Explore the splendour
Rajasthan is famous for the world famous forts, grand Havelis, temples and palaces. Most of these forts and Palaces of Rajasthan are already listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites because the unbelievable royal masterpieces cannot be found in any other location, which is easily visible in these forts. You might know about the royal families and their historical heritage, but did you ever feel anything about their lifestyle?
For this, you need to visit these forts in Rajasthan and you can feel the royal heritage like large courtyards, carved sandstone drills and artworks on the wall, large walls on the hills, corridors and lots of balconies decorated with fountains, triple gateways, golden artwork on the ceiling, royal furniture used by Maharajas and many more.
Rajasthan means the land of royals and is famous for its colorful people, rare flora and fauna, delicious cuisine, vibrant festivities and glimpses of the Indian heritage. When you plan your itinerary to Rajasthan, you can feel the warmth of its hospitality, some of the finest ancient architecture and colors of life.
Exploring Rajasthan is a thrilling experience, and you can feel the uncanny significance of royal families in these forts. The largest wonder city is still waiting for you, and you do not read the history here because you can see through the historical facts by visiting these large forts in Rajasthan.
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Amber Fort, Jaipur
Amber Fort is situated in Jaipur city, Rajasthan and this is the most attractive tourist place in Jaipur where more than thousand tourists visit every year. Raja Man Singh I constructed the fort, however the Meena tribe founded Amer.
The Amber fort is designed with cobbled paths, and it is situated near the MaotaLake, which is the main source of water dispersal to Amber Palace in the royal era.
Architectural design of Amber Fort:
Amber Fort is divided into four different parts such as the Diwan-i-Aam which means the “hall of public audience”, the Diwan-i-Khasmeaning the “hall of the private audience”, Sheesh Mahal or the mirror palace and the Sukh Niwas.
The SukhNiwas is a central hall in the Amber Fort where the climate remains cool all the year round, as created by artificial wind and water. The Amber Fort was the residence of the Rajput Maharajas and their families.
The entrance of the palace is designed with the Ganesha Gate because Lord Ganesha removes all the obstacles from our life. The temple inside the Amber Fort is dedicated to Goddess Sila.
Interesting facts about the Amber Fort:
- You can find some massive red sandstone work and marble artifacts in this Amber Fort and the fort is spread over the lake.
- The fort is divided into four segments and each of these parts has separate entrances and an attached courtyard. The main entrance named Suraj Pal or the Sun gate is situated near the Jaleb Chowk.
- Earlier, the armies returned from war and did their victory parade on the ground inside this fort. During that time, the royal families stayed inside the fort, and the royal family women saw the army through the small windows.
- According to numerous epistemological facts, the name Amber was actually derived from the AmbikeshwarTemple, which is situated on the top of the CheelKaTeela. Here Lord Shiva is known as Ambikeshwar. However, according to Rajasthani folklores, the name Amber was derived from the name of Amba, which is the local name of Goddess Durga.
So if you wish to taste the essence of the Maharaja’s lifestyle, then you can visit the Amber fort once in your life. Our Golden Triangle Tour includes visit to Amber Fort Rajasthan
Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur
Mehrangarh Fort is situated in Jodhpur, Rajasthan and this fort was built during 1460 by RaoJodha. Inside this Mehrangarh Fort, you can find several palaces and courtyards, and you can find some Indian ancient art form and intricate designs on the stone-walls of this palace. Mehrangarh Fort is constructed on the hilltop and this wonderful palace is situated 410 feet above of the main road.
You can find some battle signs on the first gate of this fort, which is still imprinted on the walls, and the second gate of this fort is known as Chatri because Kirat Singh Soda, a soldier fell on this spot during a war.
Architectural reformation of Mehrangarh Fort:
You can find several gates in Mehrangarh Fort and the main entrance is known as Jayapol, which means Victory. Maharaja Man Singh gave this name after he was triumphant over the combined forces of Udaipur and Bikaner armies.
The second largest gate of this fort is known as the Fatehpol, which also means Victory. Maharaja Ajit Singh gave this name when he defied the Mughals.
Interesting facts about the Amber Fort:
- The museum of Mehrangarh Fort is a renowned tourist spot and you can find several old paintings including the famous art of palanquins.
- You can find some precious things in the Mehrangarh Fort gallery like Elephant Howdahs, palanquins, Marwar Paintings and Armory.You can also see the finest art forms displayed on the gallery of DaulatKhana in Mehrangarh Fort. Some ancient arts are restored in this place, and you can find some historical facts through these art forms and understand the lifestyle of Rathore rulers of Jodhpur and of the Mughal emperors.
If you want to explore the Indian traditional themes of Rajasthan, then you can explore some of the finest palaces in Mehrangarh Fort like Moti Mahal, Phool Mahal, Sheesh Mahal, SilehKhana and DaulatKhana.
In these palaces, you can find some royal things including some rare musical instruments, miniatures, costumes, royal furniture and palanquins. Our Rajasthan Thar Desert Safari Tour includes visit to Mehrangarh Fort Rajasthan.
Sonar Fort, Jaisalmer
Sonar Fort is known as Jaisalmer fort, which is situated in Thar Desert of Rajasthan. This fort is listed as a World Heritage Site, and you can find a full city inside this fort. “MukulSonarQuilaKothai” the great dialogue written by the famous film director and writer Satyajit Ray projected this Sonar Fort as a golden palace in his film.
This fort is situated on the top of Trikuta Hill in the Thar Desert, and RawalJaisal, a Rajpur ruler, built this fort during 1156 AD.
Architectural overview of Sonar Fort:
People called this the Golden palace because the fort is designed with yellow sandstones and when the sunshine reflects on this fort, the color getsprojected as yellow gold. The main entrance of this fort is situated toward the countryside, and you can find some cannon statues at the main entrance.
Apart from that, you can also find several palaces inside this fort such as Raj Mahal, Jain temple, Laxminath temple and you can also find four large gates and merchant havelis. The merchant havelisare designed with some hundred years old carving structures, and you can find some great Rajasthani art forms and ancient paintings inside this fort.
- The fort has countless rooms with small decorated windows, doors and balconies. The most important attraction of this fort is the presence of royal families inside the Sonar Fort. Some part of this fort has also been transformed as museum, and still some royal family members stay inside these parts.
- On the other part, you can find the great Vyas Haveli where the descendants of the main royal builders still live inside this part. The other Haveli known as Shree Nath Palace, where the prime minister of feudal Rajasthan stayed, and you can also find some carving wooden panels on the ceiling and the doors of this Sonar Fort.
The Mughals in 1762 attacked the Fort and afterwards Maharawal Mulrak took control of it, and then after his death the East India Company controlled sonar fort. So if you want to remember these days and identify some symbols of royal heritage of Rajasthan, then you must visit this Jaisalmer Fort once in your life. Our Splendid Rajasthan Tour to Majestic Thar includes visit to Jaisalmer Fort.
Junagarh Fort, Bikaner
Junagarh Fort was known as Chintamani and when the riling families shifted to Lalgarh Palace during the 20th century, they renamed this fort as the “Old Fort” or Junagarh Fort. The fort is situated in Bikaner, Rajasthan and this fort is situated on top of the hill.
The prime minister of Raj Singh, who was known as Karan Singh during 1611 AD, built the fort. Raj Singh ruled Bikaner from 1571 to 1611 AD and this fort is constructed just outside the Bikaner city.
Structural designs of the Junagarh Fort, Bikaner:
The full Junagarh Fort is designed with several temples and palaces, and all these places are designed with red sandstones and marble. You can find multiple courtyards, balconies, private rooms and kiosks inside this fort and these are crafted with some ancient art forms and all these partings are imprinted on the marble and sandstone walls and ceilings.
The wonderful museum of this Junagarh Fort stocks many souvenirs, and you can imagine the royal lifestyle by viewing the artifacts used by the past Maharajas of Bikaner.
- The Junagarh Fort has seven gates, which is the main entrance of several palaces and pavilions. During the 16th century numerous Hindu and Jain temples were built inside this fort, and these entire temples were crafted with red and gold sandstones.
- Every king who lived inside this fort made separate sets of rooms for their own use because they did not want to use their predecessor’s rooms. Therefore, you can find several rooms inside this fort and each of them has separate designs and elegant intricate carved furniture.
- You can find a perfect blend of British, Mughal and Rajput Architectural designs in this fort because many rulers from different empires occupied this Junagarh Fort during their dynasty, and they later restored and reconstructed some parts of this fort.
You can explore some intriguing temple architectures like the royal family’s temple named Har temple inside this fort, and you can also see the Karan palace or public audience hall, Phool Mahal or the flower palace and the Ganga Mahal which has become the largest museum inside this Junagarh Fort.
Also, you can find the most luxurious rooms of this palace named Chandra Mahal, and you can take a walk through the multi-storied architecture named Anup Mahal in Junagarh Fort. Our Rajasthan Tour includes visit to Junagarh Fort.
Kumbhalgarh Fort
Kumbhalgarh Fort is situated at the western part of the Aravali Hills in the Rajasthan. RanaKumbha founded this fort during the 15th century, and recently UNESCO has listed this fort as a Word Heritage Site.
MaharanaPratap was born in Kumbhalgarh, he was known as the great warrior of Mewar, and the royal families occupied this fort until 19th century. The world’s second largest wall surrounds the Kumbhalgarh fort, and this is the second largest fort in Rajasthan after the Chittorgarh Fort.
Architectural value of the Kumbhalgarh Fort:
Kumbhalgarh Fort is famous for its surrounding walls, which extend up to 36km and this is the second largest wall in the world after the Great China Wall. There are more than 360 temples situated inside this fort including three hundred ancient Jain temples and sixty Hindu temples. You can see the beautiful AravaliMountains from the fort; the fort has six different gateways.
Interesting facts about the Kumbhalgarh Fort:
- During 1443 CE, RanaKumbha started building the great wall surrounding the fort and he faced some difficulties during the construction. Then he consulted the religious preceptors and they suggested building a temple inside the fort to remove the construction hurdles. Then MaharanaKhumbha built the temple inside the fort and started building the walls of the Kumbhalgarh Fort.
- According to the Rajasthani folklores, MaharanaKhumba used to light up the surrounded villages by using fifty Kilograms of ghee and hundred kilograms of cotton every day.
- RanaLakha built the largest tank named Lakhola Tank inside the fort and you can find the Aaret Pol gate at the western side of this fort. Apart from this, the Halla Pol gate is constructed on the slope area, and Ram Pol and Hanuman Pol are the major entrances of this fort.
If you want to see the color of Rajasthan and explore the heritage of this royal land then you can visit this fort during the annual festival conducted by the Rajasthan Tourism Department.
During this festival, light and sound presentations are organized at the background of this fort, and some traditional dance and heritage fort walk are also conducted by different cultural organizations. Our Rural Rajasthan Tour includes visit to Kumbhalgarh Fort.
Ranthambore Fort
Ranthambore Fort is situated inside the Ranthambore National Park, which is located near Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan. Earlier the Maharajas of Jaipur used to go for hunting in this forest and HammirDev built the fort under the rule of the Chauhan dynasty. In 2013, UNESCO declared the Ranthambore Fort as a World Heritage Site.
Architectural and historical facts about the Ranthambore Fort:
The Chauhan rulers built the Ranthambore Fort and according to historical facts, the fort was constructed during the mid-10th century and afterward, the fort was reconstructed by several dynasties. The name Ranthambore is associated with Jainism and the famous temple of Siddhesenasuri is situated inside this fort. Apart from that, the Mughal people built up a temple of Mallinatha inside the fort.
- In the year 1226, the Delhi Sultan Iltutmish occupied this fort and in the year 1236, the Chauhans recaptured the fort.
- The fort is situated on the top of the hill and you can find dense forests in the surrounding places to this fort. During sunset, the fort gets highlighted with vermillion shades, and you can also find the surrounding greenery and sandstone structures with some ancient arts inside the fort.
So when you come to Rajasthan, you must visit the Ranthambore Fort once because here you can find the perfect blend of nature and the history of Rajasthan. Our Wild Rajasthan with Taj Mahal Tour includes visit to Ranthambore Fort
Chittorgarh Fort
Chittaur Fort or the Chittorgarh fort is situated in Chittorgarh town of Rajasthan. Earlier it was known as the capital of Mewar and this is one of the largest forts in India, which was declared as a World Heritage Site. The fort is designed with several temples, gates, historical places and you can find two great victory towers inside the fort.
Historical facts about Chittaur Fort:
The Chittaur Fort was ruled by the Mewar Kingdom till 7th century and afterward, from 1303 to 1567, three renowned Muslim rulers attacked this fort like, in 1303 AllauddinKhilji, in 1535 Bahadur Shah and in 1567Mughal Emperor Akbar. During these wars, the royal women committed Jauhar. This fort is a significant symbol of the Rajput prestige, which still carries the royal tribute to their pride.
The royal women, children and the commoners believed that death or suicide was a better option than surrendering to the enemy force and they sacrificed their life but did not surrender to the invaders.
Interesting facts about Chittaur Fort:
- Chittaur Fort has seven different gates and they are known as Padan Pol, Hanuman Pol, Ganesh Pol, Jodla Pol, Laxman Pol and Bhairon Pol. These gates were designed with strong sandstones, and you can find some massive stonework on all the walls of these gates. TheMewar people have constructed these gates to defend the foreign intruders, and they have encrypted some cannon and elephant statues in front of these gates.
- You can find a circular pathway inside this fort, which is connected with each temple and the ruins of this fort. Here one can feel the pain of the Mewar people who sacrificed their life for protecting their royalty and prestige.
- You can also find two victory towers called the Vijay Stambha and Kirtistambha inside the Chittaur Fort. The Rana Kumbha built the Vijay Stambha and the Bagherwal Jain built the KirtiStambha.
- You can also explore some oldest palaces inside this fort like Rana Kumbha Palace, Fateh Palace and Padmini’s Palace. Rana Kumbha Palace is the oldest palace in Rajasthan, which is located near the Vijay Stambha, and you can find some temples of Lord Shiva inside this palace. Apart from that, MaharanaUdaiSingh who is the founder of Udaipur was born in this place.
Large walls, encrypted and curved stone structures, lots of ancient Hindu and Jain temples, rich historical background and the significant synopsis of national pride bring some nostalgic phenomenon, and you can explore the medieval Indian culture by visiting the Chittaur Fort.
Taragarh Fort, Bundi
Taragarh Fort is also known as the StarFort, which is situated in the city of Bundi, Rajasthan. This fort is the only structure in Rajasthan, which is overgrown with massive vegetation. In the year 1354, the Taragarh Fort was constructed on top of the hill, and there are three main gateways designed as the main entrances to this fort.
A glimpse of Taragarh Fort, Bundi
The three main gateways of Taragarh Fort have now become ruins, and these gates are locally known as Lakshmi Pol, PhutaDarwara Pol and Gagudi Ki Phatak. Here you can find some massive tunnels, which are connected to the fort with its surrounding hill areas, and you can also find the large basement under this Taragarh Fort.
- During the Chauhan dynasty, the rulers built some large water reservoirs inside this fort and they used to store huge amount of water in these reservoirs.
- You can see the gorgeous Rani Mahal inside this fort, which has now become a ruin, but still, you can understand the enriched glasswork on the windows and the stonework on the wall and ceilings of this Mahal.
- The MiranSahebkiDargah is another tourist attraction which is situated inside the fort. Mughal ruler DaraShikoh occupied the fort until 1776. This fort is situated on top of the Aravalli ranges, and you can find several temples, palaces and ruins inside this fort.
So now, when you come to Rajasthan, you can plan to visit this fort once, because you can find the perfect blend between ancient Hindu and Muslim cultures in this fort area. Our Exotic Rajasthan Tour includes visit to Taragarh Fort.
Garh Palace, Bundi
Garh Palace is situated in Bundi, Rajasthan and MaharawBalwant Singh constructed this palace. You can find several palaces inside this complex, and numerous rulers designed their own palaces inside Garh Palace during the 17thand 18th centuries. There are stunning paintings inside the palace and some are even made of real Gold.
It is a Small palace in Rajasthan that can add some flavor to your Rajasthan trip:
The architectural designs of the Garh Palace follow the Rajput style and you can find some beautifully designed Jharokhas and Pillars inside this palace.
- As you find several Mahals in other forts of Rajasthan, you can also see the same Chhatra Mahal, Phool and Badal Mahal in this palace.
- The famous Ummed Mahal is known as Chitrashalaor Art Gallery – there are thousands of miniature paintings in this part and it is one of the best things of this place.
- The museum of this place is decorated with some small murals, and you can find some rich artifacts and artworks in this zone.
- If you want to enter this place through its main entrance, which is followed by some large garden area, then you do need to pay the entry fees, but the other entrances are free and you do not need to pay any amount to access the other entrances.
If you want to see these historical places then you need to reach there between 8 am to 5 pm, and this place is located just near the Sadar Bazaar and it is well connected with taxis, buses and rickshaws.
City Palace, Udaipur
City Palace is situated in Udaipur, Rajasthan and several rulers of the Mewar Dynasty constructed this palace. In 1553, MaharanaUdai Singh-II started the construction of this palace and he shifted his capital from Chittaurgarh to Udaipur.
Here you can find several palaces inside the complex, which is situated near the Lake Pichhola. City Palace of Udaipur is a perfect blend between Mughal and Rajasthani architectural styles, and you can see the full city from the upper floor of the palace as well as the view of Lake Pichhola.
Architectural overview of the City Palace in Rajasthan:
- Several rulers starting from MaharanaUdai Singh-II constructed different parts of this place, and they found several Mahals inside this area. The full City Palace and its ground were designed with marble and granite stones, and you can find heavy artworks, stone carving, marble and mirror work and wall paintings inside the City Palace.
- You can find some palaces inside this area which are designed with several balconies, towers, cupolas, and you can find some quadrangles with large corridors inside the palace. These corridors are mainly connected with the surrounding areas and the worriers designed these corridors to avoid surprise attacks by enemies.
- Some of the notable palaces or Mahal here are the Moti Mahal, Sheesh Mahal, Krishna Mahal, Surya Chopar and Dilkhush Mahal situated inside this City Palace. Also you can find the royal residence named ShambuNiwas in the palace. The Bari Mahal or the Big Palace is also situated inside this area and this palace is designed with the surrounding gardens named Bhim and Amar Vilas.
- Crystal Gallery is the biggest attraction of City Palace and one can take separate entrances to visit this amazing collection.
There are two heritage hotels, post office, bank and many craft shops inside this palace. Each pillar of the City Palace is crafted with some stone and glasswork and you can find some large peacock, cannon and elephants encrypted on these walls and pillars.
There are several gateways which are locally known as Pol and this is a full city more than a palace. So when you come to Rajasthan, you can avail this heritage city tour. Our Rajasthan With Kamasutra Temples Tour includes visit to City Palace.
Gagron Fort, Jhalawar
Gagron Fort is situated in Jhalawar and it is known as the water fort in Rajasthan. This fort was founded during the 8th century and afterward, many rulers occupied it, and they constructed their own palaces inside this fort area.
Interesting facts about Gagron Fort:
- The Gagron Fort has situated seven kilometers away from Jhalawar and this fort is surrounded by three large rivers. This site is famous as the place of Jauhar lakes because during wars many Mewar and Rajput women committed suicide in these lakes.
- Juhar was known a ritualistic mass suicide and the Mewar and royal family members, especially women attempted suicide to save their prestige from the Mughal Kings.
- Later, Mughal emperor Akbar occupied this fort. You can see the significant mesmerizing view of this fort from the top of Changari. This is a small village situated at the eastern side of this fort, and you can also visit the Gagron village, which is situated at the western part of this port.
- In this village, you can see the Shrine of Mittheshah who was a Sufi Saint. Akbar built this Shrine in the year 1580, and every year some colorful festivals and fairs are conducted inside this Shrine during the Islamic Muharram.
Come and explore this hidden circuit of Rajasthan and famous hill fort having rich history and architecture. One can also see the sandstone, marble and granite work enriched with glass arts inside this palace.
Lohagarh, Bharatpur
Lohagarh Fort is famously known as the Iron Fort and it is situated in Bharatpur, Rajasthan. Maharaja Suraj Mal who used to spend his power and wealth to build up several palaces across Rajasthan constructed the fort. Lohagarh implies the ‘fort of iron’ and the British constantly attacked this fort to occupy this place, but they failed to do so because of the large walls and the strong foundation of this Lohagarh Fort.
The architectural value of the Lohagarh Fort:
The fort has an artificial island in the middle of the Lohagarh town and the outside walls of this fort are made of mud. Therefore, these mud walls could easily absorb the bullets during wars, and the British and Mughal emperors failed to break this wall with their arms and bullets.
The boundary walls spread up to 7kms and it took more than eight years to complete. However, in the year 1826, the British broke this wall, but still the inner surface of this wall stands with its glory.
- The main entrance of this fort is known as the AshtadhatuGate, which was constructed with eight different metals. You can find several palaces inside this fort including the Mahal Khas, the Badan Singh Palace, the Kamra Palace, and you can also find some historical monuments like Kishori Mahal, KhotiKhas, Moti Mahal and Mahal Khas.
- There are two main victory towers named Jawahar Burj and Fateh Burj founded by the Jat rulers inside the fort.Badan Singh’s Palace is one of the oldest palaces in Rajasthan, and you can find some heavy carved brackets, balconies, mirror work and stone studded pillars inside this fort, which were designed according to the Jat royal styles.
The Kamra Palace, Durbar Hall and Badan Singh’s Palace have been turned into State Archeological Museum in 1944, and if you want to explore the royal heritage of Rajasthan then you must visit the Lohagarh Fort once in your life.
Deeg Palace, Bharatpur
Deeg Palace is situated near Bharatpur, Rajasthan and in 1772 this palace was constructed as a summer resort. The palace was occupied by the royal families till 1970s.
Badan Singh, a Jat king founded this palace in the year 1771 and he declared this place as his capital state. This palace is located near Agra and this palace was attacked by several rulers.
History of Deeg Palace:
According to several authentic historical facts, some legendary battles were conducted in this place between the Jat rulers and the Mughal empires. Suraj Mal started making forays into the enemy regions and after eight years of battle, he captured Delhi and the Red Fort.
During these wars, the Deeg Palace was massively destroyed and after many years, the government reconstructed this palace to preserve the royal heritage of Rajasthan.
Architectural glimpses of Deeg Palace:
The Jat rulers were deeply influenced by Mughal architecture, and they designed this palace with some decorative flowerbeds, trees, lush garden areas, fountains and corridors. You can still find some pathways inside this palace, which are designed with sandstone and these pathways are duly installed on the garden areas.
The Jat rulers used this palace as their summer place and they founded some deep-water tanks and several fountains to keep their palace cool during the hottest summer. Two famous water tanks known as Gopal Sagar and Rup Sagar are still situated inside this palace.
- You can find several gates of this palace, which are designed with stone carving work, and you can see some arcades inside the palace, which is designed with surrounding pavilions and fountains.
- During Holi, colors added in these tanks and small clothes are inserted into the holes of the reservoirs to block the outlet. Then the colorful water circulated through inter-connected pipelines and the fountains spurt out colored water.
So if you wish to explore some historical palaces in Rajasthan then you must add this palace in your list because here you can find some large towers, monuments, fountains, Mughal architecture and lots more, which will mesmerize you. Our Wild Rajasthan with Taj Mahal Tour includes visit to Deeg Palace.
Nahargarh Fort, Jaipur
Nahargarh Fort is situated along the range of the Aravalli Hills and the full city view of Jaipur is clearly visible from the fort. Nahargarh Fort was originally known as Sudarshangarh and afterward, it was renamed as the Nahargarh Fort meaning Lion Fort. This is the best place to view the sunset in Jaipur.
Spirit of the Nahargarh Fort:
Nahargarh means “Abode of Tigers” and according to the local folklore of Rajasthan, this fort is dedicated to Nahar Singh Bhomia, and people believed that the spirit of Nahar still exists in this fort. According to the local people, the evil spirit of Naharhas created some accidental events in the past, and he even tried to stop the construction work of this fort at the earlier stage.
The spirit was specified to occupy a particular building of this fort, it was suggested to make a temple in his memory, and afterward this fort was known as the Nahargarh Fort.
Interesting facts about Nahargarh Fort:
- Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh –II built the Nahargarh Fort in 1734. The fort is surrounded by large walls, which is extended to over the Aravalli Hills and connected the fort with the Jaigarh.
- Sawai Ram Singh reconstructed the fort in the year of 1868 and he was built up two different blocks inside the fort. You can find many rooms and palaces inside this fort, which are linked with the inter-connected corridors.
- Some famous films like Rang De Basanti and a famous Bengali cinema named Sonar Kella were shot inside this Nahargarh Fort.
So those who want to know the flavor of Rajasthan and explore some significant parts of this state, they can visit the Nahargarh Fort once in their life because the Pink City and its chain of forts and Havelis on the Aravalli hills, as they are the royal representatives of Indian heritage. Our Golden Triangle Tour includes visit to Nahargarh Fort.
Jaigarh Fort, Jaipur
The Jaigarh Fort is situated along the range of theAravalli hills, and this place is much close to Amber, Rajasthan. This part of the Aravalli hills is known asCheelKaTeela which means the Hill of Eagles. Jai Singh-II built this fort in the year 1726 and the structural designs of this fort followed the same designs of Amber Fort.
Here you can see the world’s largest cannon on wheels named Jaivana and you can also explore various palaces and Hindu temples inside the fort. Some famous temples and Villas situated inside this Jaigarh Fort are the LalitMandir, LaxmiMandir, Aram Mandir and Vilas Mandir.
Interesting architectural facts about Jaigarh Fort
Its large sandstone walls protect the fort and this wall spreads up to 3kms and you can also find a wonderful garden designed inside the wall premises only. The different palaces inside the fort have several rooms, courtyards, courtrooms, halls and you can find some crafted walls and screened windows in these rooms.
Apart from that, a central watchtower is also installed at the central position of the garden area.
- The Aram Mandir and the garden are duly designed within the courtyard, and you can find these places at the northern side of the fort. Along with that, the main entrance of the fort known as the “The AwaniDarwaza” is an excellent art piece, and you can find some Mughal artwork on this arched door.
- On the east-west wide of the fort, you can find triple arch entrances, and all these gateways are painted with red and yellow colors. According to the folklore of Rajasthan, earlier people could see the artificial lake named Sagar Lake from this fort, and the people used to stock the water in this artificial lake for their future uses. They carried the water by human carrying pots and loaded on the elephant backs to reach the fort and in this way, they supplied the water to the royal families and their subordinates.
- There are some large underground canals installed at the western side of the Aravalli range, and you can also find three large water tanks or reservoirs at the basement level of the fort. The largest tank of this fort can hold more than 6 million gallons of water, and people in Rajasthan believed that the Royal family members of Kachwaha rulers used to preserve their treasures inside these tanks.
You can find the Armoury chamber where some ancient artifacts, swords, guns, muskets and shields are stored, and here you can see some old photographs and paintings of Sawai Bhawani Singh and The Major General Man Singh-II. Also you can find the royal museum inside the fort where some ancient photographs, paintings, stamps and artifacts are displayed for the visitors.
City Palace, Jaipur
City Palace is situated in Jaipur, Rajasthan where you can find some large palaces like Chandra Mahal and the Mubarak Mahal. Still the royal families stay inside the Chandra Mahal and major parts of this Mahal have now become museums.
According to historical facts, Sawai Jai Singh-II built this palace in 1729, and he made the large outer walls of this palace to protect his dynasty. This palace has followed several styles of architectures and you can find some Muhgal, European and Indian art forms imprinted on the walls of this City Palace.
Architectural value of the City Palace in Jaipur
The City Palace is located in the central northeast part of Jaipur, and you can find several palaces, gardens, temples and pavilions inside this palace. You can also see some famous palaces, which are situated inside the City Palace in Jaipur like, Chandra Mahal, Mukut Mahal, Maharani Mahal, ShriGovindDevJi temple and city palace museum.
- The main entrances to this palace are known as the Virendra Pol and the Udai pol, which are located near the Jaleb Chowk. The triple gateways named Tripolia Gate is still reserved for the royal families and commoners cannot access this gate. Common people can enter this palace through some other gates like the Udai pol, Atish Pol, and through the Virendra Pol.
- You can find the finest artworks in Mubarak Mahal, and this Mahal is designed with some intricate Islamic and European artworks. Some auspicious royal costumes, shawls and artifacts are protected in the City Palace Museum, and you can also find some clothes used by Maharaja Sawai Man Singh-II in this museum.
- Chandra Mahal is the another attraction of City Palace in Jaipur, and you can find several buildings like, SukhNiwas, PritamNiwas ,ChabiNiwas, MukutNiwas and RangaMandir inside this Mahal. You can also find many murals, ancient paintings, floral decorative walls, screened windows, courtyards, pavilions, carpets and manuscripts inside the Chandra Mahal. The main entrance to this Mahal is enriched with the peacock artwork, which is known as Peacock Gate.
- You can also see some places like the PritamNiwas Chowk and find the largest audience hall named Diwan-i-Aam in the City Palace. The gold paintings and artworks on the ceiling of Diwan-i-Khas will mesmerize you and you can also see the Maharani Palace, which was the residence of Royal Queens.Now this palace has been converted into a museum, and several artifacts and weapons are protected inside these museums.
So when you come to Rajasthan, you should visit the City Palace in Jaipur and you can understand the royal significance of Rajasthan by exploring these heritage buildings.
Hawa Mahal, Jaipur
Hawa Mahal is situated in Jaipur, Rajasthan and Hawa Mahal means the Place of Breeze. This Mahal was designed with some long length screen walls and windows, and the full Hawa Mahal was constructed with red and pink sandstones. Earlier the royal women were not allowed to see the open festivals with the common audiences, and they used to observe the street festivals through these screened walls and windows.
Maharaja Pratap Singh built the Hawa Mahal in 1799 and he was deeply inspired by the Kirti Mahal and followed the same designs for building this grand Hawa Mahal in Jaipur.
Architectural designs of Hawa Mahal:
- You can find more than thousands of jharokhas in this Hawa Mahal, which were designed with some intricate artworks.Royal women used to observe the city life through these small windows because they were not allowed to come outside without wearing the face cover or purdah.
- During the hottest summer, the huge amount of natural air can easily flow through these intricate windows, and the palace remains cool all the time. This is a natural air conditioning system, which was used by the royal families, and people could easily see the Hawa Mahal from the street because this Mahal is located on the busy roadways of Jaipur.
- Hawa Mahal is a five-storied building, where you can find only two different grand rooms on the top two floors, and other floors are decorated with some patios and pavilions. The Mahal was designed with several portholes, and each of these portholes has a small window and all these windows are designed with sandstone grills. You can find some fountains inside the Mahal, and when the wind enters through these small windows and passes through the fountains, the Mahal becomes cool automatically.
If you want to see some large courtyards, and want to know about the lifestyles of our ancient royal families, then you can visit the Hawa Mahal once.
Jal Mahal, Jaipur
Jal Mahal is located in the middle of the Man Sagar Lake in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Maharaja Jai Singh-II built this palace during the 18th century. Boat makers from Vrindavan have designed some decorated boats and these boats will help your to reach the Jal Mahal. Here you can find some of the finest artworks on the walls and ceilings of Jal Mahal, and you can see the hills and temples from the terrace of this Mahal.
The underwater base of this Mahal was built with two million tones of toxic silts and the government has introduced some vegetation, fishery and water treatment plants in this lake. The five artificial islands on this lake attract many migratory birds, and people can also find some rare birds in the surrounding places throughout the year.
Finest architectural and restoration work in Jal Mahal:
- Jal Mahal was designed with some Rajput and Mughal artworks and this is a five storied building constructed on the lake. When the lake becomes full, the ground floors to third floors remain under the water, and only the upper floor is visible from the outside. The palace suffered from some damages and seepage due to water logging and the government of Rajasthan reconstructed and restored the different parts of this Mahal.
- You can find some intricate pillars, marble floors and impressive intricate Rajasthani artwork on the walls of this Jal Mahal. In the last ten to fifteen years, the Government has done some restoration work in this Mahal, and they mixed some organic ingredients with their plaster materials like jaggery, methi and guggal to prevent the water damages.
So if you want to see some rare ancient architecture then you should visit the Jal Mahal in Rajasthan. This is the finest work done by Maharaja Man Singh-II.
Conclusion:
Rajasthan is a place of royaltywhere you can find some significant presence of the ancient and medieval Indian royal heritage. Several kingdoms and rulers occupied this state during the past centuries and they built some marvelous forts, palaces and Havelis in Rajasthan.
Through these finest architectures, you will get to know the lifestyle of the royal families and you will get stunned by exploring the rich artworks on these monuments. Right from ancient paintings to royal clothes, crafted pillars to designer ceilings, royal furniture to ancient temples and forts on the hills to fort on the lake, everything is available in the Rajasthan.
Thanks, Sheesh for sharing this wonderful article with us, I am crazy about your creative writing style. You work very research and closely in your article which I liked. Amber Fort and Jaisalmer Fort are my favorites.