Mehrangarh
Fort located in Jodhpur,
Rajasthan, India. This is one of the
largest forts in India.
This fort built around 1460 by Rao
Jodha. The fort is Located 120 metres
(400 ft) above the city and is enclosed by grand thick walls. Inside the
fort boundaries there are several palaces known for their intricate carvings
and expansive courtyards. A winding road leads to and from the city below. The
imprints of cannonball hits by attacking armies of Jaipur can still be seen on the second gate. To the left of the
fort is the chhatri of Kirat
Singh Soda, a soldier who fell on the spot defending the Mehrangarh fort.
There
are 07 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 made by Maharaja Ajit Singh to mark the
defeat of the Mughals. The palm imprints upon these still attract much
attention it is very proudes for rao rajputs.
The
museum in the Mehrangarh fort is one of the most well-stocked museums in
Rajasthan, India. In one section of the fort museum there is a selection 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.
Rao
Jodha, the chief of the Rathore clan, is credited with the origin of Jodhpur in
India. He founded Jodhpur in 1459 (Jodhpur was previously known as Marwar). He
was one of Ranmal's 24 sons became the fifteenth Rathore ruler. One year after
his accession to the throne, Jodha decided to move his capital to the safer
location of Jodhpur, as the one thousand years old Mandore fort was no longer
considered to provide sufficient security.
With
the trusted aid of Rao Nara (son of Rao Samra), the Mewar forces were subdued
at Mandore. With that, Rao Jodha gave Rao Nara the title of Diwan. With the
help of Rao Nara, the foundation of the fort was laid on 1/ May 1459 by Jodha
on a rocky hill 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) to the south of Mandore. This hill
was known as Bhaurcheeria, the mountain of birds. According to legend to build
the fort he had to displace the hill's sole human occupant, a hermit called
Cheeria Nathji, the lord of birds. Upset at being forced to move Cheeria Nathji
cursed Rao Jodha with "Jodha! May your citadel ever suffer a scarcity of
water!". Rao Jodha managed to appease the hermit by building a house and a
temple in the fort very near the cave the hermit had used for meditation,
though only to the extent that even today the area is plagued by a drought
every 3 to 4 years. Jodha then took an extreme measure to ensure that the new
site proved propitious; he buried a man called "Raja Ram Meghwal"
alive in the foundations. "Raja Ram Meghwal" was promised that in
return his family would be looked after by the Rathores. To this day his
descendants still live in Raj Bagh, "Raja Ram Meghwal's" Garden, an
estate bequeathed them by Jodha.
Mehrangarh
(etymology: 'Mihir' (Sanskrit) -sun or Sun-deity; 'garh' (Sanskrit)-fort;
i.e.'Sun-fort'); according to Rajasthani language pronunciation
conventions,'Mihirgarh' has changed to 'Mehrangarh'; the Sun-deity has been the
chief deity of the Rathore dynasty. Though the fortress was originally started
in 1459 by Rao Jodha, founder of Jodhpur, most of the fort which stands today
dates from the period of Jaswant Singh of Marwar (1638–1678). The fort is
located at the centre of the city spreading over 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) on
top of a high hill. Its walls, which are up to 36 metres (118 ft) high and
21 metres (69 ft) wide, protect some of the most beautiful and historic
palaces in Rajsthan.
