+91 9799050299 
Jaigarh Fort, built by Maharaja Jai Singh II in the 18th Century, is a magnificent palace located on the "Cheel ka Teela" (Hill of the Eagle) promontory of the Aravallis in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Designed by an architect named Vidyadhar, the fort was built to depict the affluent culture of the city of Jaipur. Since the fort is located on an altitude, the entire city of Jaipur can be seen from the top. It mainly served as the residential building of the kings but later on, was also used as the artillery warehouse.
Jaigarh Fort has a rich history behind it. During the Mughal period, Jaigarh Fort, located 150 miles away from the capital, became one of the main cannon foundries due to abundance of arms and ammunition there. It was also a storage place for arms, ammunition and other important requirements of war. It was looked after by Dara Shikoh, but when he was defeated by Aurangzeb, the fort came under the rule of Jai Singh, who renovated and refurbished it. One interesting story goes with the history of the fort. According to folklore, the rulers buried a huge treasure in the soil of the Fort. However, the treasure was never recovered.
One can get a panoramic view of Jaipur from the fort, due to its location on top of a hill. Structurally, the fort looks like its immediate neighbour, Amber Fort, which is located almost 400 metres down a common road. Otherwise known as the Victory Fort, this huge structure is 3 km in length and 1 km in width. The outer layers of the fort are made of red sandstone and the internal layout is quite interesting, with a beautiful square garden at the centre.
History of Jaigarh Fort:
The area that is home to the Jaigarh Fort and the Amer Fort was initially ruled by the Meenas, and it is believed that the Jaigarh Fort was built by them along with the Amer Fort. The Meenas originally built the fort as the home of the King and the royal family, who resided there, apart from their residency in the Amer Fort.
After the Meenas were overthrown by the Kachwahas, they made certain changes in the structure of the fort. During the rule of the Mughal ruler Aurangzeb, the fort came under the charge of Raja Jai Singh II who made significant changes to the structure and utility of the fort, and because of his contributions, the fort came to be named Jaigarh- after Jai Singh.
Throughout the reign of the Mughals, including that of the great emperor Akbar, Jaigarh Fort was used as a place to keep the treasure, loot, arms, ammunition and other supplies for the Rajputs. An interesting feature about the fort is that despite seeing several rules and coming under siege many times, no one truly ever managed to capture the fort, which is why it earned the name- Victory Fort.
Architecture of Jaigarh Fort:
Jaigarh Fort is a massive sandstone structure that is built in Indo-Persian style, complete with cyclopean walls that have been held together with lime mortar. The structure consists of a square garden that is surrounded by ramparts which lead to the upper levels of the fort.
There is also a central watchtower from where one can get a clear, unobstructed view of the stunning landscape on all sides. One of the most interesting features about the architecture of the fort is the lattice windows, which are so intricately designed that one can get a clear view of the outdoors from inside, but no one from outside can see the interiors through these windows.
The main entrance of the Jaigarh Fort is called the Dungar Darwaza. There are two ancient temples within the premises of the fort including the Ram Harihar Temple that was built in the 10th century and the Kal Bhairav Temple that has existed since the 12th century.
Guests can walk through courtrooms, restrooms, assembly halls and much more, which are a testimony to the brilliant architecture and construction techniques of the Rajputs. There are fortified gates throughout the fort that offer incredible views of the Aravalli ranges and Sagar Lake located in the vicinity of the fort.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to be in the city is between October and March. The weather becomes quite pleasant during this time of the year, which will enable you to witness the beauty of the city and its attractions properly.
How to Reach
Jaigarh Fort may be reached from Jaipur at ease by road. One may take a taxi or cab, and even frequent buses run by Rajasthan Road Transport Corporation are available. The buses are well-furnished, with comfortable seats and air conditioning. One may also take an auto-rickshaw, which will charge not less than Rs. 500. Sometimes, tourists opt for one of the several packages offered by the travel guides, which includes a whole-day excursion to all the three forts nearby: the Jaigarh Fort, the Nahargarh fort and the Amber Fort.
Forts in Rajasthan reminds tourists of royalty and bravery, of epic battles and valiant heroes & when battles were fought, sacrifice and brutality came along, and sorrow and death were not far behind. All these battles were fought to capture the hill forts of Rajasthan. If you paint a mental picture of what Rajasthan stands for, the hill forts will immediately flash before your eyes as powerful remnants of these long fought wars and battles. The hill forts were the first structures that were built by powerful Rajput kings, for protecting their kingdoms from enemy attacks was their first priority. Their elevated positions above rugged hills gave them an edge over enemies, & allowed them to monitor their surroundings. These were not small forts by any means, but massive structures, powerful enough to withstand cannonballs & fireballs & large enough to accommodate large armies. They were not only meant for defence, but their strategic location allowed them to control trade activities, & also served as royal residences, where kings & his families lived, along with ministers. You will find these hill forts at innumerable places in Rajasthan, & some of them are so magnificent that they have earned them a place in the prestigious list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
