Famous 07 Forts in Rajasthan

 

The Seven Hill Forts in Rajasthan, spread across Rajasthan state in northern India. The forts are mainly based in the Aravalli Range, and were built and enhanced between the 5th and 18th centuries CE by several Rajput kings of different kingdoms.

Famous 07 Forts in Rajasthan

Amer Fort Jaipur –
Located on the foot of the Aravalli range and overlooking the Maota Lake, the Amber (Amer) Fort is famed for its artistic craftsmanship that is laid on a four level layout. It is one of the best places to visit in Jaipur and is a fine example of red sandstone and marble architecture comprising the Hall of Public Audience, Hall of Private Audience, Sheesh Mahal and Sukh Niwas. Built in the 16th century by Raja Man Singh I, the Amber Fort within its ramparts holds a rich blend of Hindu elements including several gates and cobbled paths and the Sheela Mata Temple.

Jaigarh Fort Jaipur –
Built in the year 1726 by Jai Singh II the Jaigarh, is one among forts in Jaipur is also known as the ‘Fort of Victory’. A fine example of a self sufficient place, it is dominated by the huge walls and watchtowers. The thick walls are of red sandstone which runs to about 3 kms.The architectural features are of Indo-Persian style.

Nahargarh Fort -
Nahargarh Fort stands on the edge of the Aravalli Hills, overlooking the city of Jaipur in the Indian state of Rajasthan. Along with Amer Fort and Jaigarh Fort, Nahargarh once formed a strong defence ring for the city

Chittorgarh Fort –
One of the oldest forts in Rajasthan that was built in the 7th century during the Mauryan period. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in India that is ramped up on a hilltop spreading over an area of 692 acres and unfolds the chivalrous history of the Mewar rulers of Sisodia. The Chittor Fort has been witness to several battles, of which the Mewar Kings against Allauddin Khilji in 1303, Rana Sanga against Mughal Emperor Babur in 1527, Bikramjeet Singh against Bahadur Shah in 1535, and Maharana Udai Singh II against the Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1567 (final siege) holds an important place in the royal history of Rajasthan.

The fort complex comprises approximately 65 historic structures. The seven massive stone gates – Padan Pol, Bhairon Pol, Hanuman Pol, Ganesh Pol, Jodia Pol, Laxman Pol and Ram Pol (the main gate); palaces include the Rana Kumbha Mahal, Kanwar Pade Ka Mahal, Ratan Singh’s Palace, Badal Mahal and the beautiful Padmini’s Palace, which is one of the must visit palaces in Rajasthan.

Jaisalmer Fort –
Built in the mid of 12th century by Rawal Jaisal, the massive fortification overlooking the Jaisalmer city amid the Thar Desert is one of the largest fortifications in the world. The Jaisalmer Fort, which is often dubbed as Sonar Quila, is a yellow sandstone architecture that is rimmed with 3 layers of walls and maintains 99 bastions, two major cannon points and several architectural structures including the Royal Palace, four massive gateways, merchant havelis and temples belonging to both the Hindu and Jain religion.

The Shree Nath Palace and Vyas Haveli are some of the popular tourist attractions inside the Jaisalmer Fort. There is also a museum that exhibits a fine collection of armours, portraits and paintings dilating the heroic period of the Rajput clans. At the entrance of the fort there is a small market where you can shop some Rajasthani traditional attires. The amazing view of the Jaisalmer City from the canon points and horizon at the sunset are major tourist attractions.

Junagarh Fort–
One of the prominent landmarks in the heart of Bikaner city, the Junagarh Fort is an outstanding example of art, architecture and culture. The composite structure with several palaces, temples and mansions holds a fusion of Mughal, British and Rajasthani style of architecture. Within the baronial fort walls lies the ruins of the old stone fort that was built in 1478 by Maharaja Rao Bika, one of the Rathore clans.

The construction of the Junagarh Fort was started in 1589 and was completed in 1594. The most impressive being the Phool Mahal, which is the oldest part of the fort. Some other elegant architectural work are reflected from the Har Mandir, Karan Pol, Suraj Pol, Chand Pol and Fateh Pol. The intricately carved Jain temples and havelis within the rampart are the other tourist attractions in Bikaner.

Ranthambore Fort –
The Majestic Ranthambore Fort was built by the Chauhan rulers in the 10th century. It is situated on top of a hill, at a height of 700 ft above the surrounding plains. The fort lies between the Vindhya Plateau and the Aravalli Hills. The fort is also related to the historical legend of the royal women performing ‘jauhar’ (self-immolation) when the Muslim invader Alauddin Khilji laid siege on this fort in 1303. It is recognized by UNESCO World Heritage Site that places it under the title ‘Hill Forts of Rajasthan.

Taragarh Fort Bundi –
Overlooking the city of Bundi, this impressive structure stands tall on a steep hillside. Built in 1354 with three gateways – Lakshmi Pol, Phuta Darwaza and Gagudi Ki Phatak – which are mostly in ruins today, the Taragarh Fort… though it has lost much of its sheen with time, it still continues to amaze the tourists with a rich diorama of the erstwhile Chauhan dynasty.

The fort was crafted with an excellent network of tunnels crisscrossing the entire hill side but it is inaccessible to tourists for want of proper maps. The fort comprises huge water reservoirs, a small palace with some marvelous murals and stained glass and a tomb that is known as “Miran Saheb Ki Dargah”.

Mehrangarh Fort Jodhpur –
The Mehrangarh Fort is one of the important historical sites in India which has witnessed several battles against the Jaipur and Bikaner army. The foundation stone of this imposing fort was laid atop a hill by the Rathore ruler Rao Jodha with the help of Rao Nara in 1459. Later it was extended by Jaswant Singh, who ruled between 1638 and 78. The fort is ramped up with a series of seven gates including Jayapol which commemorates the victories over Jaipur and Bikaner armies.

Fattehpol which marks the defeat of the Mughals; Dedh Kamgra Pol; and Loha Pol hold an important place in the history of Rajasthan, Within the fort complex you will also come across some of the best palaces of Rajasthan – Moti Mahal, Phool Mahal, Sheesha Mahal, Sileh Khana and Daulat Khana which are notable for having exquisite architectural works with intricate carvings and expansive courtyards.

It is home to beautiful palaces with scenic landscape. The granaries, water reserves and storage systems are the finest examples of science and technology then. Some of the best places to visit here are the Ram Harihar temple, Kal Bhairav temple, museum for arms and ammunitions of those days and the largest cannon named Jaivana.

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Top 05 Places To Visit In Jaipur

 

Jaipur is a magical city bursting with life, history, and awe-inspiring architecture. Getting around in Jaipur was an urban safari. Monkeys, cows, dogs, birds, peacocks, and camels run the show. After adventuring in Jaipur, I can share with you what I got up to and what I consider to be the 20 best things to do in Jaipur. While you won’t be able to fit all of these awesome spots into 24 hours, pick a few of the top 05 places to visit in Jaipur in one day.

I have also put together what I consider to be the best one-day itinerary for Jaipur. So you can follow that one-day Jaipur itinerary or you can make your own from all of the suggestions in this blog post about all of the best places to visit in Jaipur.

Hawa Mahal :-
Watch the world go by through the hundreds of tiny windows at Jaipur’s famous Palace of the Winds aka Hawa Mahal. An important landmark in the city, the pink stone Hawa Mahal is considered the epitome of Rajput architecture. Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh built Hawa Mahal in 1779. It is known as Palace of the Winds due to the fact that it has 953 tiny stained glass windows. The windows are locally called “jharokas”. Tourists love peeping out of them to see the beautiful city of Jaipur. Hawa Mahal somewhat resembles a honeycomb thanks to all its symmetrical windows.

Amber Fort :-
Take an elephant ride up the hill to the spectacular Amber Fort (pronounced Aah-mare fort) that was built by Raja Man Singh, way back in the 16th century. Amber is a mesmerizing blend of Hindu and Mughal architecture. Amber Fort was used by the Rajputs both for defence purpose as well as the residential purposes. Therefore, within its mighty walls, one finds charming gardens and magnificent palaces made from marble and precious stones, richly decorated with intricate stonework and beautiful paintings. Amber Fort houses Jai Mandir, a famous temple, which in turn houses the sublime Sheesh Mahal, a beautiful hall filled with mirrors that are so artistically set that even a tiny ray of light gets reflected in the mirrors and sets the hall ablaze with fiery radiance.

Jantar Mantar :-
Boggle your mind’s eye at the collection of architectural astronomical instruments, built by Maharaja Jai Singh II between 1727 and 1734. Jai Singh had constructed a total of five such facilities at different places including Delhi and Jaipur. The Jaipur observatory is the largest and most well preserved of all of them. An excursion through Jaipur’s Jantar Mantar is a fantastic experience where one gets to walk through a geometrical maze of sorts and study an intricate astronomical system designed to probe the heavens. The instruments are in most cases very huge in size, and their efficacy has always been hotly speculated upon. Today the observatory is used more as a popular tourist attraction than an instrument of astronomical prowess.

City Palace :-
This museum is supposed to be the oldest one in Rajasthan. It has an assortment of rare and beautiful artefacts on display including textiles, carpets, paintings, metal and wood crafts, pottery, arms and weapons, flora and fauna of the state, toys, dolls etc. It also puts on display the miniature paintings of a number of sub-schools of Rajasthani art. The galleries on the ground floor showcase the dresses, jewellery and artefacts of the various tribes and classes of Rajasthan. One gallery has a showcase of henna art; an exhibition of the typical ethnic Rajasthani motifs and designs. Puppets and Phad paintings constitute yet another gallery. The highlights of the museum, however, are displayed in its central gallery, which is completely devoted to the physical expression of music and dance art forms.

Sunset at Nahargarh Fort :-
Nahar means tiger. Garh means fort. In English, this spectacular fortress translates to the Tiger Fort. Up in the hills of Jaipur, the Nahargarh Fort walls wind along the ridges of the mountains. Standing on the fort walls you will overlook neighborhoods brimming with intense action. If you arrive before sunset you can wander through the gallery or the wax museum. I arrived just before sunset and both were closed. The driver took us straight through to the restaurant. We paid ($5), which included entry and a free chai tea and a bottle of water. We headed down along the perimeter of the fort, scaling the wall for a good vantage point. As the sun set, we found ourselves overlooking a neighborhood, which bordered a huge sand dune. The homes on the edge of the sand dunes were almost submerged in sand. Hundreds of children played cricket and games on the dunes as we watched the last light of the day fade beneath the horizon.

Jaigarh Fort :-
There is an awesome tour that takes you to both the Nahargarh Fort and the Jaigarh Fort on a half-day tour. I highly recommend visiting both!

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Famous Religious & Pilgrimages Places to Visit in Rajasthan, India

 

Rajasthan the land of splendor is a visual delight of shrines, palaces, forts, mansions, fairs, festivals, culture and traditions. Some of renowned and spiritual pilgrimage places of India are found in Rajasthan.

The fascinating pilgrimage places of Rajasthan attract huge number of pilgrims and devotees towards them all around the year. And apart from being a pilgrim destination these places are appealing to tourists as well, as they have various other attractions in them.

We have listed below the most important 11 pilgrimage destinations in Rajasthan.

1. Brahma Temple, Pushkar

One of the oldest cities of India – Pushkar is famous for housing the only Brahma temple in the world. Located on the banks of Pushkar Lake this temple is dedicated to Lord Brahma “the creator god”, who is believed to have performed penance here for 60,000 years to have a glimpse of Lord Radha Krishna. Steps of marble lead you to the interior of the temple where a silver turtle lies embossed in the floor and around it are hundreds of silver coins embedded in the floor only.

This temple holds an important place in the Hindu religion and is visited by hundreds of devotees every year. Pushkar also has various other temples that can be visited such as Varah Temple, Mahadeva Temple, Gayatri Temple and Raghunath Temple etc.

2. Jain Temple, Ranakpur

Ranakpur the city holding a huge respect in the Jain community as it is one of the five main religious places of Jains. The city has incredibly carved Jain Temples in India. Well known for its magnificent white marble temples created in 15th century during the reign of Rana Kumbha and enclosed within a wall. The main temple is “Chaumukha Temple” which is dedicated to Lord Adinath and is a four faced temple.

The breathtaking architectural style of the Temple is distinct and unique. There are 29 halls and 80 domes standing on the 1444 pillars of which amazingly no two are alike and has its own interesting carving. Ranakpur is undoubtedly one of the main religious destinations in Rajasthan.

3. Dargah Sharif, Ajmer

The city of Ajmer on Ana Sagar Lake is one of India’s most important pilgrimagesites for Muslims. It attracts its fair share of pilgrims and tourists from all over. Dargah Sharif is one of the most sacred Muslim shrines in India and is venerated by both Hindus and Muslims.

Situated at the foot of a hill, this is the tomb of a Sufi saint, Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti who had come to Ajmer from Persia in 1192 and devoted his life to the upliftment of the poor. Millions of pilgrims come to Ajmer for the saint’s annual Urs or death anniversary in October.

4. Dilwara Temples, Mt Abu

Mt. Abu the only hill station in Rajasthan is known for various facts and the extraordinary Jain Dilwara Temples is one of them. The temples here are counted among India’s finest temple architecture with intricate carving that showcases the brilliant work of the artisans.

The oldest temple in this complex is “Vimal Vasahi” which is dedicated to the first tirthankar, Adinath and took 14 years to build which was started in 1031. The “Luna Vasahi” is dedicated to Neminath the 22nd tirthankar and took 15 years to build which was started in 1230. The other three temples in the complex are “Bhimashah Pittalhar”, “Mahaveerswami” and “Khartar Vasahi”.

5. Karni Mata Temple, Deshnok

Deshnok is a small village in Rajasthan located just 30kms from Udaipur, is known for Karni Mata Temple which is dedicated to Karni Mata, an incarnation of goddess Durga. It is one of the most visited temples in Rajasthan and attracts large number of pilgrims to attend the annual Karni Mata Fair.

It is a magnificent temple with huge silver gates and carved marbles. One strange feature of the temple that amuses everyone who comes here is that the temple is house to huge number of brown rats that wander all over the place without any hindrance and seeing the rats is believed to be auspicious.

6. Ek lingji Temple, Udaipur

Located 22kms from Udaipur on the banks of Indersagar Lake, Eklingji Temple is a huge temple complex consisting of 108 temples. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva with a 50ft high black stone statue with four faces depicting his four forms.

The east-facing part is recognized as Surya, the west-facing part is Lord Brahma, the north-facing part is Lord Vishnu and the south-facing part is Rudra i.e. Lord Shiva himself. The other deities that are worshipped here include Parvati, Ganesha, Kartikeya and Saraswati. During the festival of Shivratri the entire temple complex and deities are beautifully decorated and attracts a large number of devotees.

7. Shrinathji Temple, Nathdwara

Nathdwara located just 48kms from Udaipur, is a holy town and known for housing Shrinathji Temple dedicated to Lord Krishna.

The idol of this temple is carved out from a single piece of black marble and according to history the statue was being moved to Mewar kingdom from Mathura during the reign of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. But the chariot in which the statue was being shifted got stuck here and did not moved further; hence a shrine was established at Nathdwara.

8. Govind Devji Temple, Jaipur

The temple is a vital part of the City Palace complex – Govind Dev Ji Temple. It is one of the prominent temples of Rajasthan and situated in Jaipur it is visited by many people annually. Dedicated to Lord Krishna and has been well preserved by the earlier royal family.

And the image was brought from Vrindavan, installed here by Sawai Jai Singh; Govind Devji is an incarnation of Lord Krishna. It is visited by many pilgrim and devotees along with tourists who visit the City Palace.

9. Galtaji temple Jaipur

Located on the outskirts of Jaipur, there are a number of notion related to Galtaji temple. It is believed that area surrounding Galtaji temple used to suffer from scarcity of water at one point of time. As a result, a sage named Galva meditated for a period of 100 years in order to appease the God. Pleased with the effort, it is believed that God blessed the region with a stream of water which solved the problem of dearth of water. To offer their tribute to the sage, the people constructed a temple known as the Galtaji temple. 

Once you visit the temple, you will realize the presence of a spiritual aura around the temple. As a huge number of devotees visit the temple throughout the year, they take part in the chanting of the religious hymns, people paying curtsy to God and that imparts such an ambiance to the place surrounding the temple. The particular aura of the temple added with the mystic beauty of the place makes it a great experience for the visitors.

10. Motidungari Temple Jaipur

Located in the midst of serene natural beauty, the Moti Doongri temple is a wonderful tourist spot that portrays jaw dropping architecture. Built on the lines of Scottish castle, the very sight of the temple will make your visit to the temple truly worthy. Then add to it, the spiritual importance of the temple which draws a huge number of devotees as well.

There are several attractions in the Moti Doongri temple. The temple complex that boasts a Ganesh temple is a great attraction for devotees as thousand of devotees visit the temple to witness the Ganesha temple. Coming to Jaipur and not visiting the particular temple will make your Jaipur trip incomplete. The sheer beauty of the temple added with a picturesque location makes it a wonderful experience for the tourists.

11. Randevji Temple Runicha, Jaisalmer

Shri Randevji is believed to have been incarnated on earth for the welfare of humanity and was born in the houses of Ajmalji in the Tomar Rajput family. He had some innate divine powers. Since childhood, he performed many miracles and won the hearts of the people. He is also believed to have killed a demon called Bhairav. Ramdevji chose Ramadevra as the place where he attained a Samadhj and went into a divine state of meditation. Nevertheless many people claim to have seen him on horse-back. The present cenotaph was constructed by Maharaja Shri Ganga Singhji of Bikaner at Shri Ramdevra Runecha.

Fairs are held here twice a year when people flock to the temple and chant the glory of Ramsa Pir, so that their prayers may be answered. Many cultural events are also organized during this fair. Mainly two principal fairs are held in honor of the great sage. The first fair is held in the month of January and February and the second fair is held in the month of August and September. Thousands of devotes visit Ramdev Shri Ramdev Temple. People have great belief and faith in the temple. Entry to the tomb has been allowed to all irrespective of caste and religion. Devotees offer sweets, coconuts, makhanas, misri and cloth made horse-image on the tomb. Inside Shri Ramdev Temple complex in Ramdev there is a water tank also. A dip in that is considered to have a curative effect on skin diseases. Some followers come from great distances on foot, while some creep on their belly to reach the temple. Bus service and various private vehicles from major cities of Rajasthan will take you to Shri Ramdev Temple in Ramdev.