Jodhpur - Mehrangarh Fort
Perched on a 150 m high hill its sprawl is the most formidable and magnificent
fort in Rajasthan. Rao Jodha founded it in 1459 but subsequent rulers of Jodhpur
have also added to it over the centuries. A meandering road leads to the from
the city 5 kms below. Battle scars of canon ball hit by attacking armies of
Jaipur can still be seen on the second gate.
To the left is chhatri of Kirat Singh Soda, a soldier who fell on the spot while
defending the fort against the armies of Amber. There are seven gates, which
include Jayapol meaning victory built by Maharaja Man Singh to commemorate his
victories over Jaipur and Bikaner armies. Fattehpol also meaning victory gate
was built by Maharaja Ajit Singh to mark the defeat of Mughals.
And Lohapol meaning iron gate has a moving memorabilia on palm print of the
queens of Maharaja Man Singh who threw themselves on his funeral pyre in an
act of sati [self-immolation]. The palm imprints still attract devotional attention
and are covered by vermilion paste and paper-thin silver foil.
Mehrangarh fort is about 5km from Jodhpur Town. Guarding the city below, crowning
a perpendicular cliff, the fort was founded by Rao Jodha in 1459 AD when he
shifted his capital from Mandore.
Standing sentinel to the city below, it over looks the rugged and rocky terrain
and houses a palace intricately adorned with long carved panels and latticed
windows exquisitely wrought from red sandstone.
The apartments within, have their own magic -the Moti mahal (Pearl Palace),
Phool Mahal (Flower Palace), Sheesh Mahal (Mirror Palace), Sileh Khana and Daulat
Khana with a rich varied collection of palanquins, howdas, royal cradles, miniature
paintings of various schools, folk music, instruments, costumes, furniture and
an impressive armoury.
The display of cannons on the ramparts near Chamunda temple is among the rarest
in India. As you climb up, folk musicians revive the grandeur of a bygone era.
FORT MUSEUM
This is one of the finest museums in Rajasthan and certainly the best layed
out. In the palanquin section of the fort museum, you can see an interesting
collection of old royal palanquins including the elaborate domed gilt Mahadol
palanquin, which was won in a battle from the Governor of Gujarat in 1730. The
museum exhibits the heritage of the Rathores in arms, costumes, paintings and
decorated period rooms.
PHOOL MAHAL
The grandest of Mehrangarh's period rooms, the Phool Mahal was in all likely
hood a private and exclusive chamber of pleasure dancing girls once swooned
in exhaustion here under a ceiling rich in gold filigree. The Phool Mahal was
created by Maharaja Abhaya Singh (1724-1749) and the gold came from Ahmedabad
in Gujarat as war booty after his famous victory over the rebellious Mughal
governor, Sarbuland Khan. The paintings, royal portraits and the ever-popular
raga mala, came much later, in the reign of Jaswant Singh II.
JHANKI MAHAL
The Jhanki Mahal, from where the royal ladies watched the official proceedings,
in the courtyard, today houses a rich collection of the royal cradles. The cradles
are decorated with gilt mirrors and figures of fairies, elephant and birds.
Copyright
© All India
Tours & Travels. All Rights Reserved
