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JUNAGARH FORT
One of the most imposing forts of northern India-- Junagarh Fort-- has remained unconquered till date. This fort was built in 15th century by one of the most able and trusted generals of Akbar, Raja Rai Singh.
The fort was built by Raja Rai Singh, the sixth ruler of Bikaner who reigned from 1571 to 1612. Rai Singh had conquered part of Marwar and had been granted territory in Gujurat and Burhanpur by the Mughal emperor Akbar as a reward for his services as military commander. This, as well as funding from Jodhpur, enabled him to build the fort. Rai Singh held high rank in the imperial courts of both Akbar and his successor, Jehangir. During his imperial service he travelled extensively, giving him an appreciation of art and architecture. These ideas have been incorporated meticulously into the architectural style of Junagarh Fort.
Junagarh Fort is sumptuously decorated interiors are much better preserved than in almost any other in the region Wandering through the halls of its palace complex you can easily imagine what life must have been like in those medieval times.
Built in 1588 by Raja Rai Singh (reigned 1571-1611), it is unusual in the senses that it was one of the few major forts of Rajasthan that was not built on a hilltop. Instead it was built on the desert plains, perhaps using the very inconspicuousness of its location as defense. Its rugged sandstone bastions and graceful pavilions and balconies are silhouetted against the sky.
As you entered through the main gateway Suraj Pol, you can see the twin statues of the fort's guardians, Jaimal and Patta, the warrior-heroes of Chittorgarh's defense. Beyond this lies a complex of splendid palaces, each one built by a different ruler over the centuries .The last portions were added on as recently as 1943. |
