Forts of Rajasthan

At a glance

1. 1Not on the UNESCO list: Mehrangarh, Junagarh, Lohagarh, Jalore, Siwana, Bhatner and the two Taragarhs.
2. 2Alauddin Khalji's sieges: Ranthambore 1301 · Chittorgarh 1303 · Siwana 1310 (1308 in many histories) · Jalore 1311.
3. 3Name change: Bhatner became Hanumangarh after Surat Singh of Bikaner took it on a Tuesday in 1805.
4. 4Shukra Talab: a tank inside the Nagaur fort.

Main forts

• ChittorgarhThree sakasPlaceChittorgarh city, on the Mesa plateauBuilt by and whenBy tradition Chitrang (Chitrangad) Maurya; Bappa Rawal took it in the 8th centuryKnown forVijay Stambh and Kirti StambhFull notes →
• KumbhalgarhMewar's refuge fortPlaceKumbhalgarh, RajsamandBuilt by and whenRana Kumbha, 15th century; architect MandanKnown for36 km wall; Maharana Pratap's birthplaceFull notes →
• RanthamboreHammir Dev's fortPlaceNear Sawai Madhopur, in Ranthambore National ParkBuilt by and whenChauhans of Ajmer; 8th century by the RBSE book, mid-10th century by other accountsKnown forTrinetra Ganesh templeFull notes →
• Jaisalmer (Sonar Qila)Living golden fortPlaceJaisalmer, on Trikuta hillBuilt by and whenRawal Jaisal, Bhati ruler, 1155 (some accounts: 1156)Known forYellow sandstone; 99 bastionsFull notes →
• GagronWater fortPlaceNear Jhalawar, where the Kali Sindh and Ahu meetBuilt by and whenDod Parmars; 11th century by the RBSE book, 12th century (Bijaldev Dod) by other accountsKnown forAchaldas Khichi's fall in 1423; Saint PipaFull notes →
• AmerKachhwaha capital before JaipurPlaceAmer, about 11 km from JaipurBuilt by and whenMan Singh I began the palace in 1592Known forSheesh Mahal, Sukh Niwas, Maota LakeFull notes →
• MehrangarhRathore strongholdPlaceJodhpur, on Chidiyatunk hillBuilt by and whenRao Jodha, 1459Known forChamunda Mata temple; marks of the Jaipur army's cannonballs on the second gate
• JunagarhMoat-ringed fortPlaceBikanerBuilt by and whenRaja Rai Singh, 1589–94 (Rajasthan Tourism: 1588)Known forRai Singh's prashasti and elephant-rider statues of Jaimal and Patta at Suraj Pol
• LohagarhIron fortPlaceBharatpurBuilt by and whenMaharaja Suraj Mal, 1733 (some accounts: 1732)Known forMud outer walls and a deep moat; Lord Lake's attacks of 1805 failed
• JaloreSonagiri fortPlaceJalore, on Sonagiri hill by the Sukdi riverBuilt by and whenPratiharas, 8th centuryKnown forMalik Shah's mosque; the Topkhana
• SiwanaSheetaldev's fortPlaceSiwana (then Barmer district, now Balotra), on Chhappan hillsBuilt by and whenParamara Virnarayan, 954 (RBSE); by bardic tradition a son of the 11th-century Paramara king BhojaKnown forCalled 'Anakhalo Siwano'; refuge of Marwar's rulers Maldev and Chandrasen
• BhatnerGhaggar brick fortPlaceHanumangarh, on the GhaggarBuilt by and whenBhupat Bhati, 295 by the usual dateKnown forAttacked by Timur in 1398; 52 kunds for rainwater, as keyed in Protection Officer 2024
• Taragarh (Ajmer)Chauhan hill fortPlaceAjmerBuilt by and whenAjaypal (Ajayraj) ChauhanKnown forAlso called Garh Bithli and Ajaymeru; Miran Sahib's dargah
• Taragarh (Bundi)Star-like hill fortPlaceBundiBuilt by and whenRao Barsingh, 14th centuryKnown forChitrashala of Rao Ummed Singh
• AhhichhatragarhFort of the hooded cobraPlaceNagaurKnown forUNESCO Asia-Pacific Award of Excellence for conservation, 2002
• NahargarhGuard against the MarathasPlaceJaipurBuilt by and whenSawai Jai Singh II, 1734; enlarged 1868Known forAlso called Sudarshangarh; Madhavendra Bhawan of Sawai Madho Singh
• JaigarhCannon fortPlaceAmer, JaipurBuilt by and whenGiven its present form by Sawai Jai Singh II, early 18th centuryKnown forJaiban (Jaivana) cannon; a cannon foundry
• TimangarhTimanpal's fortPlaceAbout 40 km from KarauliKnown forStone pillars carved with gods and goddesses
• GugorBaran's hillock fortPlaceGugor village, 8 km from Chhabra, BaranKnown forBeside the Parvati river
• Bala QilaYoung fortPlaceAlwarBuilt by and whenOn the base of a 10th-century mud fortKnown forSix gates: Jai, Suraj, Laxman, Chand, Krishan Pol and Andheri Gate

UNESCO World Heritage: Hill Forts of Rajasthan

Classes of forts

In the Shukraniti the fort is one of the seven limbs of the state. Forts are classed by what guards them, and one fort can fall in more than one class.

• Audak or jal durg: ringed by water, such as Gagron and Bhainsrorgarh (on the Chambal and Bamni).
• Giri durg: on a high hill; most forts of Rajasthan, such as Chittorgarh, Kumbhalgarh and Mehrangarh.
• Dhanvan durg: in the desert, such as Jaisalmer.
• Van durg: in dense forest, such as Siwana.
• Eran durg: its approach made hard by a moat, thorns and rocks, such as Chittorgarh and Jalore.
• Parikh durg: ringed by a very large moat, such as Bharatpur's Lohagarh and Bikaner's Junagarh.
• Paridh durg: ringed by great walls, such as Chittorgarh and Jaisalmer.
• Sainya durg: home of soldiers skilled in the planning of war; held to be the best class.
• Sahay durg: home of brave kinsmen who always stand by the ruler.

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