The Mehrangarh Fort/ Jodhpur Fort is undoubtedly one of the most popular tourist attraction sites situated in the city of Jodhpur. Various JODHPUR TOUR PACKAGES offer a tour of this palace as an essential part of their list. The Mehrangarh Fort today is regarded as one of the best maintained Forts of India. Rudyard Kipling, while describing this Fort, famously remarked that the Fort is “the work of giants”. The Fort is over 500 yards long  and some of its walls rise to about 120 feet and is 70 feet thick. Mehrangarh Fort should definitely be on your list of places to visit in Jodhpur if you want to experience an unforgettable essence of the Royal sentiment of Rajasthan and its culture.

The Mehrangarh/ Jodhpur Fort History

The popular Mehrangarh Fort has been a source of pride for the Rathore clan of the Rajput dynasty for a long time. The Fort has been a source of important operations and has served as headquarters for the Rathores for over five decades now. Rao Jodha , a king of the Rathore clan built this Fort on a land called Mandore that had been acquired by dowry and made capital by one of his predecessors (Rao Chunda) , almost two generations ago. The name of the Fort literally translates to “fort of the sun”, the reason for the nomenclature being that the Rathores were mythically believed to be descendants of Surya, the Sun God.

The Rajput states had always been the centre of attention, which did not exclude the Delhi Sultanate as well. The Mughals always wanted to subdue the powers of Marwar and other neighbouring states but actually did not want to demolish or eradicate them. So, for some years they maintained relationships like allies, but later this understanding was ripped off and the Rajputs were forced to be cornered in their own states. At these tumultuous times, the Forts like Jodhpur Fort were no less than timeless treasures which were a source of luxury for the royal individuals. The Mehrangarh Fort not only served as an important military base, but also as a centre for appreciation and preservation of art, culture and heritage that defined the individual states. The care and maintenance of Mehrangarh Fort is currently under Maharaja Gaj Singh, who is a descendant and has till date maintained the place and also made a museum.