandering through its labyrinthine lanes.
Junagarh Fort, Bikaner
Junagarh Fort is located in Bikaner city of Rajasthan state. Junagadh Fort was built between 1588 and 1593. This fort was established by Raja Rai Singh, a general of Akbar's army, in 1593 but it was given a modern shape by Maharaja Ganga Singh. It has many attractive palaces, palace courtyards made of red sand and marble stones, balconies, umbrellas, and windows which are spread in all the buildings. There are 37 security posts around this fort along with a wall of about 986 meters long. The fort has two main gates, called Daulatpol and Surajpol. Dolatpol bears the handprints of satiated Rajput women. There are many beautiful palaces inside this fort. Among these, Anup Mahal, Diwan-e-Khas, Hawa Mahal, Badal Mahal, Chandra Mahal, Phool Mahal, Rang Mahal, Dungar Mahal and Ganga Mahal etc. are prominent.
Taragarh Fort, Ajmer
Taragarh Fort, also known as Star Fort, is one of the oldest, unique, and magnificent forts in the state of Rajasthan, whose architecture was built in Rajasthani style. This place is situated on a steep hill that offers a picturesque and breathtaking view of the entire Ajmer city. This fort was built in the year 1113 during the reign of the famous king Ajaypal Chauhan. The beauty of this beautiful place is at its peak during sunset, when we can see the entire city immersed in pale light. Its history and rich culture provide a wonderful experience to the tourists. The main attraction of this place is the three huge gateways and sculptures which have been designed and carved with such precision which is very beautiful and this amazing piece of architecture attracts a lot of people. It also includes some huge water reserves. This place is one of the ideal spots and is also preferred by photogenic people for photography due to the panoramic view of the entire city which makes it a must-visit place in the city.
Ranthambore Fort, Sawai Madhopur
Ranthambore Fort located in Sawai Madhopur was built by Raja Sajjan Veer Singh, it is situated between two hills. After Raja Sajjan, many of his successors contributed to its construction. This fort was most famous during the reign of Hammir Dev Chauhan in 1282-1301. This fort was captured by Alauddin Khilji in 1301, after which it came under the control of the Mughals till the middle of the 18th century. Later, King Sawai Madho Singh of Jaipur requested the Mughals to hand over this fort to him. He developed the nearby village and strengthened the fort, later the city was named Sawai Madhopur after him. This historical site has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List since 21 June 2013.
Amer Fort, Jaipur
This fort is situated on a hill at a distance of 11 kilometers from Jaipur, it is a grand city of 4 square kilometers. It is a major tourist attraction in Rajasthan. The city of Amer was originally built by the Meenas and was later ruled by Raja Man Singh I. Amer Fort is known for its artistic style elements. With its massive ramparts chain gates and cobbled passageways is the Mavota Lake, which is the main source of water for the Amer Fort. Inside this fort, there are attractive and grand palaces built of red sandstone and marble.
Jaigarh Fort, Jaipur
Jaigarh Fort is also known as “Cheel Ka Tila”, meaning “Hill of the Eagle”, the fort is at the height of the Aravalli Range, it even overlooks the great Amer Fort in Jaipur, Rajasthan. The fort is also famous as the “Victory Fort”, a cannon was constructed in the fort which was the world's largest cannon on wheels at that time, known as the “Jaivana Cannon”. There are underground passages that connect Jaigarh Fort and Amer Fort. The fort has thick and high walls of red sandstone covering an area of 3 km, as the fort is situated on hills, the fort has a central watch tower from where you can view the excellent surrounding landscape. There is a ‘Aaram Mandir’ and garden within its courtyard, you must visit this fort. In this historical monument, you will get a wonderful experience of exploring nature.
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