Hills forts of Rajasthan are six forts, spread across the Rajasthan. They have been the clustered as a series and designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Rajasthan has over one hundred fortifications on hills and mountainous terrain. The "Hill Forts of Rajasthan" was initially submitted to the UNESCO as a serial property formed by five Rajput forts in the Aravalli range and were built and enhanced between the 5th and 18th centuries CE by several Rajputs kings of different kingdoms.
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Chittorgarh Fort
It was built by local Maurya rulers (often confused with imperial Maurya Rulers) in 7th century A.D; the Chittorgarh Fort in Rajasthan is one of the largest forts in India. The Chittorgarh Fort, plainly known as Chittor is spread majestically over a hill of 590 feet in height and is spread across 692 acres of land is a fine example of the popular Rajput architecture. The imposing structure of the fort has many gateways built by the later rulers of the Maurya clan. Chittorgarh Fort was previously the capital of Mewar and is now situated in the city of Chittorgarh. Chittorgarh Fort reverberates with tales of heroism and sacrifice and displays the Rajput culture and values in the real sense. Owing to its magnificent edifice, the Chittorgarh Fort was declared a UNESCO's World Heritage Site in the year 2013.
There is a long road of 1 km that leads to the Chittorgarh Fort and is quite steep. It is often considered to be the pride of the state as there are many historical sacrifices related to it. Chittorgarh Fort is also called the Water Fort as it had 84 water bodies once, but now there are only 22 of them left. The two major attractions of the fort are the towers Vijay Stambh and Kirti Stambh. Vijay Stambh refers to the tower of victory and the Kirti Stambh means tower of fame. The towers are illuminated in the evening and it looks even more beautiful. Apart from the towers, there are many palaces and temples within the premises of the fort, most notable being Meera Temple.
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Amber Fort
It is one of the most magnificent palaces in India. Also commonly known as the Amber Fort, this majestic building with its maze-like passages and serpentine staircases is an architectural masterpiece and with significant importance in Indian history. Only 11 kilometers away from Jaipur, Amer Fort is clad in pink and yellow sandstone and is a part of an extensive complex. Built by one of the most trusted generals of Akbar, Maharaja Man Singh I in the year 1592, Amer Fort served as the main residence of the Rajput Rulers.
The Amer Fort through its large ramparts, several gateways and paved paths overlooks the Maotha Lake in the town of Amer, which used to serve as the capital of the erstwhile Jaipur princely state. The fort is big enough that it will take you at least two to three hours to explore it in detail, and you can also choose to avail of the audio guides to lead you through this fascinating building while explaining the history of the place. Getting an elephant ride up the stairs to the Amber Fort is also a popular tourist activity. The fort sees over five thousand visitors daily and rightfully, the Amer Fort was inducted into UNESCO World Heritage Site list as part of the "Hill Forts of Rajasthan" along with five other forts.
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Gagron Fort
It is situated in the Jhalawar district of Rajasthan, Gagron Fort is a masterpiece of Rajput architecture and a striking example of hill and water fort. The fort is built on top of a hillock and offers a mesmerizing 360 degree view of the landscape below. Besides a museum outside the fort gates, there is also a mausoleum of Sufi Saint Mitthe Shah. The saint is highly revered by the locals and every year there is a fair held during Muharram to mark the respect for him. The fort boasts of beautiful architecture, sturdy walls and an all around royal aura. In June 2013, Gagron Fort was also included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list at the 37th meeting of the World Heritage Committee in Phnom Penh.
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Kumbhalgarh Fort
It is one of the five hill forts of Rajasthan that were declared the UNESCO world heritage site in 2013. Situated in Rajsamand district of Rajasthan, around 82 kilometers from Udaipur, Kumbhalgarh Fort has the second largest wall (38km) after the Great Wall of China. Constructed on the foothills of Aravalli ranges, it is surrounded by thirteen hill peaks of the ranges and is perched at an elevation of 1,914 m. The magnificent fort is situated in the middle of a forest which has been turned into a wildlife sanctuary. It is the second-largest and the most important Mewar fort of Rajasthan after Chittorgarh palace.
Under the reign of Mewar kings in Rajasthan, the majestic fort was built by Rana Kumbha in the 15th century between AD 1443 and 1458 under the direction of Mandan who was a very renowned architect of that time. The fort was constructed in the exact same place where an old castle existed which was attributed to Samprati who was a Jaina prince of the second century BC. Named after the King Kumbha, the Kumbhalgarh fort was cleverly designed on a hilltop to provide the strategic position to the Mewar kings to protect them against the attacks of the enemy. The fort is also the birthplace of Maharana Pratap, one of the most powerful kings of Mewar. Also, Badal Mahal was constructed inside the fort by Rana Fateh Singh, who was one of the most famous builders of the time. Badal Mahal, Kumbha Palace, Jain Temples, Baoris, Chhattris, water reservoirs and Brahmanical are some of the main buildings inside the spectacular fort.
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Ranthambore Fort
The mighty powerful fort of Ranthambore has seen an immense number of attacks and conquests. The fort was the major barrier for the invaders because of the difficulty they faced to capture and the well-planned construction of the fort. The Ranthambore Fort is situated inside the Ranthambore National Park which was the hunting grounds for the Maharajas of the Jaipur dynasty. It is located in the town of Sawai Madhopur in Jaipur. It had been built in the mid 10th century, according to the Government of Rajasthan's Amber Development & Management Authority, during the rule of Sapaldaksha.
The beautiful ruins of the fort have an aesthetic appeal that can attract the vision and minds of all the people who lay their eyes on the masterpiece. The fort is considered an epitome of power due to its history of defending the Rajput Empire against the attacks of foreign invaders. The fort is now a tourist attraction and appeals too many historians and many common people who wish to seek more knowledge and experience the architecture and history of the place.
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Jaisalmer fort
It is the most popular landmark of Jaisalmer city. Unlike other forts of Rajasthan, Jaisalmer fort houses museum, shops, restaurants, residential accommodations, hotels, etc. The fort was built in 1156, and is a proud chattel of the Bhati clan. Rawal Jaiswal was the founder of Jaisalmer city, and Jaisalmer fort was built in his reign. It is a 250 foot tall fort, which is protected by 30 feet long walls. The fort constitutes 99 bastions, amongst these 92 were built between 1633 and 1647. One can see the fusion of Islamic and Rajput architecture. There are 4 gateways to reach this fort i.e. Ganesh Pol, Akshya Pol, Suraj Pol and Hawa Pol. Jaisalmer Fort is situated on Trikuta Hill and had been the scene of many battles.
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