A land whose history is full of struggles and battles, of epic wars and long sieges, of glorious victories and staggering defeats, such is the land of Rajasthan. A state in the western part of India. The chapters of history overflow with the valor of Kings who fought to the last, of Princes who dared to defy, of women who preferred death to capture by enemies, of soldiers rushing bravely for a fight to the end. Rajasthan is the land of the Rajputs and legendary heroes like Maharana Pratap, Prithviraj Chauhan, Rana Kumbha, and many others. The region of Rajasthan which comprises of the tough desert terrain of Thar and also is home to the Aravalli Mountain ranges. It is the land that gave birth to brave women like Padmini and women like Mirabai who scaled the heights of devotion. It is but natural that Rajasthan is a veritable treasure house of wonders and draws tourists in huge numbers. Almost one out of every three foreign tourists make their way to Rajasthan. The cities of Rajasthan like Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer are iconic and well known. Bikaner, Ajmer, Pushkar, Ranakpur, Ranthambore, Boondi, the list seems endless.
The charms of Rajasthan are boundless. Its palaces, lakes, forts, desert, cuisine, and culture offer an allure beyond compare. The medley that is Rajasthan, unveils one wonder after another. One of the most interesting and intriguing aspects is, of course, the amazing hill forts of Rajasthan. The hill forts of Rajasthan are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites and are full of stories from the chequered history of Rajasthan. Read on to know about the hill forts in Rajasthan.
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The Amazing Hill Forts of Rajasthan
Being constantly at war, necessitated the need for strong defense systems and this gave birth to the many small and big hill forts of Rajasthan. Many of these famous forts of Rajasthan went beyond mere defense and became self-contained cities, some had massive palaces with exquisite art and architecture on an unimaginable scale. A visit to Rajasthan which is best done through a road trip can never be complete with visiting and admiring the hill forts of Rajasthan, which remain today as silent witnesses to the march of history. Six of the amazing forts of Rajasthan have been grouped together as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, labeled as Hill Forts of Rajasthan.
Hill Forts of Rajasthan – Kumbhalgarh Fort
The Kumbhalgarh Fort is a massive fort complex, one of the Hill forts of Rajasthan and part of the listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The fort is around 86 kilometers from the city of Udaipur and located in the Rajsamand district of Rajasthan. The fort which was one of the impregnable fortresses of the erstwhile Mewar kingdom whose origins are not clear, but what is known is the fact that the fort in its current avatar was built by Rana Kumbha. The Fort has palaces and temples within its ramparts and is also known to be the birthplace of Maharana Pratap. The most notable feature of the Kumbhalgarh Fort is the massive perimeter wall that extends to about 36 kilometers, and is said to be one of the longest walls in the World and is India’s answer to the Great Wall of China.
Hill Forts of Rajasthan – Ranthambore Fort
Ranthambore is well known for its tigers and is a hotspot for tiger sightings in its wildlife sanctuary. However deep in the forests, atop a hill is what remains of the old Ranthambore Fort. The fort is located inside the Ranthambore National Park close to the town of Sawai Madhopur. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the group Hill Forts of Rajasthan. The fort dates back to the 10th century and was occupied by the Chauhans till its capture by the Delhi Sultanate in the 13th century. There are temples of Ganesh, Shiva, and Ram within the forts that date back to the 13th century. The Ranthambore Fort is located about 190 kilometers from the city of Jaipur.
Hill Forts of Rajasthan – Amer Fort, Jaipur
One of the most popular forts and an attraction which is part of the famous Golden Triangle Tour is the Amer or Amber Fort in Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan. The Amer Fort is known for its exquisite art and architecture that makes up the beautiful palaces within it. The main attractions inside the Fort are the Sheesh Mahal, Sukh Niwas, Diwan-e-aam, and Diwan-e-Khas. The Amer Fort Though the origins of the settlement in Amer dates back to the 10th century, the present structure was probably built during the reign of Raja Man Singh and has undergone successive modifications by various rulers. The Amer Fort too is one of the important UNESCO World Heritage Sites under the group Hill Forts of Rajasthan.
Hill Forts of Rajasthan – Jaisalmer Fort
Jaisal fort is one of the famous forts in Rajasthan. The Jaisalmer Fort on the fringes of the Thar Desert is one of the very few, “living forts” in the world. It is situated in the desert city of Jaisalmer at a distance of about 280 kilometers from the city of Jodhpur. The fort was built in the 12th century by a Rawal King named Jaisal and hence its name. The fort is built with yellow sandstone that lends it a yellow hue that turns to a golden color after sunset and offers an excellent camouflage against the backdrop of the desert sands. The Jaisalmer Fort has within its folds the royal palace and living quarters, temples, and mansions of the merchants. It is a bustling city within a city today. The Jaisalmer Fort is part of the group of hill forts of Rajasthan and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Chittor Fort
Chittorgarh or Chittor Fort is another living fort that figures in the legends associated with the Mewar Kingdom. The Chittor Fort is located about 124 kilometers from the city of Udaipur. It was the early capital of the Mewar Kindom. Many legends associated with Rajasthan reverberates through the fort which is another living fort of India. The legendary Mira Bai stayed here after her marriage and a temple associated with her still stands in mute testimony to her devotion to Lord Krishna. The place echoes to the cries of the women-led by Padmini committing Jauhar. Two tall towers stand majestically within the sprawling precincts of the Chittor Fort, they are the Vijay Stambh and the Kirti Stambh. The Chittor Fort is one of the groups of hill forts of Rajasthan designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Gagron Fort – Hill fort of Rajasthan
PC Wikimedia Commons Sagar581 [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)]
The Gagron Fort is lesser known than the others in the group of Hill forts of Rajasthan listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. However, it is unique in the sense that is a hill and water fort. The Gagron Fort is located in the Jhalawar district of Rajasthan at a distance of about 360 kilometers from Udaipur.
How to reach Rajasthan
- The state of Rajasthan is well connected to other parts of India by rail, road, and air
- Jaipur International Airport is the main airport to fly into Rajasthan
- There are airports at Udaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, and Jaisalmer also
If you are planning a trip to Rajasthan, India then you can book a cheap flight through TripAdvisor or Agoda or CheapAir or Cleartrip or Makemytrip or Priceline right here. You can fly to Jaipur or any of the other main cities and then from there you can travel around by road. Some of the options could be by self-drive car or cab or bus.
Where To Stay In Rajasthan
If you are looking to book any hotels or resorts anywhere in Rajasthan or India or the world, you can do that here too. TripAdvisor or Cleartrip or Agoda or Makemytrip or Priceline and save a lot by getting the best savings on booking your stay.
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Book tour packages/activities in Rajasthan
You can book an online Rajasthan tour with tours starting from Jaipur or Udaipur or Delhi and can also book any of the popular activities in Rajasthan. Plan in advance sightseeing, attractions to see, culinary tours of Rajasthan.
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The forts of Rajasthan are indeed a treasure of Indian history. They are not only excellent examples of engineering, architecture, and art but also reminders of the history of the region. Some of the other important forts of Rajasthan include the Junagarh Fort in Bikaner and the Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur.
Which Rajasthan Hill Forts have you visited? Which is your favorite hill fort of Rajasthan? Do let us know your thoughts through our comments section about the forts of India that you have visited and which you consider as one of the best forts of India.
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Love the forts of Rajasthan. Chittorgarh is my favourite.
I enjoyed reading this. We had a lovely time visiting Rajasthan and have some amazing memories of a balloon ride over the Amer fort, in the days before they were stopped.
Me while reading your article…: Wow!…. Oh, My! That’s what really it is. Great!
Wow what a spectacular list of hill forts. I have never been to Rajasthan but I have it surely on my list and I love visiting forts so this list is surely something that I will follow and visit. Thanks for this post.