Situated at a height of 400 feet above the city of Jodhpur, Rajasthan, this majestic fort offers breathtaking views of Jodhpur. Its immense size makes it one of the largest forts in India and it has been designated as “the work of giants” by Rudyard Kipling.
The fort, constructed out of red sandstone, was built by Rao Jodha in 1459 when he transferred his capital from Mandore.
The fort itself is surrounded by impressive fortifications that are six meters thick. Moreover, seven gates have to be crossed in order to reach the fort.
The gates of the fort are witness to the attacks it bore by various attackers in the past. The second gate still carries the scars and impressions of the cannonballs which were hurled at it during attack. To the left of the fort is a memorial dedicated to the brave soldier by the name of Kirat Singh Soda who sacrificed his life to protect the fort.
Out of these seven gates, two are marked specially as gates of victory. The first one is Jayapol was built by Maharaja Man Singh to celebrate his victories over Jaipur and Bikaner armies. The second one, Fattepol, was built by Maharaja Ajit Singh to commemorate the defeat of the Mughals. The palm imprints on these gates are the centre of attraction of tourists even today.
The major attractions of this fort are the palaces located within the fort. The most prominent of these grand palaces being the Moti Mahal or Pearl Palace that houses the royal throne of Jodhpur, known as Sringar Chowki. It is also a living proof of the magnificent Jodhpuri architecture and craftsmanship. The other palaces within the fort area are the Phool Mahal, whose ceiling is adorned with beautiful embroidery carved in gold, the Rang Mahal and the Chandan Mahal. Umaid Villas, Ajit Villas and Maan Villas are the other mansions in this spectacular fort. Ajit Villas exhibits the musical instruments and the royal attires while Umaid Villas displays the Rajput miniature paintings.
Various articles of historical importance which were used by the Rathores such as old royal palanquins, arms, costumes and paintings have been stored in the museum of the Mehrangarh Fort. This museum has got one of the largest collections of that period.