Mehrangarh Fort

Mehrangarh Fort covers an area of 1,200 acres (486 hectares) in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India.

The complex is located on a hilltop around 122 metres above the surrounding plain, and was constructed c. 1459 by Rajput ruler Rao Jodha, though most of the existing structure is from the 17th century.

Inside its boundaries there are several palaces known for their intricate carvings and expansive courtyards, as well as a museum housing various relics.

A winding road leads to and from the city below. The imprints of the impact of cannonballs fired by attacking armies of Jaipur can still be seen on the second gate. At the north-east of the fort is the chhatri of Kirat Singh Soda, a soldier who fell on the spot defending Mehrangarh.

There are seven gates, which include Jai Pol (meaning 'victory gate'), built by Maharaja Man Singh to commemorate his victories over the Jaipur and Bikaner armies in 1806. The Fattehpol (also meaning 'victory gate'), commemorates victory of Maharaja Ajit Singh over the Mughals.

Approaching Mehrangarh Fort by rickshaw.
The best way to go up from Jodhpur to the fort is to take a rickshaw.

The fort is 4 km, 11 min by rickshaw, from the center of Jodhpur.

Mehrangarh Fort seen from the northeast.

Mehrangarh Fort seen from the north.
Note the pond in the lower left corner of the photo.

Mehrangarh Fort seen from the northwest.

Mehrangarh Fort Map.

Fort Entrance
Chhatri of Kirat Singh Soda
Ganesh Temple
Victory Gate (Jai Pol)
Lift poit
Dedh Kangra Gate (Dedh Kangra Pol)
Kilkila Cannon
Martyr Rajaram Kadela Memorial Site
Amruti Gate
Iron Gate (Loha Pol)
Suraj Gate (Suraj Pol)
Pearl Palace (Moti Mahal)
Daulat Khana
Mirror Palace (Sheesha Mahal)
Flower Palace (Phool Mahal)
Jhanki Mahal terrace
Takhat Vilas
Nagnechya Mata Temple
Krishna Temple
Chamunda Mata Temple

Entrance to Mehrangarh Fort.

Chhatri of Kirat Singh Soda.
This is the chhatri of Kirat Singh Soda, a soldier who fell on the spot defending Mehrangarh Fort from the army of the neighbouring Kingdom of Ambar.

Ganesh Temple.
This Ganesha Temple is located against the walls of the Fort, on the left side of the Victory Gate (Jai Pol).

Statue of Ganesh (the elephant-headed deity) covered with silver foil, painted and hung with marigold garlands in a smal shrine, potbelly painted with a cobra - representing Shiva - as a reminder that Ganesh is Shiva's son.

Victory Gate (Jai Pol).
Victory Gate (Jai Pol) is the main entrance to the fort. It was built by Maharaja Man Singh in 1808 to celebrate his win over Maharaja Jagat Singh of Jaipur.

There are seven gates, which include Jai Pol (meaning 'victory gate'), built by Maharaja Man Singh to commemorate his victories over the Jaipur and Bikaner armies in 1806.

Mirror Palace (Sheesha Mahal).
North facade of the Mirror Palace (Sheesha Mahal).

Dedh Kangra Gate (Dedh Kangra Pol).
Dedh Kangra Pol was constructed during the reign of Maharaja Maldeo.

The gate was destroyed during the battle with the army of Jaipur in 1807.
The gate still bears the scars of bombardment by cannonballs.

Amruti Gate and Flower Palace (Phool Mahal).
Amruti Gate (left) seen from the south. Flower Palace Palace (right) west facade.

Amruti Gate is in between Dedh Kangra Gate and Loha Gate.
Amriti Gate was constructed by Maharaja Maldeo which leads to the original entrance of the fort. The original entrance was constructed by Rao Jodha.
This entrance had a boulder with two holes. A log was inserted through each hole for providing barrier.

Dedh Kangra Gate (left) and Amruti Gate (center).
Dedh Kangra Gate and Amruti Gate seen from the south.

Dedh Kangra Gate can be seen in the lower left corner of the photo.

West of Jodhpur city from Mehrangarh Fort.

Climbing towards Iron Gate (Loha Pol).

Martyr Rajaram Kadela Memorial Site.
Amar Shree Shahid Rajaram Meghwal was sacrificed for the benefit of the King (Maharaja) of Jodhpur. He was buried alive when foundation was laid of Jodhpur Mehramgarh fort (best strength of fort).

He was a great example of the Sacrifice of Meghwal. It took place on 12th May 1459 at Mehrangarh Fort of Jodhpur. Due to his sacrifice, now Mehrangarh Fort is the strongest fort in Rajasthan and also in India. All its parts are in perfect condition.
We don't have much information about Shahid, but with his agreement and for the better strength of the fortress, he was buried alive when it was founded. Due to this sacrifice (Khurbani) Rao Jodha (Jodhpur) was very impressed and gave the family some land in Sursagr.
In exchange for his life, his descendants are cared for to this day by the state.

Iron Gate (Loha Pol) seen from the south.
Iron Gate is the final gate into the main part of the fort complex.

Iron Gate was constructed in the 15th century but its façade was constructed by Maharaja Maldeo in the 16th century.

Iron Gate (Loha Pol) seen from the north.
The gate has the handprints of 15 queens who performed sati in which a wife or wives of a king burn themselves on funeral pyre of their husband.

Known as sati marks, the gilded handprints most likely date back to the 1843 death of Maharaja Man Singh.
The custom of sati has ancient origins in the Hindu faith, and was practiced widely in the Rajasthan area. Wives were dressed in wedding finery to join their husbands in death as an act of devotion and faith, usually within a day of his death.
In 1731, following the death of Maharaja Ajit Singh six wives and fifty-eight concubines placed themselves in the funeral fires.
The practice horrified early western colonials, and it was outlawed by the British in 1829, but was not officially condemned by the Indian government until 1987 when they passed the Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act, in the wake of a well publicized sati death. The last recorded case of sati in Jodhpur was in 1953.
See more at Sati (practice) - Wikipedia.

Pearl Palace (Moti Mahal).
Pearl Palace or Moti Mahal is considered as the biggest palace of the fort.

The palace was built during the reign of Maharaja Sur Singh.
There is a big hall for private meetings.
Five hidden balconies can be found from where the five queens of the king viewed the proceedings of the court.

Suraj Gate (Suraj Pol).
Suraj Pol is considered as one of the oldest gates of the fort. There is a staircase at the entrance which leads to Moti Mahal.

Suraj Gate is the inner most gate which provides access to the palace complex and the Daulat Khana Chauk.

Outer courtyard of Pearl Palace (Moti Mahal).

Bench in the outer courtyard of Pearl Palace.
The sign reads: «I am Fully Vaccinated».

Coronation Seat (Sangar Choki).
This is the palace where coronation ceremony of many rulers starting from Rao Jodha was arranged.

The Coronation Seat or Sangar Choki was used during the ceremony.

Palanquins.
Palanquins, also known as palki, were mostly used by noble women for travelling and circumambulation.

Small palkis were called doli were used to carry women due to the strict purdah system of the Rajputs.
The covers of the palkis were decorated beautifully. When a royal lady was carried in a palki, her relatives or elder Rajputs used to accompany her. Each palki carrier has a stick to support the palki.
See more at Purdah - Wikipedia.

A hookah with a seat near by on the floor.
A hookah, shisha, or waterpipe is a single- or multi-stemmed instrument for heating or vaporizing and then smoking either tobacco, flavored tobacco, or sometimes cannabis, hashish and opium.

The smoke is passed through a water basin—often glass-based—before inhalation.
See more at Hookah - Wikipedia.

Entering Daulat Khana.
Daulat Khana was built beneath the Phool Mahal during the Mughal period.

These were the times when the Rathores had good relationships with the Mughals.
Heavy locks and liquor bottles can still be found which were included in curios.
The liquor bottles were wrapped in the wet clothes and warriors used to drink from them before fighting any battle.

Outer courtyard of Daulat Khana.

Grand Palanquin (Mahadol).
This splendid carved-wood and glass palanquin known as the Mahadol (Grand Palanquin) was brought to Jodhpur as war booty by Maharaja Abhai Singh (r. 1724–49) from Gujarat.

A symbol of kingly prestige, the Mahadol was carried on the shoulders of 12 men and was used during festivals or marriage celebrations by the ruler and queens.
This palanquin’s form is highly architectural, from the elegant curved roof (reminiscent of 17th-and 18th-century Mughal and Rajput architecture) to its arched doorways and windows.
The base features delicate, lattice-like carvings of plants framed at joints by floral brackets that curve to form peacocks.

Armoury (Sileh Khana).
This gallery displays a rare collection of armour from every period in Jodhpur.

On display are sword hilts in jade, silver, rhino horn, ivory, shields studded with rubies, emeralds and pearls and guns with gold and silver work on the barrels.
The gallery also has on display the personal swords of many emperors, among them outstanding historical piece like the Khaanda of Rao Jodha, weighing over 3 kg, the sword of Akbar and the sword of Timur.
Top sword: «Sword inscribed to Mughal Emperor Akbar (1556-1605 AD), curved beautifully, watered steel blade, hilt with gold Damascus work. The inscription reads: "Ya Jul Jal Jalal... Sann". Translation - The Possessor of the Splendor worth Hijri years 974/1560 A.D. 16th Century. Mughal Karkhana.»
Bottom sword: «Sword with parrot shaped hilt covered with damascened floral decoration (Aftabi work), curved single edged blade. The inscription reads: Victory from God is near. Mir Rustam Ali Khan Talpur [r. 1801-1828 AD].»

Gangaur (Idol of goddess).
Gangaur is a form of the Hindu Goddess Parvati, wife of God Shiva.

Every year in Rajasthan in the weeks following the spring festival of Holi, silver idols such as this become the focus of an 18-day festival known as Gangaur.
The festival is especially significant for Rajput women who observe fasts and offer special prayers during this time either for the longevity of their husbands or to beget good matches.
In Jodhpur, festivities end with a grand puja led by royal women in a temple within the Mehrangarh zenana.
The idol, dressed like a Rajput princess, is then taken out in a procession through the fort and the city, representing the goddess’s return to her marital home.
The procession ends with a puja of the idols of the goddess and Shiva together and their symbolic immersion in water.
See more at Gangaur - Wikipedia.

Painting Gallery.
The painting gallery has a display of miniature paintings from the Marwar School and the theme keeps changing every alternate year.

«The yogic body depicted in this painting can be identified as a Nath ascetic or siddha by his saffron garbs, cartilage-piercing earrings and dreadlocks. His ashen body lies in tadasana (a yogic pose) with eyes gazing inwardly in meditation. Such a body is known as a sukshmasharira (subtle body), the meditative space between the cosmos and the material body. On the subtle body are inscribed chakras (energy centres) in the form of lotuses arranged in a vertical hierarchy reflecting the Nath Sampraday's ideology. The upper chakras are inhabited by Nath Mahasiddhas while the lower ones are the abode of Hindu deities. The flat plane of the painting is broken by rendering the siddha's jewels in high relief.»
Chakras of the subtle body. Folio 2 of the Nath Charit. Attributed to Bulaki. Jodhpur, 1823.
See more at Nath - Wikipedia.

Mirror Palace (Sheesha Mahal).
Sheesh Mahal of Mehrangarh Fort is different from the ones constructed by the Mughals in their forts.

The palace has large and regular pieces of mirrors along with the figures of religious deities which are imposed over the mirror work.
Due to the presence of the images of deities, the sheesh mahal was used as a private temple.

Flower Palace (Phool Mahal).
Phool Mahal was constructed by Abhay Singh who ruled from 1730 to 1750.

The gold used during the construction of the palace was the war booty which the king got by defeating Sarbuland Khan, a governor of the Mughals.
Jaswant Singh II, who ruled between 1873 and 1895, added portraits, raga mala, and paintings to the palace. During the reign of Pratap Singh, wall paintings were made whose style was European.

Jhanki Mahal terrace.
Jhanki Mahal was constructed adjacent to Khabka Mahal.

The palace was built for the queens who looked outside world from the palace.
The palace had latticed screens so that nobody could see them while they are seeing outside world.
Purdah system was mandatory for the women who look outside.

Takhat Vilas.
Maharaja Takhat Singh built the Takhat Vilas Palace. He was the last ruler who lived in the fort.

Many traditional styles were used in order to decorate the palace.
The walls of the palace have pictures which were painted with the help of wet plaster.
The ceilings include wood beams which are decorated with many pictures like Krishna Leela, Folk Dhola Maru etc.
The floor is built in such a way that anybody can think that the floor is covered with carpet.

East of Jodhpur city from Mehrangarh Fort.

Ardhanarishvara (A combined form of Shiva and Parvati).
Detail from a wall decorative painting.

The Ardhanarishvara (lit. 'the half-female Lord'), is a form of the Hindu deity Shiva combined with his consort Parvati.
Ardhanarishvara is depicted as half-male and half-female, equally split down the middle. The right half is usually the male Shiva, illustrating his traditional attributes.
See more at Ardhanarishvara - Wikipedia.

Royal Cradles.
One room houses a collection of elaborate royal cradles from the 17th century.

Inner courtyard of Mirror Palace (Sheesha Mahal).
The Mirror Palace (Sheesha Mahal) was once a part of the private apartment of Maharaja Ajit Singh of Marwar (r. 1707-1724).

It is located towards the rear end of a hall (now the textiles gallery) which was once used as residential quarters by the Maharajas of Jodhpur.

Shri Krishna Temple (Shree Krishna Mandir).
Krishna is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme God in his own right.

He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is one of the most popular and widely revered among Hinduism divinities.
See more at Krishna - Wikipedia.