Mehrangarh
Fort
“A
Palace that might have been built by the Titans and colored by the morning sun “
– Rudyard Kipling
Mehrangarh Fort, huge and a stout
structure rising perpendicular from a rocky hill is a marvelous architectural magnificence
that no one should miss while visiting Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
Visiting such great forts enrich us with its
rich heritage and historical importance. Every time we travel to such sites we
would be enthralled by the brilliance of the technology and architecture that
they imbibed in creating such massive structures irrespective of its purpose in
that era.
Drive time of 15 minutes from
Jodhpur Airport to the Mehrangarh Fort makes it the most easily accessible
destination. Reached the fort entrance by
4 PM and felt it as an ideal time to visit the fort to enjoy the scenic beauty
of the Jodhpur city from this rocky hill.
Jai Pol, a victory memorial built by
Maharaja Man Singh welcomes you to the citadel. This wall was built in the 1806,
but standing strong and tall as a testimony of the Jodhpur’s notable history. Audio
tour is worth to understand the history of the fort and also to know the
significance of the citadel’s architecture.Past the Jai Pol, you would see the plaque on the left of the pathway inscribed great Rao Jodha’s name who built this magnificent Fort.
Listening the Rajasthani music played by the musicians I walked to the Loha Pol, the gate that has iron spikes augmented on it. Artisans would have spent so much man hours in perfectly molding those doors and heavy locks in making it as a shield against the blow of elephantries.
The
hand prints of the royal widows who immolated themselves in the pyres of their
husbands can be seen in the walls. These unique palm imprints would make us
travel to those ancient times where the society enforced such barbaric funeral
customs in the name of their religious beliefs and traditions.
The Hall of
mirrors, Phool Mahal, intricately designed courtyards, paintings, royal
palanquins, howdahs and armory, spiral staircases, glass painted windows and
paintings all exhibits the artistic brilliance of that era.
Gallery with an
exclusive collection of antique pieces of that era enhances your knowledge
about the richness of our heritage and makes you feel the silhouette of their
traditional values that they imbibed into their lives.
The courtyard would make you feel awestruck by its intricate design. Added to that the vibrant colors made by the setting sun makes it a beautiful canvas to capture into your mind.
The aerial view of the “The Blue city” from the fort is mesmerizing.
Souvenir shops outside the fort gate would empty your pockets with their envying collection of curios and handmade collections.
By the time you complete the tour of the Mehrangarh Fort; the setting sun would have colored the whole fort with its golden rays bidding adieu for all the visitors of the Mehrangarh, the SUN FORT.
The birds flew back to their nests and we drove back to our home, cherishing the best time we spent in this great fortress.
The imprints of the impact of cannonballs fired by attacking armies of Jaipur can still be seen on the second gate.
ReplyDeleteThe ramparts of the fort house preserves old cannon (including the famous Kilkila), and provides a breath-taking view of the city.
Still run by the Jodhpur royal family, Mehrangarh is packed with history and legend. You don’t need a ticket to enter the fort itself, only the museum section. Good job Sunil.