Mehrangarh fort was built by Rao Jodha in 1459. He was the founder of Jodhpur city of Rajasthan, India. It is one of the largest and most beautiful forts in India. This fort is situated on a hill that is 122 meters high from the surrounding plains. This is a red sandstone fort, that gives a magnificent view of the Blue City.
The fort has seven gates, each served for different reasons and made at different times. Mehrangarh fort is famous for its complicated carvings on the walls of the fort, impressive museum, rich history, galleries as well as courtyards. Many Hollywood and Bollywood movies are shoot here such as The Lion King, Thugs of Hindustan, and many more.
The haunting story of Mehrangarh Fort
Mehrangarh fort was built by Rao Jodha after he became the 15th ruler of the Rathore clan. This fort is 9kms away from Mandore fort. It is built on the Bhakurcheeria cliff, which means the hills of birds. This fort is formed on a grave of a man for abolishing the curse of Cheeria Nathji. He was a sage who lived on this hill while securing the birds here. He was forced to leave the hill so that the creation of the fort should be started. Sage cursed the king that the fort will face drought once in a while.
Rao Jodha tried to convince the sage for taking his words back but he said that it is not possible. So, he provided a solution and said they should bury a man alive on this land for abolishing the curse. When the king failed to find a man for this then a noble person named Rajaram Meghwal volunteered to sacrifice his life for his motherland. In return, the king promised to look after his family and offered them the land near Soor Sagar.
Major attractions
- Sheesh Mahal :- It is a fabulous example of Indian Architecture. The architecture of this mahal is different from the ones that are made by Mughals in India. The mirror work is done with the picture of Indian deities. This mahal is formed near the private chambers of the king and is known as the private temple.
- Chamunda Mataji Temple :- The temple is dedicated to Chamunda Devi. The idol of Devi was brought from Mandore in 1460 by Rao Jodha. This temple is situated at the southern end of the Mehrangarh fort. Chamunda Devi is also worshiped by the local people of Jodhpur. On Dussehra, the temple faces mass devotees.
- Victory Gate :- This gate was built to celebrate the victory over Mughals in 1707, by Maharaja Ajit Singh. The construction of the gate was done in 1719 and called Fateh Pol. Before reaching Fateh Pol tourists must cross Jai Pol, the main entrance of the fort made by Maharaja Man Singh in 1808.
- Galleries :- Maharangarh fort has six galleries showing the rich Rajasthani culture, collection of armors, fine arts, palanquins, howdahs, etc. of the royal kings. These galleries are the store of the king’s personal collections of swords, textiles, and paintings. These galleries are named Howdah gallery, Palanquins gallery, Arms gallery, Daulat Khana, Textile gallery, and Painting gallery.
How and when to reach
Tourists can visit Mehrangarh fort after reaching Jodhpur. You can take cabs, autos, and city buses and can also walk for 15min from the old city to reach the main entrance, Jai Pol. After reaching the main entrance tourists have to take tickets for major attractions of the fort. On 12 May every year entry tickets are free as the day is celebrated as the foundation day of Jodhpur.
The fort opens from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm daily. It is highly recommended to visit early in the morning due to the heated sun rays falling on the fort. The best time to visit the fort is in the winter and monsoon seasons the months of October to March. During this time the weather is cold and sweet. It is the best time because you can easily trail in the fort and explore its beautiful architecture.
Conclusion
This fort covers the whole cliff and is spread over around 1200 acres. The fort has many gates made by different rulers of the Rathore clan for various purposes. Mehrangarh fort is the symbol of the royal culture and heritage of Rajasthan. It is an impressive tourist destination of Jodhpur that gives delightful views of the Blue City. Therefore, it can be concluded that there are a lot of things to see as well as explore in this fort. It is a true destination for experiencing the royal beauty and tradition of Rajasthan.
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