10 Must Visit Forts In Rajasthan: 7th Is Haunted!

Rajasthan is considered to be one of the most ethnic states in India. It has its own rustic charm that tells you a lot about the medieval era. The forts of Rajasthan have their own way of enchanting people’s minds.

Rajasthan is filled with magnificent and huge forts that symbolise the royal culture that it had in the early days. Still, there are royal families that live inside these forts. Rajasthan does feel more Indian than any of the other states.

The monuments and forts built all over the state give a sneak peek into the early days and history. They take you back to the times of Kings and Queens, Ministers and Jesters and the common folk. 

It does portray a rich heritage and culture that has been preserved for many years. This culture still lives in the heart of the people of Rajasthan.

Here is a list of some of the forts that you cannot miss if you truly want to experience Rajasthan:-

1. Mehrangarh Fort

This fort is located in the beautiful city of Jodhpur and is one of the largest forts in Rajasthan. It is known for its stunning architecture and history.

Mehrangarh has seven gates amongst which Jayapol meaning victory is the most popular one which was built by Maharaja Man Singh to commemorate his victories.

In this fort, you can witness the heritage of the royal Rathod family. Paintings, Sculptures and artefacts are portrayed all over the fort.

Timings Of Mehrangarh Fort: The fort is open on all days between 9 am and 5 pm.

Best Time To Visit Mehrangarh Fort: November to February.

Entry Fee Of Mehrangarh Fort: Rs 60 for Indians and Rs 400 for foreigners.

On May 12, the entry is free as it is the fort’s foundation day.

How To Reach Mehrangarh Fort: It is located in the city of Jodhpur and is around 9km away from the Jodhpur Airport and 6km away from the Jodhpur railway station.

Where To Stay at Mehrangarh Fort: Jodhpur is the major tourist hotspot in Rajasthan. It provides accommodation ranging from budget to luxury hotels. Castle View Homestay and Hotel RAAS provide a great view with a comfortable stay.

2. Amber Fort

One of the grandest and majestic forts in the country, Amber fort truly defines what it stands for.

It was built by Maharaja Man Singh who was one of the nine jewels of the Mughal Emperor Akbar’s court in 1592. It is renowned for its Hindu and Muslim Architecture.

In the year 2013, Amber fort was declared as a UNESCO world heritage site.  Elephant rides are available around the fort for Rs 900 per person.

Timings Of Amber Fort: The Amber Fort is open on all days from 8 am to 5:30 pm.

Best Time To Visit Amber Fort: Winters are the best time to visit Jaipur i.e from November to February.

Entry Fee Of Amber Fort: The entry fee is Rs 25 for Indians and Rs 200 for Foreigners.

How To Reach Amber Fort: The Amber fort is located 11km from a Jaipur and is 23 km away from the Jaipur Airport and 13 km from the Jaipur railway station.

Where To Stay At Amber Fort: Since Jaipur is the state capital, you would find many hotels ranging from luxury to budget. The Oberoi Rajvilas and The Taj Rambagh Palace are the best plays to stay in Jaipur but will burn a hole in your pocket as it costs around Rs 32000 per night. The ITC Rajputana is also a 5- star hotel which costs Rs 6000 per night.

3. Jaisalmer Fort

It is one of the most beautiful forts in India. It is also called the sonar killa or the golden fort and is considered one of the best place for tourists.

It is the country’s only live in the fort where royal families still reside till date. Jaisalmer Fort has played a significant role in history due to its trade route.

The architecture of the fort is also quite astonishing as it contains a layer of 3 walls.

The outer wall is made up of solid stone blocks whereas the inner walls cover the interiors of the entire fort.

Timings Of Jaisalmer Fort: Jaisalmer Fort is open on all days from 9:58 am to 2:25 pm.

Best Time To Visit Jaisalmer Fort: The best place to visit is during winters i.e from November to February.

Entry Fee Of Jaisalmer Fort:  Rs 50 per person for Indians and Rs 250 per person for foreigners.

There are camera photograph fee Rs 50 and for video camera fee Rs 100.

How To Reach Jaisalmer Fort: It is located just 13km from the Jaisalmer Airport and 2 km away from the Jaisalmer Railway Station. It is also well connected by all the other Indian cities.

Where To Stay Jaisalmer Fort: Hotel Brys Fort is a really great choice as it offers a comfortable stay for Rs 7000 per night. Hotel Pleasant Haveli on Chainpura Street is also a budget-friendly option which costs Rs 2900 per night. 

4. Chittorgarh Fort

Being one of the largest forts in Rajasthan, Chittorgarh fort is located on a 180m hill and expands over 700 acres.

It is also called the water fort as it consists of 22 water bodies in addition to towers, temples and palaces. It also has two commemoration towers namely Kirti Stambh and Vijay Stambh.

Kirti Stambh was built to honour the first Jain Tirthankar and the Vijay Stambh was built to commemorate the victory over Mohammad Alauddin Khilji.

Chittorgarh is also associated with two historic figures in India- spiritual poet Meera Bai and Rajput warrior Maharana Pratap.

Timings Of Chittorgarh Fort: The fort is open all days from 9:45 am to 5:15 pm.

How To reach Chittorgarh Fort: Chittorgarh fort is well connected by road from the rest of the country through NH 76 and 79.

The closest airport is Jaipur Airport which is 137 km away from the fort and the nearest railway station is Ajmer Railway Station which is located around 198 km away. 

Entry Fee Of Chittorgarh Fort: ₹35 for Indian Nationals, ₹550 for Foreign Visitors.

Where To Stay Chittorgarh Fort: Fort Begu is an excellent heritage hotel located around 66 km from Chittorgarh fort. The Elegance resort and Hotel Meera are also great options.

5. Jaigarh Fort

If you wish to experience a spectacular view of Jaipur, this is the place to be. It is also connected to the Amber Fort and both of them are considered to be built on the same complex.

Jaigarh Fort is also home to the largest cannon, Javiana Cannon which is considered to be the biggest cannon in the world.

You can also see the Maota lake and the Amer fort from Jaigarh which is a view that you really don’t want to miss as it provides a stunning panoramic view of the city and the sunset.

Timings Of Jaigarh Fort: It is open on all days from 9 am to 5 pm.

Best Time To Visit Jaigarh Fort: The best time to visit Jaipur is on winters i.e from November to February.

Entry Fee Of Jaigarh Fort: Entry fee is Rs 15 for Indians and Rs 20 for Foreigners.

How To Reach Jaigarh Fort: It is 25 km and 15 km respectively from the Jaipur Airport and the Jaipur Railway Station. If you are planning to visit this fort be sure to visit the Amber fort as well.

Where To Stay Jaigarh Fort: Jaipur being the state capital has many options ranging from Budget to Luxury.

Also Read: UNESCO World Heritage Sites In India (Updated 2020)

6. Kumbhalgarh Fort

Built by Maharaja Rana Kumbh in the 15th century, the Kumbhalgarh Fort is known for its strong foundations. It covers an area of 36km and is a UNESCO world heritage canteen since 2013.

It has enormous watchtowers and a total of seven watch gates. It is located right amongst the Aravalli Ranges.

There is also an extraordinary palace on the top of the fort known as the ‘ Badal Mahal ‘ the place where the great warrior Maharana Pratap was born.

The fort has also around 360 temples inside its complex. Not only does it offer a spectacular panoramic view of the town of Kumbhalgarh, but it also has beautiful rooms with green, turquoise and white decor that serves as a lovely contrast to the earthy colours of the Fort.

Timings Of Kumbhalgarh Fort: It is open on all days from 8 am to 6 pm.

Entry Fee Of Kumbhalgarh Fort: The entry fees are Rs 10 for Indians and Rs 100 for Foreigners.  

How To Reach Kumbhalgarh Fort: It is connected by road from Udaipur. It is around 97km from Udaipur airport and pre-paid taxis are also available which would charge around Rs 1600 to Kumbhalgarh Fort.

It is also well connected by major cities like Ajmer, Jodhpur, Jaipur and Udaipur.

Where To Stay At Kumbhalgarh Fort:  There are all kinds of accommodation options available in Kumbhalgarh with budget rooms starting at around Rs 600 a night and more comfortable rooms at around Rs 3000 a night.

The Aodhi hotel with rooms starting at around Rs 7000 is quite popular for its Indo-Islamic style. You may also choose to stay at Udaipur which has more options as Kumbhalgarh is an easy day trip from the city of lakes. 

7. Bhangarh Fort

Often considered to be the most haunted place in India, it is a popular tourist destination.

It is located right at the border of the famous Sariska Tiger Reserve and the beautiful Aravalli Ranges surrounding the fort gives it a spectacular view.

The Archaeological Survey of India has also placed a board outside the fort warning people not to enter after sunset or before sunrise due to serious haunting nature of the fort.

It is believed that a curse is responsible for the subsequent Mughal invasion of Bhangarh and the death of all its 10,000 residents including the Bhangarh princess Ranavati.

The haunted stories stem from this legend and it is believed that the ghosts of the princess and the wizard who was in love with her are still trapped inside the fort.

Timings Of Bhangarh Fort: The fort is open on all days from 6 am to 6 pm.

Best Time To Visit Bhangarh Fort: The best time to visit is in the winters i.e from November to February.

Entry Fee Of Bhangarh Fort: The entry fees are Rs 25 for Indians and Rs 200 for foreigners.

How To Reach Bhangarh Fort: Bhangar is close to Alwar Railway Station that is around 86km away. The nearest airport is Jaipur which is 87 km away from the fort.

Where To Stay Bhangarh Fort: The Sariska Palace is the most luxurious option for staying near Bhangarh. A slightly cheaper option but equally comfortable is the Seliseher lake Palace.  Tiger Den is a good option for budget travellers.

8. Udaipur City and Lake Palace

With the charm of the Venice of the East, The Lake Palace in Udaipur is a must-visit place for couples planning to have a jolly good time.

The Lake Palace dates back to 1743 and now it’s a luxury property with 83 rooms that will make you revisit the olden era with the comfort of modern facilities.

Amongst the lake scapes of Udaipur, lies the Udaipur city palace. The glowing white colour of the palace complements the blue waters upon which it floats.

Built by Maharana Udai Singh 1559, the City Palace boasts of having the largest palace complex in Rajasthan with a fusion of Chinese, European and Medieval architecture.

These places are palaces but they do deserve a spot in this list if you don’t want to miss out the beauty of the lake city of Udaipur. 

Timings Of Udaipur Lake Palace: This palace is open on all days for 24 hours since it is also a hotel. The best time to visit would be in the winters i.e from November to February. 

It is a must-visit for honeymoon couples.

The Udaipur city palace is open from 9 am to 5 pm on all days and the best time to visit Udaipur is on winters.

Entry Fee Of Udaipur Lake Palace: The entry fees are Rs 250 per adult and Rs 100 per child.

How To Reach Udaipur Lake Palace: The palace is located in Udaipur and is well connected by road, railways and airways. It is near to Udaipur Airport and Udaipur city railway station. It is also well connected by other cities in India so travelling won’t be a problem.

Where To Stay At Udaipur Lake Palace: Well there is the palace itself if you want to have the best experience but it can burn a hole in your pockets. There are also much cheaper and budget-friendly options available in the city.  

9. Ranthambore Fort

Ranthambore Fort is located in the largest national park of Rajasthan, Ranthambore National Park. Surrounded by wilderness, this fort was built in the middle of the tenth century.

The exact date of its construction stills remains a mystery. Jungle safari in Ranthambore National Park, breathtaking views of the area, Jain Temple and Lord Sumatinath Temple are must-visit places and things to do around the fort. 

Timings Of Ranthambore Fort: It is open on all days from  6:30 am to 10:00 am and 1:30 pm to 5:30 pm.

Best Time To Visit Ranthambore Fort: The best time to visit is from October to April when the weather is pleasant. 

How To Reach Ranthambore Fort: Jaipur Airport is the nearest Airport from the fort that is around 180km. The nearest railway station is Sawai Madhopur which is well connected by other cities in India. It is located just 11km away from Sawai Madhopur and you can take a taxi/cab as well.

Where To Stay Ranthambore Fort: There are many options ranging from budget to luxury. The Clarks resort Abhyaran and the Fern Ranthambore forest resort are luxury options with top-class amenities. The Ranthambore National Resort is a much budget-friendly option.

10. Neemrana Fort

There is an old town famous because of this fort so you can imagine how spectacular this fort is going to be. Not far from Delhi, Neemrana Fort is located on the Jaipur-Delhi Highway.

It is a hotspot for weekend getaways for Delhiites. You can experience Ziplining as well as Vintage car rides around the fort.

Timings Of Neemrana Fort: It is now a heritage and top-class hotel and resorts so it is open on all days for 24 hours. 

How To Reach Neemrana Fort: It is situated on the Delhi-Jaipur highway and is situated 73km away from the heart of the district Alwar. It is 119km from Delhi and 148km from Jaipur.

The nearest railway station is Ateli that is in Haryana and is 55km away. The nearest airport is the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi which is 108km away. The Jaipur airport is around 155km away from the fort. 

Where To Stay Neemrana Fort:– You can stay in the fort as it is now a resort, But it can be a little expensive. You can find much affordable and budget-friendly options in Delhi and Jaipur or also in Alwar. 

Sounds fascinating right? Tell us in the comments which fort have you planned to visit next? 

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