Jaigarh Fort Jaipur

Jaigarh Fort Jaipur, located around 15 km from Jaipur, is one of the most spectacular forts in India, with almost all its original facilities intact. While Jaigarh Fort is on top of the hill, Amber Fort is at the bottom. The forts are connected through well-guarded passages. Many consider the two together as one complex.

Jaigarh Fort was a center of artillery production for the Rajputs and it is home to the world's largest cannon on wheels, the Jaivana. The foundries provide fascinating information for the visitors. The manner in which they drew in blasts of air from the desert is most intriguing. A 5km long canal can be seen entering the fort complex to bring in water from the high hills and store in the fort for the armymen. A huge water tank is centrally located connecting the canal. It is assumed that the Kings of Amber/Jaipur used the compartments below the water tank to store the gold and jewellery of the royal family. It is said that this tank was opened during the Emergency declared by the Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi during 1975-1977. Views of the barren Aravalli Hills gradually disappearing into the desert haze can keep one engrossed for hours.

At a distance of 15kms from Jaipur, stands the imposing Jaigarh Fort. Also called the Victory Fort, the Jaigarh Fort stands in the midst of thorn-scrub hills that impart a sterner look to the already forbidding Fort. As one approaches the fort from the steep road that leads to the main gate, the Dungar Darwaza, one cannot help but remark at the amazing view it offers of the city below. The Jaigarh fort was built to bolster up the defense of Amer, so one should not be amazed to find that the fort unlike most palaces and forts of Jaipur is quite plain and simple. It has moats and all the features you would expect of a full-fledged citadel.

The highlight of the tour of Jaigarh Fort is definitely the Jaivana, which is the world's largest cannon on wheels. It was built in Jaigarh's foundry in the year 1720. Many say that the cannon was only used once and the ball fell some 35kms away on a village. But that's quite doubtful, since a closer inspection of the cannon actually revealed that it has been fired at least a couple of times. The Fort has a lot of wide water channels, which were a part of a rainwater harvesting system. There are 3 underground tanks at the fort, the largest one of which could store 60,00,000 gallons of water. An interesting story about this tank is that, many believed it contained hidden treasure but unfortunately Indian Government searched for it and did not find anything at all.

While you are taking a tour of the Jaigarh Fort, you might want to visit the armory and the museum. The armory has many swords, shields, guns, muskets and even a 50 kg cannon ball. One can also see old photographs of two of Jaipur's Maharajas, Sawai Bhawani Singh and Major General Man Singh II, both of whom were senior officers in the military (Indian Army). The Museum has many photographs, of Maharajas, royalty, buildings and processions and even a circular pack of cards besides many other relics of the past. There are various other structures you can check out too, such as open halls. The most interesting one is the Shubhat Niwas (the Meeting hall of Warriors), which has many old things of the old times.

History about the Jaigarh Fort
The fort was built as a fortified wall or a protection cover for Amber fort. Prior to this, during the period of Shah Jahan, the region of Jaigarh fort was a cannon foundry. This was an ideal place for cannon foundry because of the presence of iron ore. In 17th century, when a war broke among Mughal successors, Aurangzeb defeated and killed his brother and captured this region. He appointed Jai Singh II as the king of this region. He modified this cannon foundry into a fortified region.