Mehrangarh Fort - मेहरानगढ़ किले
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Rao Jodha, the chief of Rathore clan, got the Mehrangarh fort of Jodhpur constructed in 1459. It is situated on 150 m high hill and can be reached from the city through a circular road. It is one of the largest and most magnificent forts in India. Mehrangarh fort of Jodhpur, Rajasthan has 7 gates, which need to be crossed before reaching the main complex.
There is a chhatri of a soldier Kirat Singh Soda to the left of the Mehrangarh fort. He fell while defending the fort against the armies of Amber on the stop where the chhatri now stands. There is a gate named Jayapol (meaning victory) built by Maharaja Man Singh to celebrate the defeat of Jaipur and Bikaner. Maharaja Ajit Singh also constructed a gate called Fattehpol (meaning victory) to commemorate the win over Mughals. Another gate called Lohapol (meaning iron gate) has palm imprints of the queens of Maharaja Man who immolated themselves in an act of sati.
The massive Mehrangargh Fort is situated about 5km from Jodhpur Town, the former capital of the Marwar state, on the steep hill hidatoonk, at an altitude of about 125 metres. The red sandstone fort dominating the city has the appearance of an elegant peacock and so is also known as Moradwaj Garh. The fort spread over an area of 5 sq. km, was originally started by Rao Jodha in 1459 A.D., the founder of the capital city of the Rathores (a Rajput clan) but the major part of the fort which stands today dates from the period of Maharaja Jaswant Singh (1638 -78). It is said that its unsuspecting architect was ordered buried alive so that he could not reveal its secrets. The enormous Fort stands high above the plains with walls up to 36m high and 21m wide. On Jaswant Singh's death in 1678, Mughal ruler Aurangzeb occupied the fort, bringing the first major period of fort extension to an end. Meherangarh came back under the Rajput control of Jaswant Singh's posthumous son Ajith Singh after the death of Aurangazeb. This fort was run by the Maharaja of Jodhpur for over 500 years until he changed his residence to Umaid Bhavan Palace when it was completed in 1943. Today the complex is maintained as a museum, and houses 18 different apartments, each full of carefully displayed antiquities, rare books and manuscripts. The museum displays collection of palanquins, elephant howdahs (saddles), royal cradles, weapons, musical instruments, paintings, costumes, ivory and wood antique furniture, a tent etc.
The employees in the palace, dressed in traditional Jodhpuri dress with shield, hookah welcome the tourists and offer information related to the various rooms in the palaces, adding some folklore, legends and royal stories in their friendly dialogue.
In the fort are magnificent palaces, courtyards and other buildings such as Moti Mahal (Pearl Palace), Phool Mahal (Flower Palace), Sheesh Mahal (Mirror Palace), Sileh Khana, Rani Bas, Top Khana, Vichala Mahal, Sringar Chauki and Daulat Khana. Carved panels and porches, maze of interlocking palace interiors, inner marble courtyards, audience halls, exquisite latticed zenana ( women's quarters) chambers, elaborately adorned walls and windows are worth seeing. The palaces in this fort have their own peculiar style, with narrow staircases, serving as the only means of access to the royal rooms within. The beauty and the grandeur of numerous palaces in the fort evoke the glorious past of the Rajput era.
The entrance is through a zigzag pathway up the west side originally fortified by seven gateways, each a short turn to the next, which provide a series of locks along the main access to the fort. Enroute to the fort is 'Jaswant Thada' the distinctive marble memorial of Jaswant Singh II. The main gate or the Fateh Gate is heavy, spiked and still has cannon ball hit marks. Then comes the smaller Gopal gate and the Bhairon Gate, with large guardrooms. The gates include Jayapol, built by Maharaja Man Singh. The fourth, Toati Gate, is no more. Dodhkangra Gate stands over a sharp turn in the path. The Amarti Gate, has a long passageway with guardrooms on the sides. The Loha Gate or Iron Gate is the last gate at the final turn into the fort and there are 15 handprints of royal satis, the wives of Maharaja Man Singh who threw themselves upon his funeral pyre in 1843. They are usually covered in red powder.
The ramp from the Loha gate leads up to the Suraj Pol, which opens onto the Shringar Choki Chowk (courtyard) which is the main entrance to the museum. The royal coronation ceremony of the crown prince was performed here, the only place in the fort constructed of white marble. The upper storeys around the courtyard were part of the zenana from where the royal ladies could look down on the activities in the courtyard. Jhanki Mahal (Glimpse palace) in the north has a long passage flanked by a further narrow gallery from which balconies (Jarokhas) with beautifully intricate jali screens and surmounted by the distinctive Bengali style eaves project over the courtyard. It houses a rich collection of royal cradles. The cradles are decorated with gilt mirrors and figures of fairies, elephant and birds. On the south of Shringar Chowk is a good collection of palanquins and elephant saddles made of pure silver. The Mahadole palanquin made of wood decorated with gold leaf was taken from Bahadur Shah, Begda of Malwa.
There is another courtyard Daulat Khana Chowk and around it, starting on the far right (extreme north) is the Sileh Khana (armoury) with a remarkable collection of Indian weapons which include swords and daggers decorated with calligraphy among others. Above the armoury is the Phool Mahal(Flower Palace), one of the most impressive apartments of the museum built by Abhai Singh (1724-49)with stone jali screens, Belgian stained glass windows and portraits of former Jodhpur rulers as well as murals of 36 musical modes. On the ceiling is fabulous gold work and paintings of different incarnations of Vishnu. The Jodhpur coat of arms is above the couch.
Toward the left of the Sileh Khana is the Umaid Vilas with an excellent collection of Rajasthani miniatures. Next to it is the Sheesh Mahal (Mirror palace) with mirror work built by Ajith Singh. The next apartment to the south is Sardar Vilas above which is the Takhat Vilas, built by Takhat Singh (1843-73). Takhat Vilas, has wall paintings of Krishna Lila and dancing girls and its ceiling has strong wooden beams and Belgian Christmas tree balls. Ajit Vilas exhibits musical instruments and the royal costumes. Next to it to the south are Khabka and Chandan Mahals (sleeping quarters) and a prayer room around the Khabka chowk or courtyard.
Then comes the Moti Mahal Chowk to the north, east and south of which is the Moti Vilas and to the west the Moti Mahal (Pearl palace). These apartments around the courtyard also has jali screens through which women could watch the proceedings below. Moti Mahal located in the women's section of the fort has waist level niches around the walls for oil lamps and a mirrored ceiling. The reflection of the lighted lamps in the mirrored ceiling would have been breathtaking. Just outside the room, there is beautifully carved 19th century woodwork.
The Maan Vilas displays Rathore armoury and the Tent room displays the royal red velvet tent elaborately embroidered with silk golden thread, belonging to Shah Jahan used in the Imperial Mughal campaigns. The Jewel House has a wonderful collection of jewelry.
At the southern end of the fort, old canons are placed on the ramparts over a sheer drop of 37m. There is an excellent view of the city from here. There is a Chamunda temple dedicated to Durga nearby. The approach path to the fort is quite steep. There are rickshaws available for hire or there is an elevator that will take you to the top.
Local Transport : Means of transport in Jodhpur include Taxis, Auto-rickshaws, Tongas. Taxi stand is near the main railway station. Auto-rickshaws are best suited for traversing the narrow lanes of the old city. Jodhpur is a good place to explore by bicycle.
There is a chhatri of a soldier Kirat Singh Soda to the left of the Mehrangarh fort. He fell while defending the fort against the armies of Amber on the stop where the chhatri now stands. There is a gate named Jayapol (meaning victory) built by Maharaja Man Singh to celebrate the defeat of Jaipur and Bikaner. Maharaja Ajit Singh also constructed a gate called Fattehpol (meaning victory) to commemorate the win over Mughals. Another gate called Lohapol (meaning iron gate) has palm imprints of the queens of Maharaja Man who immolated themselves in an act of sati.
The other attractions of the Mehrangarh fort are
Galleries
There are a number of galleries in the Mehrangarh fort including elephant howdah gallery, palanquin gallery, daulat khana, armory gallery, paintings gallery, turbans gallery, etc.Museum
Mehrangarh fort houses one of the finest museums of Rajasthan. The museum displays an array of items including old royal palanquins, arms, costumes, paintings, decorated period rooms, etc.Period Rooms/Palaces
Mehrangarh fort also encompasses a number of period room or palaces. Some of them are Phool Mahal, Sheesh Mahal, Moti Mahal, Jhanki Mahal, etc.The massive Mehrangargh Fort is situated about 5km from Jodhpur Town, the former capital of the Marwar state, on the steep hill hidatoonk, at an altitude of about 125 metres. The red sandstone fort dominating the city has the appearance of an elegant peacock and so is also known as Moradwaj Garh. The fort spread over an area of 5 sq. km, was originally started by Rao Jodha in 1459 A.D., the founder of the capital city of the Rathores (a Rajput clan) but the major part of the fort which stands today dates from the period of Maharaja Jaswant Singh (1638 -78). It is said that its unsuspecting architect was ordered buried alive so that he could not reveal its secrets. The enormous Fort stands high above the plains with walls up to 36m high and 21m wide. On Jaswant Singh's death in 1678, Mughal ruler Aurangzeb occupied the fort, bringing the first major period of fort extension to an end. Meherangarh came back under the Rajput control of Jaswant Singh's posthumous son Ajith Singh after the death of Aurangazeb. This fort was run by the Maharaja of Jodhpur for over 500 years until he changed his residence to Umaid Bhavan Palace when it was completed in 1943. Today the complex is maintained as a museum, and houses 18 different apartments, each full of carefully displayed antiquities, rare books and manuscripts. The museum displays collection of palanquins, elephant howdahs (saddles), royal cradles, weapons, musical instruments, paintings, costumes, ivory and wood antique furniture, a tent etc.
The employees in the palace, dressed in traditional Jodhpuri dress with shield, hookah welcome the tourists and offer information related to the various rooms in the palaces, adding some folklore, legends and royal stories in their friendly dialogue.
In the fort are magnificent palaces, courtyards and other buildings such as Moti Mahal (Pearl Palace), Phool Mahal (Flower Palace), Sheesh Mahal (Mirror Palace), Sileh Khana, Rani Bas, Top Khana, Vichala Mahal, Sringar Chauki and Daulat Khana. Carved panels and porches, maze of interlocking palace interiors, inner marble courtyards, audience halls, exquisite latticed zenana ( women's quarters) chambers, elaborately adorned walls and windows are worth seeing. The palaces in this fort have their own peculiar style, with narrow staircases, serving as the only means of access to the royal rooms within. The beauty and the grandeur of numerous palaces in the fort evoke the glorious past of the Rajput era.
The entrance is through a zigzag pathway up the west side originally fortified by seven gateways, each a short turn to the next, which provide a series of locks along the main access to the fort. Enroute to the fort is 'Jaswant Thada' the distinctive marble memorial of Jaswant Singh II. The main gate or the Fateh Gate is heavy, spiked and still has cannon ball hit marks. Then comes the smaller Gopal gate and the Bhairon Gate, with large guardrooms. The gates include Jayapol, built by Maharaja Man Singh. The fourth, Toati Gate, is no more. Dodhkangra Gate stands over a sharp turn in the path. The Amarti Gate, has a long passageway with guardrooms on the sides. The Loha Gate or Iron Gate is the last gate at the final turn into the fort and there are 15 handprints of royal satis, the wives of Maharaja Man Singh who threw themselves upon his funeral pyre in 1843. They are usually covered in red powder.
The ramp from the Loha gate leads up to the Suraj Pol, which opens onto the Shringar Choki Chowk (courtyard) which is the main entrance to the museum. The royal coronation ceremony of the crown prince was performed here, the only place in the fort constructed of white marble. The upper storeys around the courtyard were part of the zenana from where the royal ladies could look down on the activities in the courtyard. Jhanki Mahal (Glimpse palace) in the north has a long passage flanked by a further narrow gallery from which balconies (Jarokhas) with beautifully intricate jali screens and surmounted by the distinctive Bengali style eaves project over the courtyard. It houses a rich collection of royal cradles. The cradles are decorated with gilt mirrors and figures of fairies, elephant and birds. On the south of Shringar Chowk is a good collection of palanquins and elephant saddles made of pure silver. The Mahadole palanquin made of wood decorated with gold leaf was taken from Bahadur Shah, Begda of Malwa.
There is another courtyard Daulat Khana Chowk and around it, starting on the far right (extreme north) is the Sileh Khana (armoury) with a remarkable collection of Indian weapons which include swords and daggers decorated with calligraphy among others. Above the armoury is the Phool Mahal(Flower Palace), one of the most impressive apartments of the museum built by Abhai Singh (1724-49)with stone jali screens, Belgian stained glass windows and portraits of former Jodhpur rulers as well as murals of 36 musical modes. On the ceiling is fabulous gold work and paintings of different incarnations of Vishnu. The Jodhpur coat of arms is above the couch.
Toward the left of the Sileh Khana is the Umaid Vilas with an excellent collection of Rajasthani miniatures. Next to it is the Sheesh Mahal (Mirror palace) with mirror work built by Ajith Singh. The next apartment to the south is Sardar Vilas above which is the Takhat Vilas, built by Takhat Singh (1843-73). Takhat Vilas, has wall paintings of Krishna Lila and dancing girls and its ceiling has strong wooden beams and Belgian Christmas tree balls. Ajit Vilas exhibits musical instruments and the royal costumes. Next to it to the south are Khabka and Chandan Mahals (sleeping quarters) and a prayer room around the Khabka chowk or courtyard.
Then comes the Moti Mahal Chowk to the north, east and south of which is the Moti Vilas and to the west the Moti Mahal (Pearl palace). These apartments around the courtyard also has jali screens through which women could watch the proceedings below. Moti Mahal located in the women's section of the fort has waist level niches around the walls for oil lamps and a mirrored ceiling. The reflection of the lighted lamps in the mirrored ceiling would have been breathtaking. Just outside the room, there is beautifully carved 19th century woodwork.
The Maan Vilas displays Rathore armoury and the Tent room displays the royal red velvet tent elaborately embroidered with silk golden thread, belonging to Shah Jahan used in the Imperial Mughal campaigns. The Jewel House has a wonderful collection of jewelry.
At the southern end of the fort, old canons are placed on the ramparts over a sheer drop of 37m. There is an excellent view of the city from here. There is a Chamunda temple dedicated to Durga nearby. The approach path to the fort is quite steep. There are rickshaws available for hire or there is an elevator that will take you to the top.
How to get there
Air
The airport is 5km from town center. Indian Airlines have two Bombay-Delhi flights and two Delhi-Bombay flights that go via Jodhpur. Vayudoot flights also available to Jodhpur. Flight timings click hereRail
The city is well connected by the railway lines and trains are available from all major cities in the country for here. There are super fast expresses between Delhi and Jodhpur and Ahmedabad and Jodhpur. Train timings click hereRoad
Rajasthan State Roadways operate buses from the bus stand at Raika Bagh to other cities in Rajasthan. RSTC buses and private luxury buses connect Jodhpur with a bunch of places around Rajasthan. There are private buses to Udaipur, Bikaner, Jaipur, Ajmer, Mt. Abu and Jaisalmer.Local Transport : Means of transport in Jodhpur include Taxis, Auto-rickshaws, Tongas. Taxi stand is near the main railway station. Auto-rickshaws are best suited for traversing the narrow lanes of the old city. Jodhpur is a good place to explore by bicycle.
 Photo by : ZespiraL in Flickr |
 Photo by : BUR?BLUE in Flickr |
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 Photo by : StartingOut in Flickr |
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 Photo by : live2travelnow in webshots |
 Photo by : live2travelnow in webshots |
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 Photo by : atarax in panaromia |
 Photo by : Dr.Hemant Kaushik in panaromia |
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 Photo by : atarax in panaromia |
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