18 Splendid MustVisit Forts AndPalaces of Rajasthan
Rajasthan – the very name conjures images of magnificent monuments, colorful clothes, undulating sand dunes, forts, camels, rich food, dance, and music. To truly savor the Rajasthan experience, you need to spend at least two weeks in the state – the second-largest in India – because there is simply too much to see, experience and enjoy! Here we present 10 of the spots we think you should not miss out.
Rajasthan – the very name conjures images of magnificent monuments, colorful clothes, undulating sand dunes, forts, camels, rich food, dance, and music. To truly savor the Rajasthan experience, you need to spend at least two weeks in the state – the second-largest in India – because there is simply too much to see, experience and enjoy! Here we present 10 of the spots we think you should not miss out.
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<strong>18</strong><strong>Splendid</strong><strong>MustVisit</strong><strong>Forts</strong>And<br />
Palaces<strong>of</strong><strong>Rajasthan</strong><br />
htps:/htoindia.com/blog/forts-and-palaces-rajasthan/<br />
sheesh@htoindia.com htps://htoindia.com +91-9829488511
Index-<strong>18</strong><strong>Splendid</strong><strong>MustVisit</strong><strong>Forts</strong>And<br />
Palaces<strong>of</strong><strong>Rajasthan</strong><br />
AmberFort,Jaipur<br />
RanthamboreFort<br />
MehrangarhFort,<br />
Jodhpur<br />
ChitorgarhFort<br />
SonarFort,Jaisalmer<br />
TaragarhFort,Bundi<br />
JunagarhFort,<br />
Bikaner<br />
GarhPalace,Bundi<br />
KumbhalgarhFort<br />
CityPalace,Udaipur<br />
www.htoindia.com
Index-<strong>18</strong><strong>Splendid</strong><strong>MustVisit</strong><strong>Forts</strong>And<br />
Palaces<strong>of</strong><strong>Rajasthan</strong><br />
GagronFort,Jhalawar<br />
JaigarhFort,Jaipur<br />
Lohagarh,Bharatpur<br />
CityPalace,Jaipur<br />
DeegPalace,<br />
Bharatpur<br />
HawaMahal,Jaipur<br />
NahargarhFort,<br />
Jaipur<br />
JalMahal,Jaipur<br />
www.htoindia.com
AmberFort,Jaipur<br />
Youcanfindsomemassiveredsandstoneworkandmarbleartifactsinthis<br />
AmberFortandthefortisspreadoverthelake.<br />
Thefortisdividedint<strong>of</strong>oursegmentsandeach<strong>of</strong>thesepartshasseparate<br />
entrancesandanatachedcourtyard.ThemainentrancenamedSurajPalorthe<br />
SungateissituatedneartheJalebChowk.<br />
Earlier,thearmiesreturnedfrom waranddidtheirvictoryparadeontheground<br />
insidethisfort.Duringthattime,theroyalfamiliesstayedinsidethefort,andthe<br />
royalfamilywomensaw thearmythroughthesmalwindows.<br />
Accordingtonumerousepistemologicalfacts,thenameAmberwas<br />
actualyderivedfrom theAmbikeshwarTemple,whichissituatedonthetop<br />
<strong>of</strong>theCheelKaTeela.HereLordShivaisknownasAmbikeshwar.However,<br />
accordingto<strong>Rajasthan</strong>ifolklores,thenameAmberwasderivedfrom the<br />
name<strong>of</strong>Amba,whichisthelocalname<strong>of</strong>GoddessDurga.
MehrangarhFort,Jodhpur<br />
Themuseum <strong>of</strong>MehrangarhFortisarenownedtouristspotandyoucanfind<br />
severaloldpaintingsincludingthefamousart<strong>of</strong>palanquins.<br />
YoucanfindsomepreciousthingsintheMehrangarhFortgalerylikeElephant<br />
Howdahs,palanquins,MarwarPaintingsandArmory.Youcanalsoseethefinest<br />
artformsdisplayedonthegalery<strong>of</strong>DaulatKhanainMehrangarhFort.Some<br />
ancientartsarerestoredinthisplace,andyoucanfindsomehistoricalfacts<br />
throughtheseartformsandunderstandthelifestyle<strong>of</strong>Rathorerulers<strong>of</strong>Jodhpur<br />
and<strong>of</strong>theMughalemperors.
SonarFort,Jaisalmer<br />
Theforthascountlessroomswithsmaldecoratedwindows,doorsand<br />
balconies.Themostimportantatraction<strong>of</strong>thisfortisthepresence<strong>of</strong>royal<br />
familiesinsidetheSonarFort.Somepart<strong>of</strong>thisforthasalsobeen<br />
transformedasmuseum,andstilsomeroyalfamilymembersstayinside<br />
theseparts.<br />
Ontheotherpart,youcanfindthegreatVyasHaveliwherethedescendants<strong>of</strong><br />
themainroyalbuildersstilliveinsidethispart.TheotherHaveliknownasShree<br />
NathPalace,wheretheprimeminister<strong>of</strong>feudal<strong>Rajasthan</strong>stayed,andyoucan<br />
als<strong>of</strong>indsomecarvingwoodenpanelsontheceilingandthedoors<strong>of</strong>thisSonar<br />
Fort.
JunagarhFort,Bikaner<br />
TheJunagarhForthassevengates,whichisthemainentrance<strong>of</strong>several<br />
palacesandpavilions.Duringthe16thcenturynumerousHinduandJain<br />
templeswerebuiltinsidethisfort,andtheseentiretempleswerecrafted<br />
withredandgoldsandstones.<br />
Everykingwholivedinsidethisfortmadeseparatesets<strong>of</strong>roomsfortheirown<br />
usebecausetheydidnotwanttousetheirpredecessor’srooms.Therefore,you<br />
canfindseveralroomsinsidethisfortandeach<strong>of</strong>them hasseparatedesigns<br />
andelegantintricatecarvedfurniture.<br />
Youcanfindaperfectblend<strong>of</strong>British,MughalandRajputArchitecturaldesigns<br />
inthisfortbecausemanyrulersfrom differentempiresoccupiedthisJunagarh<br />
Fortduringtheirdynasty,andtheylaterrestoredandreconstructedsomeparts<br />
<strong>of</strong>thisfort.
KumbhalgarhFort<br />
During1443CE,RanaKumbhastartedbuildingthegreatwalsuroundingthe<br />
fortandhefacedsomedifficultiesduringtheconstruction.Thenhe<br />
consultedthereligiouspreceptorsandtheysuggestedbuildingatemple<br />
insidetheforttoremovetheconstructionhurdles.ThenMaharanaKhumbha<br />
builtthetempleinsidethefortandstartedbuildingthewals<strong>of</strong>the<br />
KumbhalgarhFort.<br />
Accordingtothe<strong>Rajasthan</strong>ifolklores,MaharanaKhumbausedtolightupthe<br />
suroundedvilagesbyusingfiftyKilograms<strong>of</strong>gheeandhundredkilograms<strong>of</strong><br />
cotoneveryday.<br />
RanaLakhabuiltthelargesttanknamedLakholaTankinsidethefortandyoucan<br />
findtheAaretPolgateatthewesternside<strong>of</strong>thisfort.Apartfrom this,theHala<br />
Polgateisconstructedontheslopearea,andRam PolandHanumanPolarethe<br />
majorentrances<strong>of</strong>thisfort.
RanthamboreFort<br />
Intheyear1226,theDelhiSultanIltutmishoccupiedthisfortandintheyear<br />
1236,theChauhansrecapturedthefort.<br />
Thefortissituatedonthetop<strong>of</strong>thehilandyoucanfinddenseforestsinthe<br />
suroundingplacestothisfort.Duringsunset,thefortgetshighlightedwith<br />
vermilionshades,andyoucanals<strong>of</strong>indthesuroundinggreeneryand<br />
sandstonestructureswithsomeancientartsinsidethefort.
ChitorgarhFort<br />
ChitaurForthassevendifferentgatesandtheyareknownasPadanPol,<br />
HanumanPol,GaneshPol,JodlaPol,LaxmanPolandBhaironPol.These<br />
gatesweredesignedwithstrongsandstones,andyoucanfindsome<br />
massivestoneworkonalthewals<strong>of</strong>thesegates.TheMewarpeoplehave<br />
constructedthesegatestodefendtheforeignintruders,andtheyhave<br />
encryptedsomecannonandelephantstatuesinfront<strong>of</strong>thesegates.<br />
Youcanfindacircularpathwayinsidethisfort,whichisconnectedwitheach<br />
templeandtheruins<strong>of</strong>thisfort.Hereonecanfeelthepain<strong>of</strong>theMewarpeople<br />
whosacrificedtheirlifeforprotectingtheirroyaltyandprestige.<br />
Youcanals<strong>of</strong>indtwovictorytowerscaledtheVijayStambhaandKirtistambha<br />
insidetheChitaurFort.TheRanaKumbhabuilttheVijayStambhaandthe<br />
BagherwalJainbuilttheKirtiStambha.<br />
YoucanalsoexploresomeoldestpalacesinsidethisfortlikeRanaKumbha<br />
Palace,FatehPalaceandPadmini’sPalace.RanaKumbhaPalaceistheoldest<br />
palacein<strong>Rajasthan</strong>,whichislocatedneartheVijayStambha,andyoucanfind<br />
sometemples<strong>of</strong>LordShivainsidethispalace.Apartfrom that,<br />
MaharanaUdaiSinghwhoisthefounder<strong>of</strong>Udaipurwasborninthisplace.
TaragarhFort,Bundi<br />
DuringtheChauhandynasty,therulersbuiltsomelargewaterreservoirsinside<br />
thisfortandtheyusedtostorehugeamount<strong>of</strong>waterinthesereservoirs.<br />
YoucanseethegorgeousRaniMahalinsidethisfort,whichhasnow becomea<br />
ruin,butstil,youcanunderstandtheenrichedglassworkonthewindowsand<br />
thestoneworkonthewalandceilings<strong>of</strong>thisMahal.<br />
TheMiranSahebkiDargahisanothertouristatractionwhichissituatedinsidethe<br />
fort.MughalrulerDaraShikohoccupiedthefortuntil1776.Thisfortissituatedon<br />
top<strong>of</strong>theAravaliranges,andyoucanfindseveraltemples,palacesandruins<br />
insidethisfort.
GarhPalace,Bundi<br />
AsyoufindseveralMahalsinotherforts<strong>of</strong><strong>Rajasthan</strong>,youcanalsoseethe<br />
sameChhatraMahal,PhoolandBadalMahalinthispalace.<br />
ThefamousUmmedMahalisknownasChitrashalaorArtGalery–thereare<br />
thousands<strong>of</strong>miniaturepaintingsinthispartanditisone<strong>of</strong>thebestthings<strong>of</strong>this<br />
place.<br />
TheMiranSahebkiDargahisanothertouristatractionwhichissituatedinsidethe<br />
fort.MughalrulerDaraShikohoccupiedthefortuntil1776.Thisfortissituatedon<br />
top<strong>of</strong>theAravaliranges,andyoucanfindseveraltemples,palacesandruins<br />
insidethisfort.<br />
Ifyouwanttoenterthisplacethroughitsmainentrance,whichisfolowedby<br />
somelargegardenarea,thenyoudoneedtopaytheentryfees,buttheother<br />
entrancesarefreeandyoudonotneedtopayanyamounttoaccesstheother<br />
entrances.
CityPalace,Udaipur<br />
Severalrulersstartingfrom MaharanaUdaiSingh-Iconstructeddifferentparts<br />
<strong>of</strong>thisplace,andtheyfoundseveralMahalsinsidethisarea.ThefulCity<br />
Palaceanditsgroundweredesignedwithmarbleandgranitestones,andyou<br />
canfindheavyartworks,stonecarving,marbleandmirorworkandwal<br />
paintingsinsidetheCityPalace.<br />
Youcanfindsomepalacesinsidethisareawhicharedesignedwithseveral<br />
balconies,towers,cupolas,andyoucanfindsomequadrangleswithlarge<br />
coridorsinsidethepalace.Thesecoridorsaremainlyconnectedwiththe<br />
suroundingareasandtheworiersdesignedthesecoridorstoavoidsurprise<br />
atacksbyenemies.<br />
Some<strong>of</strong>thenotablepalacesorMahalherearetheMotiMahal,SheeshMahal,<br />
KrishnaMahal,SuryaChoparandDilkhushMahalsituatedinsidethisCityPalace.<br />
AlsoyoucanfindtheroyalresidencenamedShambuNiwasinthepalace.The<br />
BariMahalortheBigPalaceisalsosituatedinsidethisareaandthispalaceis<br />
designedwiththesuroundinggardensnamedBhim andAmarVilas.<br />
CrystalGaleryisthebiggestatraction<strong>of</strong>CityPalaceandonecantakeseparate<br />
entrancestovisitthisamazingcolection.
GagronFort,Jhalawar<br />
TheGagronForthassituatedsevenkilometersawayfrom Jhalawarandthis<br />
fortissuroundedbythreelargerivers.Thissiteisfamousastheplace<strong>of</strong><br />
JauharlakesbecauseduringwarsmanyMewarandRajputwomencommited<br />
suicideintheselakes.<br />
JuharwasknownaritualisticmasssuicideandtheMewarandroyalfamily<br />
members,especialywomenatemptedsuicidetosavetheirprestigefrom the<br />
MughalKings.<br />
Later,MughalemperorAkbaroccupiedthisfort.Youcanseethesignificant<br />
mesmerizingview <strong>of</strong>thisfortfrom thetop<strong>of</strong>Changari.Thisisasmalvilage<br />
situatedattheeasternside<strong>of</strong>thisfort,andyoucanalsovisittheGagronvilage,<br />
whichissituatedatthewesternpart<strong>of</strong>thisport.<br />
Inthisvilage,youcanseetheShrine<strong>of</strong>MitheshahwhowasaSufiSaint.Akbar<br />
builtthisShrineintheyear1580,andeveryyearsomecolorfulfestivalsandfairs<br />
areconductedinsidethisShrineduringtheIslamicMuharam.
Lohagarh,Bharatpur<br />
Themainentrance<strong>of</strong>thisfortisknownastheAshtadhatuGate,whichwas<br />
constructedwitheightdifferentmetals.Youcanfindseveralpalacesinsidethis<br />
fortincludingtheMahalKhas,theBadanSinghPalace,theKamraPalace,and<br />
youcanals<strong>of</strong>indsomehistoricalmonumentslikeKishoriMahal,KhotiKhas,<br />
MotiMahalandMahalKhas.<br />
TherearetwomainvictorytowersnamedJawaharBurjandFatehBurjfounded<br />
bytheJatrulersinsidethefort.BadanSingh’sPalaceisone<strong>of</strong>theoldestpalaces<br />
in<strong>Rajasthan</strong>,andyoucanfindsomeheavycarvedbrackets,balconies,miror<br />
workandstonestuddedpilarsinsidethisfort,whichweredesignedaccordingto<br />
theJatroyalstyles.
DeegPalace,Bharatpur<br />
Youcanfindseveralgates<strong>of</strong>thispalace,whicharedesignedwithstone<br />
carvingwork,andyoucanseesomearcadesinsidethepalace,whichis<br />
designedwithsuroundingpavilionsandfountains.<br />
DuringHoli,colorsaddedinthesetanksandsmalclothesareinsertedintothe<br />
holes<strong>of</strong>thereservoirstoblocktheoutlet.Thenthecolorfulwatercirculated<br />
throughinter-connectedpipelinesandthefountainsspurtoutcoloredwater.
NahargarhFort,Jaipur<br />
MaharajaSawaiJaiSingh–IbuilttheNahargarhFortin1734.Thefortis<br />
suroundedbylargewals,whichisextendedtoovertheAravaliHilsand<br />
connectedthefortwiththeJaigarh.<br />
SawaiRam Singhreconstructedthefortintheyear<strong>of</strong><strong>18</strong>68andhewasbuiltup<br />
twodifferentblocksinsidethefort.Youcanfindmanyroomsandpalacesinside<br />
thisfort,whicharelinkedwiththeinter-connectedcoridors.<br />
SomefamousfilmslikeRangDeBasantiandafamousBengalicinemanamed<br />
SonarKelawereshotinsidethisNahargarhFort.
JaigarhFort,Jaipur<br />
TheAram Mandirandthegardenaredulydesignedwithinthecourtyard,and<br />
youcanfindtheseplacesatthenorthernside<strong>of</strong>thefort.Alongwiththat,the<br />
mainentrance<strong>of</strong>thefortknownasthe“TheAwaniDarwaza”isanexcelentart<br />
piece,andyoucanfindsomeMughalartworkonthisarcheddoor.<br />
Ontheeast-westwide<strong>of</strong>thefort,youcanfindtriplearchentrances,andal<br />
thesegatewaysarepaintedwithredandyelow colors.Accordingtothefolklore<br />
<strong>of</strong><strong>Rajasthan</strong>,earlierpeoplecouldseetheartificiallakenamedSagarLakefrom<br />
thisfort,andthepeopleusedtostockthewaterinthisartificiallakefortheir<br />
futureuses.Theycariedthewaterbyhumancaryingpotsandloadedonthe<br />
elephantbackstoreachthefortandinthisway,theysuppliedthewatertothe<br />
royalfamiliesandtheirsubordinates.<br />
Therearesomelargeundergroundcanalsinstaledatthewesternside<strong>of</strong>the<br />
Aravalirange,andyoucanals<strong>of</strong>indthreelargewatertanksorreservoirsatthe<br />
basementlevel<strong>of</strong>thefort.Thelargesttank<strong>of</strong>thisfortcanholdmorethan6<br />
miliongalons<strong>of</strong>water,andpeoplein<strong>Rajasthan</strong>believedthattheRoyalfamily<br />
members<strong>of</strong>Kachwaharulersusedtopreservetheirtreasuresinsidethesetanks.
CityPalace,Jaipur<br />
ThemainentrancestothispalaceareknownastheVirendraPolandtheUdai<br />
pol,whicharelocatedneartheJalebChowk.Thetriplegatewaysnamed<br />
TripoliaGateisstilreservedfortheroyalfamiliesandcommonerscannot<br />
accessthisgate.Commonpeoplecanenterthispalacethroughsomeother<br />
gatesliketheUdaipol,AtishPol,andthroughtheVirendraPol.<br />
YoucanfindthefinestartworksinMubarakMahal,andthisMahalisdesigned<br />
withsomeintricateIslamicandEuropeanartworks.Someauspiciousroyal<br />
costumes,shawlsandartifactsareprotectedintheCityPalaceMuseum,and<br />
youcanals<strong>of</strong>indsomeclothesusedbyMaharajaSawaiManSingh-Iinthis<br />
museum.<br />
ChandraMahalistheanotheratraction<strong>of</strong>CityPalaceinJaipur,andyoucanfind<br />
severalbuildingslike,SukhNiwas,PritamNiwas,ChabiNiwas,MukutNiwasand<br />
RangaMandirinsidethisMahal.Youcanals<strong>of</strong>indmanymurals,ancientpaintings,<br />
floraldecorativewals,screenedwindows,courtyards,pavilions,carpetsand<br />
manuscriptsinsidetheChandraMahal.ThemainentrancetothisMahalis<br />
enrichedwiththepeacockartwork,whichisknownasPeacockGate.<br />
YoucanalsoseesomeplaceslikethePritamNiwasChowkandfindthelargest<br />
audiencehalnamedDiwan-i-Aam intheCityPalace.Thegoldpaintingsand<br />
artworksontheceiling<strong>of</strong>Diwan-i-Khaswilmesmerizeyouandyoucanalsosee<br />
theMaharaniPalace,whichwastheresidence<strong>of</strong>RoyalQueens.Now thispalace<br />
hasbeenconvertedintoamuseum,andseveralartifactsandweaponsare<br />
protectedinsidethesemuseums.
HawaMahal,Jaipur<br />
Youcanfindmorethanthousands<strong>of</strong>jharokhasinthisHawaMahal,which<br />
weredesignedwithsomeintricateartworks.Royalwomenusedtoobservethe<br />
citylifethroughthesesmalwindowsbecausetheywerenotalowedtocome<br />
outsidewithoutwearingthefacecoverorpurdah.<br />
Duringthehotestsummer,thehugeamount<strong>of</strong>naturalaircaneasilyflow<br />
throughtheseintricatewindows,andthepalaceremainscoolalthetime.Thisis<br />
anaturalairconditioningsystem,whichwasusedbytheroyalfamilies,and<br />
peoplecouldeasilyseetheHawaMahalfrom thestreetbecausethisMahalis<br />
locatedonthebusyroadways<strong>of</strong>Jaipur.<br />
HawaMahalisafive-storiedbuilding,whereyoucanfindonlytwodifferent<br />
grandroomsonthetoptw<strong>of</strong>loors,andotherfloorsaredecoratedwithsome<br />
patiosandpavilions.TheMahalwasdesignedwithseveralportholes,andeach<br />
<strong>of</strong>theseportholeshasasmalwindow andalthesewindowsaredesignedwith<br />
sandstonegrils.YoucanfindsomefountainsinsidetheMahal,andwhenthe<br />
windentersthroughthesesmalwindowsandpassesthroughthefountains,the<br />
Mahalbecomescoolautomaticaly.
JalMahal,Jaipur<br />
JalMahalwasdesignedwithsomeRajputandMughalartworksandthisisa<br />
fivestoriedbuildingconstructedonthelake.Whenthelakebecomesful,the<br />
groundfloorstothirdfloorsremainunderthewater,andonlytheupperflooris<br />
visiblefrom theoutside.Thepalacesufferedfrom somedamagesand<br />
seepageduetowaterloggingandthegovernment<strong>of</strong><strong>Rajasthan</strong>reconstructed<br />
andrestoredthedifferentparts<strong>of</strong>thisMahal.<br />
Youcanfindsomeintricatepilars,marblefloorsandimpressiveintricate<br />
<strong>Rajasthan</strong>iartworkonthewals<strong>of</strong>thisJalMahal.Inthelasttent<strong>of</strong>ifteenyears,<br />
theGovernmenthasdonesomerestorationworkinthisMahal,andtheymixed<br />
someorganicingredientswiththeirplastermaterialslikejaggery,methiand<br />
guggaltopreventthewaterdamages.
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