Junagarh Fort

Junagarh Fort – One of the very well preserved Forts of India. Even after 423 years after it was built it looks very elegant and wonderful. Inside the fort there are many Palaces built by different rulers over the centuries. The walls have carved stones, marbles, paintings and inlaid semiprecious stones. 

 

This fort is different from other forts of Rajastan in two aspects. First it is not on hill top - like most of the forts in Rajastan and the other is that till date this fort is not conquered by any one! The Junagarh Fort has defied all the attacks except for a brief stint by Kamaran who captured the fort but was unable to retain his victory more than 24 hours! 

This magnificent fort was originally known as Chintamani Fort. It was renamed as “Junagarh Fort” or “Old Fort” in the early 20th century. The Junagarh Fort is a legacy of Raja Rai Singhji, who was the sixth ruler of Bikaner, from 1571 AD to 1612 AD. He was a contemporary of Emperor Akbar and held a very high rank in the court. 

As a trusted military commander of Akbar, Raja Rai Singhji was granted fields of Gujarat and Burhanpur. He was a well travelled person and imbibed the art and architectural forms of the various lands that he went to. The influence of all these is clearly visible in the Junagarh Fort, made of red sandstone.

 

The Anup Mahal is one of the most impressive rooms in the fort complex. The ornately lacquered walls are covered in red and gold with colored glass inlay. White plaster pillars are decorated in delicate patterns and covered with gold leaf. In a land where water is rare, the Badal Mahal or Cloud Palace's walls are painted with a fresco of rain clouds.

 

The palaces, constructed in red sandstone and marble, make a picturesque ensemble of courtyards, balconies, kiosks and windows dotted all over the structure. The premises also house a museum which has a rich collection of artifacts. The fort is surrounded by a high wall and deep moats. There are 37 bastions guarding the fort with only two gates as the entrance pathway to the fort.

Defenitely, Junagarh Fort is a must see destination in Rajasthan!