Archive for rajasthan fort
The Fort of Jodhpur - Meherangarh Fort
Jodhpur Meherangarh Fort
Location, Monuments and Architectural Beauty in Fort
The fort and city of Jodhpur were founded by Rao Jodha in 1459 AD. This fort is situated on the rocky eminence 400 ft above the city and dominating the surrounding underlying plains. The crest of the hill is crowned with piereced battlements for safe-guarding the fort. Numerous round and square towers and strong walls encircle the edge of the encompassing a space of nearly 4 miles.
Seven barriers are thrown across the ascent which is circutious like the other hill forts. The doors are heavily built having an immense mortal. The Lohapol which is the last gate bears palm marks of some ladies indicating their practising sati on the funeral pyres of their husbands.
There are two small lakes under the walls, Rani Talab and Gulabsagar from the garrison draws water. The buildings and palaces colores in red stone are real fine specimens of civil architecture and showcases the passion of the rules towards architectural designs. The palaces are an excellent models of diversified architecutre and are decorated with finely executed panels, latticed window of delicate design and pierced screens of red stones.
Several huge and extra ordinary length cannons named Kalka, Bhawani and Kilkila lay on the crest of the hill facing the city. In the extremity of this portion a temple of goddess Chamunda Kul Devi is situtated. Jaswant Thara built of white marble near the fort is a fine piece of Indo-Muslim architecture.
History and Invasions of Fort
The fort since its construction has been subjected to enemy attacks from time to time. The mughals and the Marhattas were the chief invaders and at intervals the mutual jealousies brought Jaipur, Bikaner and Udaipur rulers. There were numerous other attacks and attackers involved with fort history and writing in detail would not be of so much interest.
Misc Information about the Fort
The main palaces in the fort are Moti Mahal, Phool Mahal, Sheesh Mahal, Takht Vilas and Jhanki Mahal. A museum also finds a place inside the fort, displaying a rich collection of old royal palanquins, arms, paintings, costumes, etc.
There are many details about this giant fort which needs elaborate articles encompassing volumes. Tommorrow I would be posting about the very famous “Ramdevra Fair” where people are flocking in numbers. The fair is said to be attracting more than 2 million rural and urban crowd and is of great importance from Rajasthan perspective.
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Kumbhalgarh - The Fort
Kumbhalgarh - The Fort in Rajasthan
Perched on 3568 feet lofty precipitous hill of the Arwallis, the fort of Kumbhalgarh shows its majestic form to the curious visitor from a distance of almost 8 miles or more. Surrounded by the lofty ranges with their summits sparkling in the sun and encircled by the dense fort on its chaotic masses of rocks, Kumbhalgarh is situated at a strategically important place on Mewar - Gujrat border over looking the plains below.
The hill on which this fort Kumbhalgarh stands is one of the highest in the range. Its solid fortification, soaring height, intricacy of approach and rich growth of forest all around have added to the defences of the fort. Kumbhalgarh is situated 60 miles north of the famous city of lakes Udaipur. The construction dates back to 1443 AD.
Architecture and Monuments
There are entry gates to the fort named as Aretpol, Hanumanpol, Vijaypol which are part of the first portion of the fort, the second portion fort gates are Bhaironpol, Nimboopol, Chauganpol, Pagarapol and the Ganeshpol. Entering the last gate, the visitors confront with the new palaces built on the ruins of the older palaces. There are numerous temples of varied design and forms inside the fort which definitely marks the breadth of the fort’s area.
Outside the fortess is a fine temple consisting of a square sanctuary with a vaulted dome and a colonade of elegant pillars all around. Narachhali reservoir, Topkhana, Nova choki are other places here which attract eyes. The Mamadeo temple was build by King Kumbha and the history of Mewar is inscribed on the black marble structure.
Maharan Kumbha was a great builder and a lover of art. He has built a large kund (reservoir) inside the fort. One day when he was praying on the edge of it, he was killed by his son Udaikaran. This fort is associated with extraordinary events of history. Its said that there are almost 70 forts in and around the fort . The fort which has been a silent witness to rise and fall of many kingdoms now stands desolate. Though tourists visit the place in numbers because of its historic importance and beautiful architectural designs.
The fort cant be described in words. The Fort and its walls stood so many wars that a visit to such a famous fort becomes must when a tourist visits Rajasthan. Kumbhalgarh with its known history and popular temple architecture is been described in as shortest account as possible. There is another in line to the forts which I will post tommorrow. So stay tuned as our series will be a thrilling experience of travel thorugh the walls and barriers of Rajputana dynasty.
The Fort of Chittor (Chittorgarh) - King of all Forts
The Fort of Chittor (Chittorgarh)
The fort of Chittor thrills one’s heart with the reminiscence of the heroic deeds. It is the embodiment of Rajput pride and valour of aspiration. It is here in the bosom of this strong hold of rajput glory that noble sentiments, spirit of self renunciation and feeling of preferring dealth to dishonour were nurtured.
Location and Architecture
Chittorgarh is situated at a distance of 631kms (392miles) from Delhi in the state of Rajasthan. This fort, perched on a precipitous rocky hill of 152 feet, was known to be constructed around 7th century by Chitrang Maurya. For eight hundred years this fort has been the capital of Mewar. The fort covers an area of 692 acres. A steep spiral road leads to the fort interrupted by seven fortified and massive gateways. The gates are named Padalpol, Bhairava pol, Hanuman pol, Ganesh pol, Lachhaman pol, Jodala pol and Ram pol.
History and Important Monuments in Fort of Chittor
The important monuments in the fort is the victory tower erected by Rana Kumbha in commemoration of his victory over the combined armies of Malwa and Gujrat in 1440 AD. He spent rupees 90 lacks in raising this token of victory. Sculptures of Hindu divinity cover the tower which are defaced by Muslim invaders.
The palace of Rana Kumbha is also a noteworthy monument. It bears a testimony to hindu civil architecture. The Chittor fort is the home to the famous Kali temple, one of the oldest temple and belongs to the 8th century AD. Another temple Kumbha Shyam is also a fine piece of architecture. Besides these temples, there are numerous tanks which are noteworthy.
Allaudin Khiji was, the emperor of Delhi was the first to get in the walls of the fort. The soul motive was possession of Padamani, the wife of Rana Ratan Singh.
This fort is a fine sanctury of treasured pieces of Hindu architecture in both civil and military perspectives. The monuments in the fort are numerous and the details of which is matter of volumes. I suppose this is more than a brief on the most famous of the forts in rajasthan - the fort of chittor. I would be posting again tommorrow with another of a magnificient piece , the walls of Rajputana dynasty, I mean the forts.
Forts in Rajasthan - A Glimpse of Great Walls
Forts in Rajasthan - Walls to Rajputana Dynasty
Rajasthan is the land of forts. Almost every hill has a fortification on its summit. Some stand on the banks of a river or occupy a kindred site. Most of them perch on the top of a precipitous hill of great height. Their close proximity consolidated the defences of the region and threw an unsurpassable barrier in the way of the enemy.
Concept of Fortification and Stretch in Rajasthan
Many of these forts stand in a delapidated condition today mourning over their lost grandeur but a large number are so well preserved as to retain their medieval defences practically intact. This concept of fortification originates from man’s sense of security. It was this sense of protection which was instrumental in giving rise to the system of fortification.
A large number of forts were built on the far stretched Arawali ranges. In the central and eastern hilly ranges there is an unbreakable double line of forts; in the western part stand the forts of chittor, Mandalgarh, Jahajpur and Bundi while in the eastern part of those Rampura, Rath, Kheri, Tamangarh, Bhansrodgarh, Kota, Indegard, Ranthambhor, Utgir and Bayana etc.
Architectural Designs
Generally a high wall defended by precipies was selected and the side that offered any facility of ascent was cut in to form a steep sinuous path. Many powerful gates were thrown across this path. The curtain walls were protected by wide and deep moats being crossed at the gates by bridges. The battlements had generally two tiers of loopholes and were of great thickness.
Major Forts in Rajasthan
If you start counting the number, there are more than 1000 forts, though there are always some of the mighty and the popular ones. Chittorgarh Fort, Amber Fort, Nahargarh, Jaigarh, Kumbalgarh Fort, Ranthambhor Fort, Jalore Fort, Bala Fort of Alwar, Taragarh Fort of Ajmer, Bundi Fort, Meherangarh Fort, Achalgarh Fort of Abu, Mandalgarh Fort of Mewar, Fort of Bayana, Fort of Timangarh, Khandar and Shergarh of Hadhoti, Junagarh of Bikaner, Lohagarh of Bharatpur, Sonar Fort of Jaisalmer, Chomu Fort of Jaipur, Gagron Fort and Bhaisrodgarh Fort are the ones that forms the top of the list.
I would be writing a post on all of these forts and may be some of the others not known but unique in their architectural beauty and history. This series of forts is presented for all my traveler friends so that they get enlightened about the very and mighty walls to Kingdom of the Rajputana dynasty.
