Rajasthan is known for its royal ambiance and colorful history. Rajasthan is dotted with several tourist destinations that still hold a diorama of the medieval clamor. Architectural buildings, including forts, palaces, Havelis, and temples built by the Rajputs are major attractions of Rajasthan. Most of them were converted into government edifices and heritage hotels & few have been retained as private residences of the royal family. This article will focus on the top historical forts and palaces that serve as a purpose for visiting Rajasthan.
Historical Forts and Palaces in Rajasthan
Here are some of the most amazing historical forts and palaces you must visit in Rajasthan:
Amer Fort and Palaces, Jaipur
Amer Fort is one of the principal tourist destinations of the state of Rajasthan region, especially for the people who are traveling to Jaipur. Many tourists visit this fort to enjoy elephant rides around the fort. It is located on the foot of the Aravalli range and overlooking the Maota Lake. This fort was built in the 16th century using red sandstone and marble.
The architectural marvel of the palace can be observed by looking at its four-level layout, Diwan-i-Khas, Diwan-i-Aam, Sheesh Mahal, and Sukh Niwas, with each of them having a courtyard. The Diwan-i-Khas or the Hall of Private Audience was a special place where the king met and discussed important issues with respected dignitaries from his court and outside.
Best Time to Visit: October to February
Opening Hours: 8 AM to 5:30 PM Daily
Jaigarh Fort, Jaipur
Along with Amer Fort, this is one of the major Forts of Rajasthan, which is characterized by its stunning ramparts, edifices as well as rugged design. This Fort was built in 1726 by Jai Singh II to protect the Amer Fort, which lies on the foot of the Cheel Ka Teela. It is known for its canon called Jaivana, which was then the largest canon on wheels. This fort is highly fortified with thick walls of red sandstone and is spread over a layout plan with a length of 3 kilometers and a width of 1 kilometer.
The fort is crafted with a complex network of subterranean passages and comprises the Laxmi Vilas, Lalit, Mandir, Vilas Mandir, and Aram Mandir. Currently, it has an armory and a museum and is known for being the Victory Fort of Jai Singh.
Best Time to Visit: November to February
Opening Hours: 9 AM to 4:30 PM Daily
Nahargarh Fort, Jaipur
Overlooking the pink city of Jaipur, the Nahargarh Fort has a significant place in history. It was built as a summer retreat by Sawai Raja Jai Singh II in the year 1734 and is located on the Aravalli hills. It is one of the Forts of Rajasthan that is endowed with architectural beauty and provides panoramic views of the city. Throughout its history, the fort never came into attack and saw several treaties, especially between the Maharaja of Jaipur and the Marathas.
Today it is one of the favorite tourist hangouts in the outskirts of Jaipur with the major attraction being the panoramic view of the Jaipur city and the step well. This fort is near to many tourist attractions like Hawa Mahal, Jaigarh Fort, Jal Mahal, and others. Within the fort complex, there is a museum that displays a huge collection of armor and paintings. It also maintains a small rooftop restaurant where you can chill out for long hours.
Best Time to Visit: November to February
Opening Hours: 9 AM to 5 PM Daily
Hawa Mahal, Jaipur
The name is Hawa Mahal stands for the “Palace of Winds”, which very much justifies its perfectly created airy structure. It was built by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh in 1798 and is located in the heart of the city of Jaipur. It is one of the prominent historical landmarks in India that reveals a rich cultural and architectural heritage with a fusion of the Rajasthani style of architecture and Islamic Mughal architecture. It is an excellent work of red and pink sandstone.
The exterior of the palace is a five-storey building, which looks similar to the honeycomb of the beehives because of its 953 small windows which are known as the Jharokhas, decorated with intricate latticework. Apart from this, the intricate structure of the palace also allows the royal family ladies to observe the everyday life in the street and watch the royal processions and festivities sitting behind the stone-carved screens.
Best Time to Visit: October to March
Opening Hours: 9 AM to 5 PM Daily
City Palace, Jaipur
Jaipur City Palace is one of the central attractions of the city due to its magnanimous complex and the fact that it is still a royal residence. It was built in the 18th century by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II. This palace has an architectural style that mixes Indian and European styles.
The most prominent and most visited structures in the complex are the Chandra Mahal, Mubarak Mahal, Mukut Mahal, Maharani’s Palace, Shri Govind Dev Temple, and the City Palace Museum. Today, part of the complex is open to the public as the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum, popularly known as the City Palace Museum. Its treasures, which include miniature paintings, manuscripts, Mughal carpets, musical instruments, royal costumes, and weaponry, provide a splendid introduction to Jaipur’s princely past, and its fascinating arts and crafts.
Best Time to Visit: October to March
Opening Hours: 9:30 AM to 5 PM
Jal Mahal, Jaipur
The Jal Mahal Palace is located in the middle of the beautiful Man Sagar Lake in Jaipur city & considered an absolute beauty constructed in the Rajput and Mughal style architecture. The palace and the lake around it were renovated and enlarged in the 18th century by Maharaja Jai Singh II.
The Jal Mahal is a five-storied red sandstone structure with some beautiful chhatris, intricately decorated rooms, hallways, and wall paintings detailing the complex Rajasthani art. The terrace of the palace has a beautiful garden along with semi-octagonal towers with elegant cupolas located at each of the four corners of the palace. The area surrounding the Jal Mahal holds a large biosphere with the Aravalli range encircling and layered with tropical forest that is home to varied species of flora and fauna. Tourists visiting the Jal Mahal can take a boat ride in the Man Sagar Lake. The boats here are crafted in typical Rajasthani style.
Lohagarh Fort, Bharatpur
Lohagarh Fort is situated at Bharatpur in Rajasthan. It was constructed by Bharatpur Jat ruler Maharaja Suraj Mal in the 18th century. The Lohagarh Fort is one of the strongest ever built in Indian history and is known as the Iron Fort. It has two gates; Ashtdhaatu (eight-metalled) to the north and Chowburja (four-pillared) to the south.
Monuments in the fort include the Kishori Mahal, Mahal Khas, and Kothi Khas. Moti Mahal and towers like Jawahar Burj and Fateh Burj were constructed within the walls of the fort to celebrate the victories over the Mughals and British army.
Deeg Palace, Bharatpur
Deeg Palace is a palace 32 km from Bharatpur in Rajasthan built in 1772 by the Jat rulers as a luxurious summer resort. It is crafted with many princely slated rooms, carved gates, and windows having stone slabs, ornate beams, and marble jalis.
It also houses a monsoon pavilion known as Keshav Bhawan, which is a single-storeyed baradari placed on an octagonal base. It stands next to the Rup Sagar tank. An arcade runs around the interior of the pavilion over a canal with hundreds of fountains. The Deeg Palace is another beautiful architectural specimen that reflects the typical Mughal style of architecture. It is one of the must-visit places in Bharatpur, Rajasthan.
Opening Hours: 9 AM to 5 PM except on Fridays
Ranthambore Fort, Sawai Madhopur
Ranthambore Fort lies within the Ranthambore National Park, near the town of Sawai Madhopur, the park being the former hunting grounds of the Maharajahs. Currently, it is one of the prime attractions for wildlife lovers who take up safari inside the sanctuary in Rajasthan. According to the Government of Rajasthan, it is likely that the construction started in the mid-10th century during the reign of Sapaldaksha and continued a few centuries after that.
The fort complex still sits with several architectural structures including palaces and temples of which the Jogi Mahal, Ganesha Temple, Shiva Temple, Ramlalji Temple, and also a Jain temple of Lord Sumatinath and Lord Sambhavanath. The history of the fort is written on a wall inside the fort. This fort has cobbled paths, large walls, ramparts, and ditches as well as strong ramifications.
Best Time to Visit: November to May
Opening Hours: 6 AM to 6 PM
Junagarh Fort, Bikaner
Junagarh Fort situated in Bikaner was built by Raja Rai Singh in the 16th century. The fort was originally called Chintamani and was renamed Junagarh or “Old Fort” in the early 20th century. It is one of those few forts that have not been built on a hilltop. This fort has been attacked several times but it was not taken by a foreign ruler except for a single day.
The buildings of this fort are an example of composite culture and feature an intermix of Persian and Rajasthan architectural styles. Inside the fort, you can find palaces, temples, balconies, kiosks, courtyards, museums,s and others. The highlights of the fort are the Chandra Mahal, decorated beautifully with mirrors, paintings, and carved marble panels, the Phool Mahal, the Karan Mahal, and the multi-storeyed Anup Mahal, which was once used as the governance chambers for the rulers.
Best Time to Visit: November to February
Opening Hours: 10 AM to 4:30 PM
Jaisalmer Fort, Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer Fort is one of the largest fortifications in the world. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the group Hill Forts of Rajasthan. The fort was built by the Rajput ruler Rawal Jaisal on the top of the Trikuta Hill in the 12th century. It was also known as the Sonar Quila or Golden Fort for its gleaming golden sandstone walls and buildings. Major attractions here include popular Jain Temples, Laxminath temple, its four stunning gateways as well as the Raj Mahal or the Royal Palace.
Best Time to Visit: October to March
Opening Hours: 24hours
Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur
Mehrangarh Fort located in Jodhpur is one of the largest forts in India. The fort was built in the 15th century situated 400 feet above the city and is enclosed by magnificent thick walls. Inside its boundaries, there are several palaces known for their intricate carvings and expansive courtyards. This fort has seven gates which are known for their unique historical significance.
The museum in the Mehrangarh fort is one of the most well-stocked museums in Rajasthan. In this museum collection of jewels, palanquins, arms, costumes, and other belongings of the royal family are kept. Other important elements in this fort are Moti Mahal (Pearl Palace), Phool Mahal (Flower Palace), Sheesha Mahal (Mirror Palace), Sileh Khana, Daulat Khana and others.
Best Time to Visit: October to March
Opening Hours: 9 AM to 5 PM
Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur
The Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur is one of the world’s largest residences and was built in the early 20th century by Maharana Umaid Singh. The palace was initially known as the Chittar Palace as it was located on Chittar Hill, the highest point in Jodhpur.
The palace is counted as one of the world’s largest private residences and has 347 rooms. It also has a gallery that features the most exotic collection of automobiles owned by the royal family. The architectural style is considered a vogue Beaux-Arts style and is also known as the Indo-Deco style.
Today, this Palace is divided into three functional parts – the residence of the royal family, a luxury Taj Palace Hotel, and a Museum focusing on the 20th-century history of the Jodhpur Royal Family.
Best Time to Visit: January to December
Opening Hours: 24 hours
Chittorgarh Fort, Chittorgarh
Chittorgarh Fort is located in Chittorgarh Rajasthan and was constructed by the Mauryans during the 7th century and derives its name after the Mauryan ruler, Chitrangada Mori. It is a glorious fort that stands on the peak of a hill and covers about 700 acres of land. This fort has seen many battles and stands as a reminder of the braveness and chivalry of the Rajput. The Fort witnessed three bloody sieges and ‘jauhars‘ first led by Rani Padmini wife of Rana Rattan Singh who was killed in the battle in 1303, and later by Rani Karnavati in 1537.
The fort that once boasted of 84 water bodies has only 22 of them now. These water bodies are fed by natural catchment and rainfall and have a combined storage of 4 billion liters. Important attractions in this fort are The Vijay Stambha (Tower of Victory), Kirti Stambha (Tower of Fame), Rana Kumbha Palace, Fateh Prakash Palace, Gaumukh Reservoir, Padmini’s Palace, Meera temple, Kalika Mata Temple and many others.
Best Time to Visit: November to February
Opening Hours: 9:45 AM to 5:15 PM
Kumbhalgarh Fort near Udaipur
Kumbhalgarh Fort is a Mewar fortress on the westerly range of Aravalli Hills, in the Rajsamand District of Rajasthan. This fort is a world heritage site the second largest fort in Rajasthan and the second longest wall after the Great Wall of China. Built on a hilltop 1100 m above sea level during the 15th century by Rana Kumbha and enlarged through the 19th century this is also the birthplace of Maharana Pratap, the great king and warrior of Mewar.
There are several palaces and more than 360 temples within the fort, 300 ancient Jain and the rest Hindu. Badal Mahal (birthplace of Maharana Pratap) holds a strong place in the history of Rajasthan. The sand dunes of the Thar Desert can be seen from the fort walls.
Best Time to Visit: October to February
Opening Hours: 9 AM to 5 PM
City Palace, Udaipur
The City Palace of Udaipur was built in a flamboyant style and is considered the largest of its type in Rajasthan. Built in 1559 by Maharaja Udai Singh on a hilltop that gives a panoramic view of the city and its surroundings including several historic monuments such as Lake Palace, Jag Mandir, Jagdish Temple, Monsoon Palace, and the Neemach Mata temple. The City Palace of Udaipur broadens along the eastern banks of Lake Pichola. In 1983 James Bond film Octopussy was shot here in the Lake Palace and the Monsoon Palace.
Best Time to Visit: November to February
Opening Hours: 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Lake Palace, Udaipur
Lake Palace (formerly known as Jag Niwas) is a luxury hotel, which has 83 rooms and suites featuring white marble walls. The Lake Palace is located on the island of Jag Niwas in Lake Pichola, Udaipur. It was built between 1743 and 1746 under the direction of the Maharana Jagat Singh II of Udaipur. It has been voted the most romantic luxury hotel in India and the world due to its scenic location with the Aravalli mountains range.
Today it is one of the major tourist attractions in Udaipur and plays a significant role in the tourism and hospitality industry in India. In 1971, Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces took over management of the hotel and added another 75 rooms offering a royal touch, restaurants, recreational centers, pools, and business centers.
These are just a few of the many amazing historical forts and palaces in Rajasthan. Each one has its own unique story to tell, and they offer a glimpse into the region’s rich history, culture, and architectural heritage. So, pack your bags and embark on a journey through time to the enchanting land of Rajasthan!
