Jodhpur City Guide
Discover the beauty of Mehrangarh fort as you explore the magnificent monument of Rajasthan. The fort was constructed by Rao Jodha in 1459, the founder of Jodhpur.
Location : The Mehrangarh fort is situated 5 Km from the city of Jodhpur.
About Mehrangarh Fort
The foundation of the huge Mehrangarh fort was laid by Rao Jodha in 1459. The construction was completed during the reign of Jaswant Singh (1638-78). The giant Mehrangarh fort is one of the largest forts in India. It stands on a 150 Mtr high hilltop and occupies over 5 sq km of area. The walls are as high as 36 Mtr and as wide as 21 mtr. The fort was under the ownership of the Rajput rulers till Aurangzeb defeated them and occupied the fort. Ajit Singh, son of Jaswant Singh, later fought to win back the fort. The beauty and the grandeur of numerous palaces in the fort narrates a saga of hard sandstones yielding to the chisels of skilled Jodhpuri sculptures. To enter the Mehrangarh fort, seven gates have to be crossed. The fort stands sentinel to the city below, overlooks the rugged and rocky terrain and houses a palace intricately adorned with long carved panels and latticed windows exquisitely wrought from red sandstone.
Interiors of the Fort
The Mehrangarh Fort houses many small palaces, which are a must visit for the tourists. These palaces are known for their sprawling courtyards and intricate carvings. Some of the palaces in the fort are Moti Mahal, Umaid Vilas, Ajit Vilas, Phool Mahal and Maan Vilas. Moti Mahal palace houses the throne of Jodhpur, called Sringar Chowki. The Umaid Vilas has the miniature Rajput paintings while the Ajit Vilas has the old musical instruments. The Phool Mahal houses the Jodhpur Coat of Arms. Walls of this palace are covered with paintings, depicting various musical moods. The Maan Villas displays the traditional armoury of the Rathores.
There are seven gates to the entry of the fort. The gates are called as Pols. The Jayapol, Fatehpol were built to honor the victory of the rulers. Lohapol gate was built in memory of the queen of Maharaj Man Singh.
There is a museum in the premises of the court. It was built in 1974 and houses a substantial collections of miniature paintings, portraits, books and manuscripts, weapons, textiles and tents, elephant howdahs and palanquins, and various objets' d art. The maharaja of Mehrangarh is the trustee of the museum.
Getting There
By Air : Indian Airlines connects Jodhpur with Delhi, Jaipur, Udaipur and Bombay. Ratananda Airport is only 5 kms away from the city.
By Rail : Jodhpur is connected by rail with Delhi, Jaipur, Agra, Lucknow, Ajmer, Ahmedabad, Mt. Abu, Udaipur, Bikaner, Jaisalmer and Barmer.
By Road : Jodhpur is connected by road with major tourist centers in Western Rajasthan by Rajasthan State Roadways Corporation.
