The Fort of Chomuhagarh - Solid Gates
Location and Geography
The fort of Chomuhagarh is situated 21 miles from Jaipur in the north west and perhaps stands next only to Bharatpur fort on account of abnormal depth and breadth of the ditches which surround it from four sides. The fort also known by the name of Dharadhargarh holds unique position in Rajasthan among the ground forts. All precautions had been taken by the builder in erecting this fort at Chomu.
The present site of the fort was selected by Baba Venidas, a brahmin in the service of the father of Karan Singh, the Rao of Chomu. Accordingly in 1595 A.D., Rao Karan Singh of Nathawat clan who ruled over Hadota started the building of the fort, which took two years to complete.
Architecture and Attractions of Chomuhagarh
Rao Karan Singh had only built female apartment protected by the rampart wall between two corner bastions of the fort side. The bunch of the trees still survives growing over the rampart walls and revives the memory of the builder of the fort. The trees of Kair and Kheri covered it from the view and due to its erection at a strategically important site, cannon balls passed over the fort without harming the structure.
The rampart walls of the fort are very massive with slight forward projection at the top having bastions at each end. A vast solid ditch surrounds the rampart wall, the width of which being 80 feet. In olden times the ditch remained full of water. In the northern side of the spacious enclosure stands a temple erected by the Kamadars of Nathavatas in 1756 A.D.
The construction of the rampart wall at the top resembles the leaf of the lotus having embrasures and holes in it. Every leaf has such five loopholes through which discharge of bullets and arrows landed on the onrushing armies.
The entire town is situated bounded by the circumvallation which closely resembles the rampart wall, which has a slight curvature at every gate providing safeguard for the gate and concealing it from the fort. The entire wall stands intact pierced by four huge gates, Baori, Pijala, Holi and Rawan.
The fort has two moderately built gates, the first Dhruvapol, facing the west was erected by Krishna singh. The other gate through which the inner portion is reached, is known by Ganeshpol, and was erected by Rao Raghunath Singh. Krishna Niwas, Ratan Niwas, are prominent among a cluster of places which all represent Indo-Muslim style of architecture.
Some walls have been dug in the moat and water is drawn up by an indigenous system. From this portion the water is again lifted up by a huge rope working on a pulley. The wells being in the bed of the ditch receive ample supply through parcolation, even in the dry weather.
