Ranthambore Fort

Ranthambore Fort is nestled deep inside the Ranthambore National Park. The National Park consists of an area which used to be hunting grounds of the erstwhile kings of Jaipur. Standing atop a hill of 700 ft, the fort is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site under “Hill Forts of Rajasthan”. Among the most popular attractions in Ranthambore, the intimidating fort has been pivotal in the history of the state of Rajasthan.

The history of Sawai Madhopur revolves arround the Ranthambore Fort, which is surrounded by Vindhyas and Aravallis, amidst vast and arid denuded tracts of Rajasthan. Ranthambhore name came from the two hills, Rann and Thambor which are in close proximately of each other. Fort lies on an isolated the Thambhore hill and 481 metres (1578 ft.) above sea level and Rann is adjoining the hill of Thambhore which covers some breathtaking views and the entire top of a hill at the heart of the Park. It has become part of the UNESCO’s World heritage Site under hill forest series of Rajasthan.

The Ranthambhore fort is believed to have been built during the 8th century by the Chauhans ruler, though the exact ruler during whose reign the fort was initiated is difficult to name. Ranthambhore came into existence after Prithvi Raj Chouhan who was last Hindu king of Delhi,Prithvi Raj Chouhan's descendents came to Ranthambhore and made this place their capital, but the actual fame of Ranthambore came when most known ruler of this period Raja Hammir Dev was crowned in 1283 A.D.The fort was attacked by a number of big powers at different point of time in history. Prominent among these were Qutub-ud-din (1209), Allaudin Khilji (1301), Feroz Tughlaq (1325) and Bahadur Shah of Gujarat (1530). Finally, the fort was captured by the Mughals who earlier used it as a staying place and then later as a prison fortress.In the 19th century, the fort was given back to the Maharaja of Jaipur and it remained with them till the time India gained independence in the year 1947.

The Ranthambore Fort spreads over an area of 7 kilometers in circumference and includes an area of nearly 4 square kilometers. The fort had many buildings inside of which only a few have survived the ravages of wars and time. Among the remaining ruins, the two pavilions, Badal Mahal , Dullah Mahal, 32 Pillared Chhatri and Hammirs court give an idea of the old grandeur. The Fort also has many cenotaphs, mosques,temples, barracks, step-well and gates. All around the fort you can see many old ruins with remnant of walls are mute testimony of past.For water supply there are two rain fed reservoirs in the fort. The fort is surrounded by massive stonewalls which are strengthened by towers and bastions. The entire stone for masonry work has been mined from fort area itself and the mines were later turned into ponds for water storage.

The Ganesha Temple is major attraction of the fort, Thousands of people come here from every corner of the country,and seek blessings from the Lord for happiness and prosperity. A good day to visit the fort is Wednesday, the day of the Lord Ganesh, when a lot of local people visit the Ganesh temple. One interesting aspect is the mail that is sent to Lord Ganesha consisting mainly of wedding invitations. These letters are delivered daily by the local postman. The Fort is good place for bird watching. There are large numbers of birds, Langurs, the odd small cat and elusive Fishing cat use the area.

History of Ranthambhore Fort and Sawai Madhopur
The oldest settlement in the area near Sawai Madhopur was around the Ranthambhore fort. The exact origin of the Ranthambore fort is still disputed but it is generally accepted that there was a settlement at the site of the Fort, as far back as the 8th century A.D. It is widely believed that the construction of the Ranthambhore Fort was started during the reign of the Chauhan rajput King Sapaldaksha in 944 AD. Another theory stipulates that King Jayant, also a Chauhan rajput, built the Ranthambore Fort during 1110 AD. It is most likely that the construction of the fort commenced during the mid 10th Century A.D. and continued for a few centuries after that.

Since, the Ranthambhore Fort controlled the trade routes between North India and Central India, it was highly coveted by the rulers of North India. The Ranthambore Fort had its golden moments during the reign of the king Rao Hammir, the last ruler of the Chauhan dynasty (1282 - 1301 AD). During 1300 AD, Ala-ud-din Khilji, the ruler of Delhi sent his army to capture the Fort. After three unsuccessful attempts, his army finally conquered the Ranthambhore Fort in 1301 and ended the reign of the Chauhans. In the next three centuries the Ranthambore Fort changed hands a number of times, till Akbar, the great Mughal emperor, finally took over the Fort and dissolved the State of Ranthambore in 1558. The fort stayed in the possession of the Mughal rulers till the mid 18th century.

During the mid 18th century, the Maratha rulers of Western India were gradually increasing their influence in this region. In order to check the growing influence of the Marathas, Sawai Madho Singh, the ruler of Jaipur state, unsuccessfully, requested the Mughal emperor to hand over the Ranthambhore fort to him. In 1763, Sawai Madho Singh fortified the nearby village of Sherpur and renamed it Sawai Madhopur. This town, which is now commonly known as the "Sawai Madhopur City", lies in a narrow valley between two parallel hills, at the South Western edge of the Ranthambhore National Park. Two years later, the Mughals handed over the fort to the Jaipur state.

During the end of the British Raj, Sawai Man Singh, the last ruler of Jaipur state, got a railway link constructed between Jaipur and Sawai Madhopur. A railway station was built about 4 kilometers away from the Sawai Madhopur town. Gradually, a small settlement came up around the railway station. This twin of Sawai Madhopur, known as "Man Town", has now outgrown the older "City".

Best Time To Visit
The best time to visit Ranthambore Fort, and Rajasthan in general, is between the months of October and February. This is the winter season in the area and is the most pleasant time to go sightseeing, trekking, hiking and touring in Rajasthan. The state, being a desert area, can get scorching during the summer, making your travels uncomfortable and exhausting.

How To Reach
Ranthambore Fort is a very popular tourist attraction in Rajasthan. It is located 17km away from the main town of Sawai Madhopur, which also means it is very accessible. You can travel to the fort by road, railway and air:
By Road: There is a well-connected bus service to and from Ranthambore which can take you directly to Ranthambore Fort. State-run buses connect all the major cities and towns in and around Rajasthan.
By Train: The nearest railway station is located at Sawai Madhopur, which is 10km away from the Ranthambore Fort. Several trains from all the major cities nearby stop at frequent intervals at the station.
By Air: The nearest airport is the Sanganer Airport in Jaipur, where flights come in from all parts of the country and from the world. Jaipur is located 157km away from Ranthambore Fort, which can be accessed by buses and hired cars.