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Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur is one of the largest forts in forts. It is also the most magnificent fort in Jodhpur, infact, in the whole Rajasthan. The fort is amongst the popular tourist places in India. It is situated on a 150 m high hill. It was founded by Rao Jodha in 1459. The Mehrangarh Fort can be reached from the city, 5 kms below, through a circular road. Seven gates have to be crossed to reach the fort. The gates still bear the marks of the various battles fought in the bygone era. Its second gate still stands witness to canon ball hits by attacking armies of Jaipur during wars. One of the gates is Jayapol, meaning victory. It was built by Maharaja Man Singh to commemorate his victories over Jaipur and Bikaner armies. Another gate, Fattehpol, again meaning victory, was built by Maharaja Ajit Singh as a celebration for defeating the Mughals.
Other attractions of Mehrangarh Fort, Rajasthan include several palaces inside the fort, with their sprawling and huge courtyards. One of the fort's palaces, The Moti Mahal or the Pearl Palace, has the royal throne of Jodhpur, the Sringar Chowki. The fort also has galleries, temples, etc. To the left of the Mehrangarh Fort is the Chhatri of a soldier, Kirat Singh Soda. It is the spot where he fell while defending the fort against the armies of Amber.
Mehrangarh Fort History
The interesting history of Mehrangarh Fort takes us back to the time when Rao Jodha, the 15th Rathore ruler founded Jodhpur in the year 1459. Son of Raja Ram Mal, Rao Jodha ruled the city from Mandore but shifted his capital to Jodhpur. He, then, laid the foundation of the fort on Bhaucheeria hill which was just 9 km away from Mandore. The Fort was named as Mehrangarh Fort since the chief deity of Rathores was the Sun and the meaning of ‘Mehran’ is the sun. Apart from the major construction, many more additions were made by the other rulers of Jodhpur like Maldeo Maharaja, Ajit Singh Maharaja, Takhat Singh and Maharaja Hanwant Singh. There were many clashes between the rulers at those times, and then the Fort like this one was an object of great power and prestige.
Architecture of the Fort
The Fort and palaces were built over a period of 500 years, and thus one can see the basic architectural style of the mid 15th century along with the features of 20th-century architecture. The fort has 68ft wide and 117 ft. Long walls were overlooking the surrounding areas. It has seven gates, and the most popular one among them is the Jayapoli. The architecture of the fort went through several developments over a period of 500 years. During the rule of Maharaja Ajit Singh, many buildings of the fort were constructed in Mughal design. Besides the seven gates that leave tourists awestruck, there are several brilliantly crafted rooms like Moti Mahal (Pearl Palace), Phool Mahal (Flower Palace), Daulat Khana, Sheesh Mahal (Mirror Palace) and Sileh Khan. Moti Mahal, or the Pearl Palace, was built by Raja Sur Singh. Sheesh Mahal, or the Hall of Mirrors is famous for intricate designs on the pieces of mirror. Maharaja Abhaya Singh created Phool Mahal. One can see the magnificent craftsmanship of Jodhpuri craftsmen in the sandstone used for the construction of the palace.
Best Time To Visit Mehrangarh Fort
The best time to visit Mehrangarh Fort is during winters. Between October to March, the weather remains cool and pleasant and offers you with an excellent opportunity to explore the entire fort.
The ideal time of the day to visit the fort is the winter mornings. Right after breakfast, set out to the fort as it gets opened for tourists at 9:00 am. After spending two or three hours, you can head to the nearby tourist's places to spend the rest of the day.
There are some scintillating festivals, reflecting the rich culture and heritage of Jodhpur, which takes place in the fort. Some of them are:
Gangaur- It is held every year in the month of April, and a grand procession of Gangaur Mataji is carried out from the fort
Rajasthan International Folk Festival- This musical festival brings together some of the finest singers and artists. Spectacular concerts and musical events are held in Mehrangarh Fort.
Dusshera- To celebrate Lord Ram's victory over Ravana, a procession is taken out from the fort which later concludes in the city.
How To Reach Mehrangarh Fort
The city of Jodhpur has well established rail, road and air network connections with all the major cities in India. Railways: Jodhpur railway station is well connected to major Indian cities and there are trains available on a daily basis. The nearest railway station is the Rai ka Bagh railway station. Airways: One of the prominent airports in Rajasthan, Jodhpur is now being transformed into an international one. There are daily flights from various parts of the country. Roadways: The city of Jodhpur is connected by road to all the important cities of Rajasthan, as well as those of the neighbouring states. There are deluxe and express bus services to the city. In the city one can travel by auto rickshaws, buses, cycle rickshaws or cabs.
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.
