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Mehrangarh
Fort - Situated on a steep hill, Mehrangarh fort is one of the
largest forts in India. The beauty and the grandeur of numerous
palaces in the fort narrates a saga of hard sandstones yielding to the
chisels of skilled Jodhpuri sculptures.
Mehrangarh Fort is situated in Jodhpur. Rao Jodha built the fort
in 1459 when he shifted his capital from Mandore. The fort is situated
about 400-ft above the city and has 68-ft wide and 117-ft high walls,
which dominates the surrounding plain. Rao Jodha Singh from 1459
onwards constructed the palaces within the fort area. The various
palaces and buildings inside the fort now serve as Mehrangarh museum.
The Moti Mahal has stained glass windows that create a colorful mosaic
with the play of light and shade. Chandan Mahal, Darbar Takhat or
Throne Room, Rang Mahal and Umaid Vilas are must see for tourists
Mehrangarh Fort was foundedin 15th century by the Rathore Rajputs when
they shifted their capital from nearby Mandore to Jodhpur.Mehrangarh
appears to rise from bluff-coloured sandstone hill itself , so well
built into the base that it is difficult to tell where the hill ends
and the walls begin.It is approached by a series of seven gateways set
at an angle so that armies could not charge them with any success.Past
the gates, the fort-palace takes one's breath away . Across from huge
courtyards are the set wings of palatial apartments that have been
built over five centuries of bristling history.
Today, managed as a museum by the
royal trust that maintains it, only some of the more spectacular
palaces of Meharangarh are open to the visitors .These consists of
Moti Mahal with its pierced screen windows overlooking the coronation
seat where the Rathore ruler have been ritually anointed to rule ;
Jhanki Mahal , the apartment from where the zenana women would watch
ceremonial events ; Chandan Mahal, where affairs of state were
discussed ; the royal Darbar Takhat or throne room with its octagnal
throne ; and the Rang Mahal where the maharaja would play Holi with
his Zenana .Also notworthy are Sheesh Mahal , Phool Mahal , Umaid
Vilas and Maan Vilas , while a large tent seized from the mughals in
battle is spread for viewing in what has cme to be referred to as the
Tent Room .
Mehrangarh from the outside is
impressive, and certainly forbidding.There is a surprizing lightness
to it though, once actually within the fort.
Phool Mahal the Palace of Flowers
The grandest of
Mehrangarh's period rooms the Phool Mahal was in all likely hood a
private and exclusive chamber of pleasure; dancing girls once swooned
in exhaustion here under a ceiling rich in gold filigree. The Phool
Mahal was created by Maharaja Abhaya Singh (1724-1749) and the gold
came from Ahmedabad in
Gujarat as war booty after his famous victory over the
rebellious Mughal governor, Sarbuland Khan. The paintings, royal
portraits and the ever popular raga mala, came much later, in the
reign of Jaswant Singh II.
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