Rajasthan reminds tourists of royalty and bravery, of epic battles and valiant heroes & when battles were fought, sacrifice and brutality came along, and sorrow and death were not far behind.<\/p>\n
All these battles were fought to capture the hill forts of Rajasthan<\/strong>. If you paint a mental picture of what Rajasthan stands for, the hill forts will immediately flash before your eyes as powerful remnants of these long fought wars and battles.<\/p>\n![\"Hills](\"http:\/\/www.vedantawakeup.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Hills-of-Rajasthan-India.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
The hill forts were the first structures that were built by powerful Rajput kings, for protecting their kingdoms from enemy attacks was their first priority.\u00a0Their elevated positions above rugged hills gave them an edge over enemies, & allowed them to monitor their surroundings.<\/p>\n
These were not small forts by any means, but massive structures, powerful enough to withstand cannonballs & fireballs & large enough to accommodate large armies.<\/p>\n
They were not only meant for defence, but their strategic location allowed them to control trade activities, & also served as royal residences, where kings & his families lived, along with ministers.<\/p>\n
You will find these hill forts at innumerable places in Rajasthan, & some of them are so magnificent that they have earned them a place in the prestigious list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites<\/strong>.<\/p>\nLet\u2019s begin our journey & explore these fascinating hill forts of Rajasthan<\/strong>.<\/p>\n
\n<\/span>Hill Forts of Jaipur<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/h1>\n<\/span>1. Amber Fort & Palace<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n#1 in Hill forts of Rajasthan<\/strong>\r\nLocation:<\/strong> Amer, Jaipur\r\nHill name:<\/strong> Cheel ka Teela<\/pre>\n![\"Amber](\"http:\/\/www.vedantawakeup.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Amber-Palace-Jaipur-RJ.jpg\")
Amber Fort & Palace<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\nWhen you will stand in front of Amber Fort of Jaipur, you\u00a0will see a massive fort, as a colossal structure of orange and yellow, above Cheel ka Teela, or the Hill of Eagles<\/strong>.<\/p>\nYou will have to climb a series of zigzag steps & pass the beautiful Maota Lake on your way, in the middle of which there is a fantastic landscaped garden. Or can even enjoy a elephant ride from main road till the top of the fort’s main palace.<\/p>\n
Amer, 11 km from Jaipur, is where the Amber Fort is situated, & it\u2019s also popular as Amer Fort. Raja Man Singh built the original structure of Amer Fort, but later on, his descendants, Jai Singh I & II made great improvisations & added significant structures inside the fort to make it more massive.<\/p>\n
Giant walls of the fort, & its continuous ramparts running for many miles over small hillocks is the first impression that Amer Fort gives to onlookers. But more than power and huge fortification, it\u2019s the artistic brilliance inside the fort that will leave a lasting impression on visitors.<\/p>\n
Suraj Pol & Jaleb Chowk<\/strong><\/h3>\n![\"Suraj](\"http:\/\/www.vedantawakeup.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Suraj-Pol-Amber-fort-Jaipur.jpg\")
Suraj Pol<\/p><\/div>\n
Huge gates such as Suraj Pol<\/strong>, with delicate Persian paintings will lead you to spacious courtyards like Jaleb Chowk<\/strong>, where armies used to gather after battles to celebrate their victory.<\/p>\nDiwan-i-Aam & Sheesh Mahal<\/h3>\n
Inside you will see more courtyards and palaces like Diwan-i-Aam<\/strong>, and the ingenious architecture of Sheesh Mahal<\/strong>, the striking palace with delicate mirror work, which illuminated the whole palace with just a single candle flame.<\/p>\nMughal garden<\/h3>\n![\"mughal](\"http:\/\/www.vedantawakeup.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/mughal-garden-amber-fort.jpg\")
amber fort gardens<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\nThere is a hexagonal shaped Mughal garden<\/strong> and private chambers for the royal ladies and for the king himself. Huge corridors and narrow passages will take you to the various palaces, and the walls are painted with the most delicate of frescoes and illustrations.<\/p>\nToday, Amer Fort is a major tourist attraction of Jaipur, and it\u2019s a must visit landmark that\u2019s both historic and having great archaeological importance.<\/p>\n
<\/span>2. Jaigarh Fort<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n#2 in Hill forts of Rajasthan<\/strong>\r\nLocation:<\/strong> Amer, Jaipur\r\nHill name:<\/strong> Cheel ka Teela<\/pre>\n![\"Jaigarh](\"http:\/\/www.vedantawakeup.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Jaigarh-Fort-Jaipur-RJ.jpg\")
Jaigarh Fort Walls<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\nJaigarh Fort is above Amer Fort, on the same Cheel ka Teela, or Hill of Eagles, on which Amer Fort is situated. Jaigarh Fort is in fact, 400 metre higher than Amer Fort, & was made to keep an eye on Amer Fort.<\/p>\n
Jai Singh II built Jaigarh Fort in 1726 and is named after him.<\/p>\n
Jaigarh Fort is more rugged in structure, and its long running rampart walls allowed soldiers to survey the surrounding regions for possible enemy attacks. In fact, both Amer Fort and Jaigarh Fort are connected with underground passages and are on the same grounds in Amer near Jaipur.<\/p>\n
![\"Jaivana](\"http:\/\/www.vedantawakeup.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Jaivana-Cannon-at-Jaigarh-Fort.jpg\")
Jaivana Cannon<\/p><\/div>\n
Inside there is a garden<\/strong>, palaces<\/strong> and chambers<\/strong>. You will find the world\u2019s largest cannon-on-wheels, Jaivana Cannon\u00a0inside Jaigarh Fort.<\/p>\nIf Amer Fort is all about artistic beauty, then Jaigarh Fort is all about power and strength. It still is the major tourist site of Jaipur, and among the most famous hill forts of Rajasthan.<\/p>\n
<\/span>3. Nahargarh Fort<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n#3 in Hill forts of Rajasthan<\/strong>\r\nLocation:<\/strong> Brahampuri Jaipur\r\nHill name:<\/strong> Aravali Hills<\/pre>\n![\"Nahargarh](\"http:\/\/www.vedantawakeup.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Nahargarh-Fort-Jaipur-RJ.jpg\")
Nahargarh Fort Chambers<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\nNahargarh, which means abode of tigers<\/em><\/span>,\u00a0is a hill fort in jaipur, that can be seen from major tourist points in Jaipur like Jantar Mantar or City Palace.<\/p>\nNahargarh Fort, perched up on the ridge of a hill, & in its time, this fort provided protection to Jaipur together with Amer Fort and Jaigarh Fort.<\/p>\n
The fort provides breathtaking views of Jaipur city, and Madhavendra Bhawan<\/strong>, a palace inside the fort, offers artistic frescos & floral designs on the walls and ceilings.<\/p>\nNahargarh Fort is an excellent combination of Indian & European architectural styles. But the most remarkable thing to watch out for in this fort is the Zenana quarters or the queen\u2019s chambers.<\/p>\n
There are 12 such chambers, each 2 storey high, and interconnected in such a way that when the king visited a queen, no other queen would come to know of it.<\/p>\n
Sunset Point at Nahargarh Fort<\/h3>\n
You will find many spots at Nahargarh Fort, from where you can get best pictures of Jaipur from height. And the fort team has also developed a place, just before Jaipur Wax Museum, that is named as Sunrise point.<\/p>\n
![\"View](\"http:\/\/www.vedantawakeup.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/View-of-Jal-Mahal-from-Jaipur.jpg\")
View of Jal Mahal from Nahargarh Fort<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\nJaipur Wax Museum<\/h3>\n
From 2017, a Wax museum has also opened in Nahargarh Fort, which lets you take pictures with famous indian personalities (and a few from other countries) like Mahatma Gandhi, Bhagat Singh, Amitabh Bachan, Dhoni and also with Jackie Chan, Lionel Messi etc.<\/p>\n
Plus, if you can seen the Sheesh Mahal in Amber Fort, then be ready to see an anther sheesh mahal in Jaipur, that is inside the Jaipur Wax Museum<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/span>4. Moti Doongri Fort<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n#4 in Hill forts of Rajasthan, Jaipur<\/strong>\r\nLocation:<\/strong> Tilak Nagar, Jaipur\r\nHill name:<\/strong> Moti Dungri hill<\/pre>\n![\"Moti](\"http:\/\/www.vedantawakeup.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Moti-Doongri-Fort-Jaipur-RJ.jpg\")
Moti Doongri Fort<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\nIn Hindi, Moti means pearls, and Doongri means a small hill.<\/p>\n
Moti Doongri Fort is a fort of Jaipur, which is built on top of Hill of Pearls. If you view this fort from a distance, you will feel like seeing some Scottish castle in the heart of Rajasthan.<\/p>\n
Perhaps, it was intended to look like one, when Sawai Man Singh II renovated an old fort and converted it into a palace as his royal residence.<\/p>\n
The fort is still the privately owned property of the Jaipur royal family, & permission to enter the private chambers is strictly restricted. But the fort was the centre of many glamorous social parties attended by the elite of the society.<\/p>\n
There is rich opulence in the lavish interiors, and you will find two temples, devoted to Lord Ganesha and Laxminarayan Temple.<\/p>\n
\n<\/div><\/span>Hill Forts of Jodhpur<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n<\/span>5. Mehrangarh Fort<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n#5 in Hill forts of Rajasthan<\/strong>\r\nLocation<\/strong>: Jodhpur\r\nHill name<\/strong>: Bhakurcheeria<\/pre>\n![\"Mehrangarh](\"http:\/\/www.vedantawakeup.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Mehrangarh-Fort-Jodhpur-RJ.jpg\")
Mehrangarh Fort<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\nMehrangarh Fort towers 400 feet above the city of Jodhpur, & it\u2019s one of the largest hill forts of Rajasthan.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s in fact so enormous, that if you view this fort from a distance, you will only be able to make out a rough outline of the fort, and all you will see are vertically rising rocky walls carved out from a rocky mountain. But once you are near this fort, only then will the power and elegance of this fort overwhelm you.<\/p>\n
Rao Jodha, the founder of Jodhpur, built this fort back in the year 1459 on a hill called Bhakurcheeria, or the Mountain of Birds. In its lifetime, this fort provided a natural defence due to its height, and it also was attacked many times, and the cannonball marks on the outer walls are proof of that.<\/p>\n
Its thick walls can reach to a height of 120 feet at some points & inside there are winding lanes, and huge courtyards, and palaces of exquisite beauty like Phool Mahal and Moti Mahal.<\/p>\n
You will see magnificent colored stained glass, painted frescos, hanging chandeliers, delicately handcrafted furniture, artistically chiselled stonework, and opulent furnishings.<\/p>\n
There is a museum too, with medieval relics like howdahs, palanquins, armoury, paintings, royal attires, textiles, and more antique treasures.<\/p>\n
\n<\/span>Hill Forts in Jaisalmer<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n<\/span>6. Jaisalmer Golden Fort<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n#6 in Hill forts of Rajasthan, Jaisalmer<\/strong>\r\nLocation<\/strong>: Jaisalmer\r\nHill name<\/strong>: Trikuta Hill<\/pre>\n![\"Jaisalmer](\"http:\/\/www.vedantawakeup.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Jaisalmer-Fort-RJ.jpg\")
Sonar Quila<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\nJaisalmer Fort is so enormous that it was like a miniature city in itself. This\u00a0fort was built in the year 1156 AD by Rawal Jaisal & even today, after 800 years of its construction, descendants of those who served in the royal courts of Jaisalmer, live in havelis inside the fort.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s the only \u2018living fort\u2019 of India<\/strong> \u2013 one in which you can actually stay on your visit, in traditional mansions, now turned into hotels.<\/p>\nYou will find bazaars inside, and winding lanes that will lead you to a huge temple complex, comprising of no less than 7 to 8 fabulous Hindu temples, constructed within the fort, and cannon points from where you can have a panoramic view of the entire Jaisalmer city.<\/p>\n
Being situated right in the middle of the searing sands of the Thar Desert, Jaisalmer Fort is constructed out of yellow sandstone, and its protruding bastions and long walls are the first things that greet the tourists.<\/p>\n
The yellow sandstone gives off an orange hue during sunrise and sunsets, making the fort look golden in color. Hence, it\u2019s also famous as Sonar Quila, or the Golden Fort of Jaisalmer.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s one of the oldest forts of Rajasthan, and a major tourist site of Jaisalmer, having the distinction of being a UNESCO World Heritage Site.<\/p>\n
<\/span>7. Khabha Fort<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n#7 in Hill forts of Rajasthan, Jaisalmer<\/strong>\r\nLocation:<\/strong> Dedha, Rajasthan\r\nHill name:<\/strong> Name not available<\/pre>\n![\"Khabha](\"http:\/\/www.vedantawakeup.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Khabha-Fort-Jaisalmer-RJ.jpg\")
Khabha Fort<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\nKhabha Fort is in Jaisalmer & is a lesser known fort of Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. There\u2019s a bit of mystery attached to this fort, and this is enough reason why it makes this fort such an interesting fort.<\/p>\n
Paliwal Brahmins, who lived here since 7 centuries suddenly deserted this fort some 200 years ago in 1825, and no one knows what made them leave so suddenly.<\/p>\n
Today this fort lies in ruins on top of a small hill, and if you take a walk, you will see ramparts and bastions, doors and windows with intricate jaali designs, and there\u2019s a geological museum inside, where you can see displays depicting fossils and rock formations unearthed in this region.<\/p>\n
The fort stands in the midst of barren sands, and it\u2019s an eerie feeling to visit Khabha Fort, one of the many hill forts of Rajasthan.<\/p>\n
\n<\/span>Hill Forts in Udaipur<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/h1>\n<\/span>8. Sajjangarh Fort<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n#8 in Hill forts of Rajasthan, Udaipur<\/strong>\r\nLocation:<\/strong> Fateh Sagar Rd, Malla Talai\r\nHill name:<\/strong> Bansdara Peak<\/pre>\n![\"Monsoon](\"http:\/\/www.vedantawakeup.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Monsoon-Palace-Udaipur-RJ.jpg\")
Sajjangarh Fort<\/p><\/div>\n
Sajjangarh Fort is one of the most scenic ones in the list of Hill Forts of Rajasthan & is in Udaipur, You can see this fort from anywhere in Udaipur., as it\u2019s perched high of 3100 feet, on top of Bansdara Peak<\/strong>, and the high elevation commands some of the most stunning views of Lake Pichola, Fateh Sagar Lake, City Palace, and even Chittaurgarh.<\/p>\nIt was originally built by Maharana Sajjan Singh in 1884 as an astronomical observatory to monitor the movement of monsoon clouds over Udaipur.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s also called the Monsoon Palace<\/strong>, and within the white marble structure of the palace, there are palatial rooms and flight of winding staircases which leads to various chambers. Its marble walls and pillars have floral motifs etched on them, and some scenes of the famous James Bond movie, Octopussy were shot here in Sajjangarh Fort.<\/p>\nYou can even go trekking to this fort through a winding mountain road, and visit the Sajjangarh Wildlife Sanctuary, which is located around this fort.<\/p>\n
\n<\/div><\/span>Other popular hill forts of Rajasthan<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n<\/span>9. Ranthambore Fort<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n#9 in Hill forts of Rajasthan<\/strong>\r\n