Ranthambore Fort

Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan.

Ranthambore Fort
  • Entry Fee : No.
  • Location : Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan.
  • Entry Timing : 6:00 am – 6:00 pm.
  • Approx. visit duration : 2-3 hours.
  • Top Attractions of the monument/place : Pols, Ganesh Temple, Hammir Court, Badal Mahal.

Ranthambore Fort is situated within Ranthambore National Park which is a popular tiger reserve and was a hunting ground for Maharajas of Jaipur dynasty. This magnificent fort is located near SawaiMadhopur, which is a town in Rajasthan. This ancient settlement has always been the main attraction of Rajasthan’s history. The fort stands tall on the top of a hill overlooking the entire park. It is surrounded by Vindhyas and Aravallis. The fort which is now a tourist attraction has a lot of historical significance for being the paragon of power for defending the Rajput territory from the attacks of foreign invaders. The well-planned structure of the fort was a major obstacle for the invaders. The majestic fort is believed to be built during 8th century by Chauhan ruler and it spreads over an area of 7 kilometres. The fort is known for its grandeur as it is surrounded by huge walls made up of stone which are about 7 km in length. Many parts of the forests have been destroyed by the effects of wars but still there are many buildings that continue to stand tall.

The fort has a splendid appeal as it filled with many architectural and historical ruins which fascinate the minds and eyes of the visitors. This include Hammir Court, Dullah Mahal along with various memorials, war monuments and gateways. The fort also has some religious significance as there are temples and mosques located within the fort that attract a number of devotees to seek blessings and the main attraction is Ganesh Temple. The fort is divided into two parts. The western section consists of the temples and holy structures while the eastern section is a wide area where number of species, birds, leopards, fishing cats can be spotted.

Main Attractions of Ranthambore Fort

  • Pols : There are number of Pols or gateways in Ranthambore Fort that symbolise typical Rajasthan architecture. Some of the special Pols are Hathi Pol or elephant gate, Bada Darwaza or big gate, Mor Dwara or peacock gate, Ganesh Pol or Hindu elephant God Gate, Suraj Pol or Sun Gate and Navlakha Pol or the Nine Lakh Gate. Each pol has a different dimension of its own and present various form of architecture.
  • Hammir Court : The Hammir court is an open court area that was allocated for special acoustics. The appealing point of this court is that even today some low whisper echoes can be heard in every part of the court.
  • Ganesh Temple : Among the many temples located inside the fort, this is the main attraction. This religiously significant temple is located at the main gate of the fort. People from all over the country come to this temple to seek the blessings of the revered Hindu God as well as invite Lord Ganesha for auspicious and special occasions like weddings, births and more. It is a centre of attention for a flock of devotees. Thousands of pilgrims arrive at this temple from various parts of the country to worship the deity.
  • Bada Mahal : The Bada Mahal is situated in the northern part of the fort. Another main attraction of the fort is seemed to be built in the clouds. This Mahal has a vast 84 column hall where Hammir Singh used to conduct his meetings and conferences. Although this architectural piece has been ruined during the wars, but the 61 m high walls of Bada Mahal still stand tall.
  • Gupt Ganga : Ranthambore fort also consists of lakes and ponds. Gupta Ganga is one of the four water sources in the fort and the fascinating point about this is that it does not get dry even in the summers. Generally different animals are spotted around this lake and if the visitors are lucky, they get a chance to see a leopard.
  • BhamttiskhambaChattri : This a dome located inside Ranthambore Fort. It is supported by 32 pillars. Though it is vanquished now but the tourists can see the glimpses of its beautiful past through carvings and murals. Shiv temple lies below it and it is said that is was frequently visited by Raja Hammir.

Architecture of Ranthambore Fort

This historical masterpiece is prominent for its phenomenal architecture. The interiors of the fort can leave the visitors startled. The craftsmanship of this place is unbelievable, and it is not easy to match with any other ancient forts or buildings of that time. Ranthambore Fort is surrounded by splendid step walls, palaces, temples, residences, tanks, pavilions and cenotaphs. This fort has innumerable stone walls which symbolise the power of its architecture. The stone used in the stonework was shovelled from the inner region of the fort. Later those hollow parts were converted into ponds as water sources. The fort also stores many ruins and damage structures, some of those are of Hammir Court, Bada Mahal, Dhula Mahal, Phansi Ghar being the most eminent ones.

This top sight seeing place is a great combination of nationalism, love and bravery. Bird watching is one of the popular activities as people can get a view of the national park. Although many wars were fought to get the possession of the fort, but it was very difficult to conquer it due to its location and structure. After being attacked so many times, fort has not lost its royalty. The fort offers many interesting historical and architectural sites worth seeing and photographing.

This fort has been declared as the world heritage site by UNESCO. This massive fort is a great spot for exploring history as it stands out as a great example of impressive fortifications, splendid architecture and fascinating history that can leave any visitor spell bound.

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