The Fort Of Bikaner - Junagarh Fort
Raja Rai Singh (1571-1611), one of Akbar’s most outstanding generals, built the impregnable unconquered Fort of Bikaner or more famously known as Junagarh Fort. Bikaner city was founded by Rao Bika, the son of Rao Jodha of Jodhpur, a prince of Rathore clan.
Location and Architecture of Junagarh Fort
The fort forms a quadrangle with the perimeter of 986 m. A thirty feet deep moat surrounds the outer part with the embattaled walls, hanging over it. There are two entrances, facing east is the main entrance known as ‘Karan Pol’. Next to it, is the sun gate or ‘Suraj Pol’. The gate is built in the usual style, two great semi-circled towers joined by a portal under which a gate is opened.
Black stone slabs in the walls here eulogize Raisingh’s deeds of valour and gives a chronological record of the clan of the Rathors. Two life size statues of elephants flank the facade of the entrance.
Attractions and Monuments
The fort contains many palaces, pavilion and temples made of red sandstone and marble with kiosks and balconies. Inside the fort there are attractive palace section with beautiful paintings and carvings in courtyards, towers, balconies and windows. There is also a Rajput weapon collection, an important part of the museum located in the fort.
The palace of Raja Raisingh is the oldest building in the fort together with the Suraj Pol, the Karkhana Kallan, the Har Mandir, the Choubara, Hazari Darwaja and Rani Niwas. Most of them are built in yellow sand stones. Anoop Mahal, Rang Mahal, Anand Vijay Mahal with thin columns, arches and screens are noteworthy elegant monuments.
A board court decorated by exquisite panels intervenes between Anoop Mahal and Rai Niwas. This hall which served as Diwan-e-Khas has vermilion and gold gesso decoration, glass mosaics, lace-like mirror and stucco work. Phool Mahal is also nicely decorated with glass work.
Gang Niwas is a spacious durbar hall with a carved wood ceiling. The interior of this hall is decorated with richly carved red sand stone.
The fort journey has been really breath taking, though everything good comes to an end. Dont worry, we are not ending our forts series here, we have some unknown forts in Rajasthan which are equally important from Rajputana history. In the coming days, we will present some forts from Rajasthan which might not have been accounted in the books of history but have always stood between the Rajasthan Dynasty Kings and their Enemies protecting the rulers from the outsiders.
