Mehrangarh Fort
Mehrangarh is a historic fort in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India. It stands on a hilltop about 122 metres (400 ft) above the surrounding plains and its complex covers an area of ??more than 1,200 acres (486 hectares). It was built by Rao Jodha, a Rajput ruler of the Rathore dynasty, around 1459, although most of its existing structure dates from the 17th century and was built by his successors. The fort has seven gates, including the main entrance, Jai Pol (lit. 'Victory Gate'), built by Maharaja Man Singh in 1806 to commemorate his victory over the armies of Jaipur and Bikaner. Fatehpol (lit. 'Victory Gate'), commemorates Maharaja Ajit Singh's victory over the Mughals. British author and Nobel laureate Rudyard Kipling described the fort as "a palace that might have been built by giants and painted with the rays of the morning sun".
Within its boundaries are several palaces famous for their intricate carvings and spacious courtyards, a Chamunda Mataji temple and a museum equipped with various relics. A winding road leads to and from the town below. The marks of cannonballs fired by the invading forces of Jaipur can still be seen at the second gate. To the northeast of the fort is the chhatri of Kirat Singh Sodha, a soldier who died defending Mehrangarh.
Some of the notable festivals held here include the World Holy Spirit Festival and the Rajasthan International Folk Festival.
Etymology
Mehrangarh is derived from the Sanskrit words 'Mihir' (meaning Sun) and 'Garh' (meaning fort). Phonetically, 'Mihirgarh' evolved into 'Mehrangarh' in the Rajasthani language. The fort was named Mihirgarh, meaning 'Fort of the Sun' - a reference to the mythical descent of the ruling dynasty, the Rathores, from the Sun god.
History
Rao Jodha, the head of the Rathore clan, is credited with the origin of Jodhpur in India. He established Jodhpur as the capital of Marwar in 1459 (Mandor was the previous capital). He was one of the 24 sons of Ranmal and became the fifteenth Rathore ruler. A year after his accession to the throne, Jodha decided to move his capital to the safer location of Jodhpur, as the thousand-year-old Mandore fort was no longer considered to offer adequate security. With the reliable assistance of Rao Nara (son of Rao Samra), the Mewar forces were subdued in Mandore. Simultaneously, Rao Jodha gave Rao Nara the title of Dewan. With Rao Nara's help, the foundation of the fort was laid on 12 May 1459 by Jodha on a rocky hill 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) south of Mandore. According to legend, to build the fort he had to remove the hill's only human inhabitant, a hermit named Cheeria Nathji, the lord of birds. Cheeria Nathji had a following of the locals and was thus influential in the region. When he was requested to move, he flatly refused. This happened several times. Rao Jodha then took drastic measures and sought help from an even more powerful saint, Karni Mata of Deshnok, a Hindu warrior sage born in the Charan caste. At the king's request, she came and asked Cheeria Nathji to step down immediately. Seeing a superior force, he left immediately, but cursed Rao Jodha, "Jodha! May your fort never be short of water!". Rao Jodha managed to please the hermit by building a house and a temple in the fort. Karni Mata laid the foundation stone of Mehrangarh Fort. Today only the forts of Bikaner and Jodhpur remain in the hands of the Rathores, both of which were founded by Shri Karni Mata. All other Rajput forts in Rajasthan were abandoned by their clans for one reason or another. Only the Rathores of Jodhpur and Bikaner have their forts left with them till date. The locals consider this fact a miracle and attribute it to Shri Karni Mata. Rao Jodha also gave the villages of Mathania and Chopasni to the two Charan chieftains he had sent to request Maa Mehai to come to Jodhpur.
To ensure that the new site proved auspicious; he buried alive a man of the Meghwal caste, "Raja Ram Meghwal", who had volunteered his services, in the foundation as it was considered auspicious in those days. "Raja Ram Meghwal" was promised that in return his family would be looked after by the Rathores. His family was given the land and even today his descendants live in Raj Bagh near Sur Sagar.
Although construction of the fort was originally started in 1459 by Rao Jodha, founder of Jodhpur, most of the fort that stands today dates back to the period of Maharaja Jaswant Singh (1638–78). The fort stretches for 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) on a high hilltop in the middle of the city. Its walls, which are 36 metres (118 ft) high and 21 metres (69 ft) wide, protect some of the most beautiful and historic palaces in Rajasthan. One of the oldest traditional communities, the Khandwalia community, had the knowledge to build this fort by breaking huge stones.
Mehrangarh Fort, with Jaswant Thada in front
Amriti Pol
Entry to the fort is through a series of seven gates. The most famous of these are:
Jai Pol ("Victory Gate"), built by Maharaja Man Singh in 1806 to celebrate his victory in a war with Jaipur and Bikaner
Fateh Pol, built in 1707 to celebrate victory over the Mughals;
Gopal Pol, this is the second pol after Fateh Pol.
Dedh Kangra Pol, which still bears marks of bombardment by cannonballs;
Amrit Pol, this is in between Dedh Kangra Pol and Loha Pol.
Loha Pol, which is the last gate to the main part of the fort complex. Just to its left are handprints (sati marks) of queens and some princesses who had remained sati for years after the death of their husbands.
Suraj Pol, the innermost gate which provides access to the palace complex and Daulat Khana Chowk.
Intricate carvings and spacious courtyards of Mehrangarh Palaces
There are many splendidly built and furnished palaces within the fort. These include Moti Mahal (Moti Mahal), Phool Mahal (Phool Mahal), Sheesh Mahal (Darpan Mahal), Sileh Khana and Daulat Khana. The museum houses a collection of palanquins, howdahs, royal cradles, miniatures, musical instruments, costumes and furniture. Old cannons (including the famous Kilkila) are preserved on the fort's ramparts, and offer a breathtaking view of the city.
Galleries of Mehrangarh Museum
elephant howdahs
The howdah was a type of two-compartment wooden seat (mostly covered with embossed sheets of gold and silver), which was strapped to the elephant's back. The front compartment, with more legroom and a high protective metal sheet, was for kings or royalty, and the rear smaller compartment was for a trusted bodyguard disguised as a skittish attendant.
Sedan
Palanquins were a popular means of travel and circumambulation for noble women until the late twentieth century. They were also used by male nobles and royalty on special occasions.
Daulat Khana - Treasures of the Mehrangarh Museum
This gallery displays one of the most important and best preserved collections of fine and applied arts from the Mughal period of Indian history, during which the Rathore rulers of Jodhpur maintained close relations with the Mughal emperors. It also houses the remains of Emperor Akbar.
armory
This gallery displays a rare collection of armour from every period of Jodhpur. Sword hilts made of jade, silver, rhinoceros horn and ivory, shields studded with rubies, emeralds and pearls and guns with gold and silver work on the barrels are on display here. The gallery also displays personal swords of many emperors, including excellent historical artefacts like Rao Jodha's khanda weighing more than 3 kg, Akbar's sword and Timur's sword.
Paintings
This gallery displays the colours of Marwar-Jodhpur, which is an excellent example of Marwar painting.
Turban Gallery
The Turban Gallery at the Mehrangarh Museum aims to preserve, document and display the various types of turbans prevalent in Rajasthan; each community, region and festival had its own distinct turban.
Royal Raid Camp
Shahi Lal Dera or Royal Red Tent is a part of royal collection at the fort.
Tourist attractions
National Geological Monument
The Jodhpur Group - Malani Igneous Suite Contact on which the Mehrangarh Fort has been built has been declared a National Geological Monument by the Geological Survey of India to encourage Geo Tourism in the country. This unique geological feature is part of the Malani Igenus Suite seen in the Thar desert region, spread over an area of 43,500 km2. This unique geological feature represents the last phase of igneous activity of Precambrian age in the Indian Subcontinent.
The Chamunda Mataji Temple
The chamunda Mataji was Rao Jodha's favourite goddess, he brought her idol from the old capital of Mandore in 1460 and installed her in Mehrangarh (Maa chamunda was the kul devi of the Pratihara rulers of Mandore). She remains the Maharaja's and the Royal Family's Isht Devi or adopted goddess and is worshipped by most of Jodhpur's citizens as well. Crowds throng Mehrangarh during the Dussehra celebrations.
Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park
Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park, spreads over 72 hectares, adjoining Mehrangarh Fort. The park contains ecologically restored desert and arid land vegetation. The park was created in 2006 to try and restore the natural ecology of a large, rocky area adjoining and below the fort and opened to the public in February 2011. The area in and around the park contains distinctive volcanic rock formations such as rhyolite, with welded tuff, and breccia, sandstone formations. The park includes a Visitors Centre with Interpretation Gallery, a native plant nursery, small shop and cafe.
2008 stampede
A human stampede occurred on 30 September 2008, at the Chamunda Devi temple inside of the Mehrangarh Fort, in which 224 people were killed and more than 400 injured.
Culture
The fort has musicians performing folk music at the entrance and houses museum, restaurants, exhibitions, and craft bazaars. The fort was one of the filming locations for Disney's 1994 live-action film The Jungle Book, as well as the 2012 film The Dark Knight Rises. Principal photography for the latter commenced on 6 May 2011. The Emraan Hashmi starrer Awarapan was also shot here. In 2015, the fort was used to record a collaborative album by musicians including Israeli composer Shye Ben Tzur, English composer and Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood, and Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich. The recording was the subject of a documentary, Junun, by the American director Paul Thomas Anderson. In March 2018, the film crew for the Bollywood film Thugs of Hindostan used the fort as one of its shooting locations; actor Amitabh Bachchan left a reflective post about his experience there on his official blog.[
Gallery
Map ( Click on the photo, the map will open )
