Forts of Rajasthan

1. Fort of Gagraun (Jhalawar)

• Type: A Water Fort (Jal Durg), situated at the confluence of the Kali Sindh and Ahu rivers .
• Construction: Originally built by Parmar rulers, hence it is also called Dodgarh or Dhulargarh . Deven Singh later captured it after defeating Bijaldev Dodd . The fort is constructed on rocks without a foundation .
• History: The fort witnessed two major 'sakas' (battles ending in Jauhar). The first occurred in 1423 AD during the reign of Achladas Khichi against Hoshang Shah of Malwa, an event documented by Shivdas Gadan in 'Achaladas khichi re vachnika' . The second saka took place in 1444 AD when Palhan Singh was attacked by Mahmud Khilji of Malwa, who renamed the fort 'Mustaffabad' . Emperor Akbar later granted the fort to Prithviraj Rathore of Bikaner .
• Major Places:
  • Buland Darwaza: Built by Aurangzeb .
  • Dargah of Meethe Sahab: The tomb of Sufi saint Hamiduddin is located here .
  • Madhusudan Temple: Built by Durjanasal of Kota .
  • The fort also housed the mint of the Kota state .
  • Giddha Karai: A place where political prisoners were given the death sentence .
  • Johar Kund and Andheri Bavdi are also located within the fort .

2. Chittorgarh Fort (Chittorgarh)

• Construction: Built by Chitrangd Maurya on the Mesa plateau, located on the banks of the Gambhiri and Bedach rivers .
• Distinctions: Known as the 'Sirmaur of forts' and the 'Pride of Rajasthan' . It is the largest residential fort in the state and has features of all fort types except for a desert fort .
• Major Places:
  • Palaces: Palaces of Ratan Singh and Padmini .
  • Temples: Tulja Bhavani Temple, Kalika Temple, Ekling Temple, Meera Temple, Kukdeshwar Mahadev Temple, Samideshwar Mahadev Temple (renovated by Mokal), Kumbha Swamy Temple, and Satbisdevri .
  • Other Structures: Navlakha Bhandar (built by Banveer), Shringar Chanwari, Lakhota Bari, Chatrang Talab, and Bheemlath Temple .

3. Kumbhalgarh (Rajsamand)

• Construction: Built by Maharana Kumbha .
• Description: Known as the troubleshooter fort of Mewar and the sentinel of the Mewar-Marwar border . James Todd compared it to the Etruscan fort .
• Abul Fazal remarked, "This fort is built at such a height that when looking down from above the person's turban falls."
• Wall: The fort's wall is 36 km long and wide enough for four horses to run parallel .
• Katargarh: Located at the top of the fort, this was Kumbha's private residence and is called the 'eye of Mewar' .
• Important Places: Mama Dev Kund and Jhali Rani Malia .

4. Ranthambhore (Sawai Madhopur)

• Construction: Built by Chauhan rulers in the eighth century .
• Abul Fazal noted that its elliptical shape makes it invisible from a distance, stating, "all the forts are bare, and this fort is armored."
• Major Buildings: Jogi Mahal, Supari Mahal, Jaura Bhoran (grain storage), Trinetra Ganesh Temple, Pir Sadruddin's Dargah, Akbar's Mint, Hammer Kachari, a 32-pillared cenotaph, Navlakha Darwaja, and a source for the Gupta Ganga .

5. Mehrangarh Fort (Jodhpur)

• Construction: Built by Rao Jodha on May 13, 1459, on the Chidiya Toonk hill . A man named Rajaram was sacrificed during its foundation .
• Names and Descriptions: Called 'Moradhwaj Garh' due to its peacock shape, and also known as Garh Chintamani .
• Rudyard Kipling described it as having been created by "fairies and gods."
• Cannons: Kilkila, Bhavani, Shambhuban, Ghajini Khan, Sambhushan, Gajak, Gubara, and Nusharat .
• Important Places:
  • Tombs and Cenotaphs: Bhurekha tomb, Kirat Singh Sodha's Cenotaph, and Dhanna Bhinwa's Cenotaph (Mama-Bhanja Cenotaph) .
  • Palaces: Moti Mahal (built by Surat Singh), Talhati Palace, Phool Mahal, and ChokheLaav Mehal (built by Abhay Singh) .
  • Other Structures: Mansingh Library, Shringar Chauki (coronation place), Ranisar pond (built by Queen Jasmade), Chamunda Mata Temple, Anand Dhan Temple, and Nagnechi Mata Temple .

6. Jaisalmer Fort (Jaisalmer)

• Construction: Built by Rao Jaisal in 1155 AD . It is constructed with yellow stones without the use of lime, and its roof is made of wood .
• Names and Descriptions: Also known as Sonargarh, Songarh, or Sawarngiri . Its yellow stones shine in the sunlight, earning it the name Sonar Qila . From a distance, it appears like a ship anchored in a sea of sand or a "yawning lion" .
• Abul Fazal said that "only stone feets can reach Jaisalmer Fort."
• Features: It is the second-largest residential fort in Rajasthan and has 99 bastions, the most in the state . A postage stamp was issued for it in 2009 . It has a long, skirt-like rampart called Kamarkot .
• Important Places: Badal Mahal, Jaisalu Fort, temples of Parshvanath and Rishabha Deo, Jinbhadra Suri Bhandar (housing ancient handwritten texts), Jawar Villas, Rang Mahal, and Sarvottam Villas Mahal . Satyajit Ray made a documentary here called 'Sonarkila' .

7. Junagadh Fort (Bikaner)

• Construction: Built by Rai Singh between 1589 and 1594 AD .
• Description: Built on flat land, it is called the 'Jewel of the land' and 'Fort of Ratighati' . It is quadrilateral in shape with 37 bastions and a surrounding trench . It had lifts even before Independence .
• Palaces: Anup Mahal, Har Temple, and Ganga Vilas (with walls depicting Krishna's Rasleela) .

8. Bhatner Fort (Hanumangarh)

• Construction: Built by Bhupat Bhati with walls made of raw clay .
• History: It faced the maximum number of foreign attacks and is called the 'Sentinel of the Northern Frontier' . In 1805 AD, Bikaner's King Surat Singh captured it on a Tuesday and renamed it Hanumangarh . Taimur described it in his autobiography as 'the safest fort in India' . It is the only fort where Muslim women are recorded to have performed Jauhar alongside Hindu women .
• Features: It has 52 bastions and 365 kangurs (battlements) . The tomb of Sher Bal Khan and monuments to Dalpat Singh and his six queens are located here .

9. Taragarh Fort (Ajmer)

• Construction: Built by Chauhan King Ajayraj as 'Ajayamerugarh'. Prithviraj of Mewar renamed it Taragarh after his queen, Tara .
• Description: Known as 'Garh Beedali Fort' and the 'Gibraltar of Rajasthan' (a title given by Bishop Heber) . According to Harvilas Sharda, it faced the maximum number of indigenous attacks .
• Important Places: It has 14 bastions, Meeran Sahib's dargah, a horse's tomb, Prithviraj Chauhan's memorial, Sisa Khan cave, and several 'Jhalras' (water tanks) . Dara Shikoh took refuge here . William Bentinck converted it into a sanatorium .

10. Akbar Fort (Ajmer)

• Built by Akbar in 1570 AD, it is also called Daulatkhana or Magazine Fort .
• The plan for the Battle of Haldighati was created here, and Sir Thomas Roe met Jahangir in this fort .
• The British used it to store weapons, hence the name 'Magazine Fort'. It currently houses the 'Rajputana Museum' .

11. Amber Fort (Jaipur)

• Also known as 'Kakilgarh', its construction was started by Man Singh .
• It shows significant Mughal influence and contains structures like Sheesh Mahal, Sukh Mandir, Jagat Shiromani Temple, Diwan-i-Aam, and Diwan-i-Khas .

12. Jaigarh Fort (Jaipur)

• Its construction was started by Man Singh, completed by Mirza Raja Jai Singh, and given its present form by Sawai Jai Singh .
• It served as a troubleshooter fort for the Kachwaha rulers and housed their treasury .
• Known for huge water tanks, secret tunnels, and the famous 'Jaiban' cannon .

13. Nahargarh (Jaipur)

• Built by Sawai Jai Singh to defend against Maratha invasions, it was originally named Sudarshangarh .
• It features nine similar palaces built by Madho Singh II for his nine concubines .

14. Taragarh Fort (Bundi)

• Built by Bar Singh in 1354 AD, it resembles a glowing star from a distance .
• Kipling remarked that it was "built by ghosts."
• It is famous for its murals, especially in the Chitrashala (built by Ummed Singh), and houses the 'Garbha Gunjan Cannon' .

15. Jalore Fort (Jalore)

• Built by the Pratihara ruler Nagabhatta I on the banks of the Sukdi River .
• Also known as the fort of Suvarnagiri, it contains the Alai Mosque, Topkhana Masjid, and the dargah of Malik Shah .

16. Fort of Sivana (Barmer)

• Built by 'Veer Narayan Panwar', it is also called Kumut Durg .
• It served as an emergency palace for the Rathores of Marwar and was known as the 'key of Jalore' .
• Major places include the Bhandelav pond and Haldeshwar Mandir .

17. Fort of Achalgarh (Sirohi)

• Originally built by Parmar rulers and rebuilt by Maharana Kumbha .
• Features the Achaleshwar Mahadev temple, where Shiva's thumb is worshipped, and statues of Kumbha, his sons ('idols of Sawan Bhado'), and Dursa Aadha .

18. Bharatpur Fort (Lohagad)

• Built by Surajmal, it is called Lohagad because the British commander Lord Lake could not conquer it .
• Features Ashtadhatu doors and the Sujan Ganga Canal feeding its trench .

19. Bayana Fort (Bharatpur)

• Built by Vijayapala on Damdama hill. Samudra Gupta built the first 'Vijay Stambh' of Rajasthan here .
• Important structures include Usha Lat (Bhima Lat), Usha Temple (later Usha Masjid), Akbar's Cenotaph, and Lodi Minar .

20. Bala Fort (Alwar)

• Built by Nikumbh Kshatriyas and reconstructed by Alghurai. Jahangir stayed here, so it contains Salim Mahal and Salim Sagar Jalashay .

21. Kankanwadi Fort (Alwar)

• Built by Mirza Raja Jaisingh. Aurangzeb imprisoned his brother Dara Shikoh here .

22. Madho Rajpura Fort (Jaipur)

• Built by Madho Singh I after a victory over the Marathas .

23. Fort of Chomu (Jaipur Rural)

• Built by Thakur Karna Singh, it is also known as Chamuhagarh, Dhardhragarh, and Raghunathgarh .

24. Fort of Mandalgarh (Bhilwara)

• Built by Chanana Gurjar. Man Singh stayed here before the Battle of Haldighati. The cenotaph of Rana Sanga is located here .

25. Shergarh Fort (Baran)

• Located on the banks of the Parvan River, it is also known as Kosh Vardhangarh .

26. Shergarh Fort (Dholpur)

• A Kushan-era fort reconstructed by Maldev and named Shergarh by Sher Shah Suri. It houses the 'Hunhunkar Cannon' .

27. Fort of Shahbad (Baran)

• Built by Mukutmani Dev Chauhan, it contains the Badal Mahal and the 'Navalvan cannon' .

28. Kota Fort (Kota)

• Construction was initiated by Jaitra Singh and completed by Madho Singh. James Todd considered its rampart the largest after Agra Fort .

29. Bhainsrodgarh Fort (Chittorgarh)

• Situated on the banks of the Chambal and Bamani rivers, it is called the 'Vellore of Rajasthan' and was a favorite of James Tod .

30. Nagaur Fort (Nagaur)

• Built by Kaimas, a feudal lord of Chauhan king Someshwar. It is protected by a triple rampart .

31. Kuchaman Fort (Kuchaman-Deedwana)

• Built by the vassal Jhalim Singh, it is called the Sirmaur of Jagiri forts .

32. Churu Fort (Churu)

• Built by Kushal Singh, it is famously known for firing silver cannonballs in 1814 AD under feudal lord Shivji Singh against Bikaner and the British .

33. Fatehpur Fort (Sikar)

• Built by Fateh Khan Kayamkhani in 1453 AD. It houses the Saint Nizamuddin Dargah and Saraswati library .

34. Sajjangarh Fort (Udaipur)

• Constructed by Sajjan Singh, it is called the 'crown jewel of Mewar' and the 'Monsoon Palace' .

35. Timangarh Fort (Karauli)

• Built by Timanpal, the 'Nanad Bhojai's well' is located here .

36. Dausa Fort (Dausa)

• Built on Devgiri hill in the shape of a Chajla (winnowing fan). It was the initial capital of the Kachhwaha rulers .

37. Untala Fort (Udaipur)

• Located in Vallabhnagar, a competition between the Chundavat and Shaktawat clans for the Harawal (vanguard) was held for this fort .

38. Mohangarh Fort (Jaisalmer)

• Known as the last fort of India, it was constructed in 1945-46 during the reign of Jawahar Singh of Jaisalmer .