Mehrangarh Fort

Traveler’s Facts

Highlight: One of the largest forts in India
Attraction: Period Halls, Museum, massive Gates, Chamunda Mata Temple
Should I Visit: Yes, its a must visit tourist place
Location: 5km from Jodhpur City
Built by: Rao Jodha Singh in 1459
How to reach: Better to take an auto-rickshaw or a rickshaw.

Mehrangarh Fort located in Jodhpur city in Rajasthan state is one of the largest forts and a famous tourist place in India. The fort of Rajasthan is situated on a lofty height, 400 feet above the city, and is enclosed by imposing thick walls. Inside its territorial boundaries, there are several palaces, which are known for their intricate carvings and sprawling courtyards.

View of Mehrangarh Fort

The museum in the Mehrangarh fort is one of the most well stocked museums in Rajasthan. In one section of the fort museum there is a selection of old royal palanquins, including the elaborate domed gilt Mahadol palanquin, which was won in a battle from the Governor of Gujarat in 1730. The museum exhibits the heritage of the Rathores in arms, costumes, paintings and decorated period rooms.

Mehrangarh Fort of Jodhpur

Galleries in Mehrangarh Museum

Elephant’s howdahs

The howdahs were a kind of two-compartment wooden seat (mostly covered with gold and silver embossed sheets), which were fastened on to the elephant’s back. The front compartment, with more leg space and a raised protective metal sheet, was meant for kings or royalty, and the rear smaller one for a reliable bodyguard disguised as a fly-whisk attendant.

Daulat Khana – Treasures of Mehrangarh Museum

This gallery displays one of the most important and best preserved collections of fine and applied arts of the Mughal period of Indian history, during which the Rathore rulers of Jodhpur maintained close links with the Mughal emperors.

Armoury

This gallery displays a rare collection of armour from every period in Jodhpur. On display are sword hilts in jade, silver, rhino horn, ivory, shields studded with rubies, emeralds and pearls and guns with gold and silver work on the barrels. The gallery also has on display the personal swords of many emperors, among them outstanding historical piece like the Khanda of Rao Jodha, weighing over 7 pounds, the sword of Akbar the Great and the sword of Timur the Lame.

Paintings

This Gallery displays colors of Marwar-Jodhpur, the finest example of Marwar paintings.

The Turban Gallery

The Turban Gallery in the Mehrangarh Museum seeks to preserve, document and display the many different types of turbans once prevalent in Rajasthan; every community, region and, indeed, festival having had its own head-gear.

The Folk Music Instruments Gallery

There are a number of different types and kinds of folk musical instruments, some particular to a group or community, and some to a region.

Room within palace complex at Mehrangarh

Tourist attractions in Mehrangarh

National Geological Monument

The Jodhpur Group – Malani Igneous Suite Contact on which the Mehrangarh Fort has been built has been declared a National Geological Monument by the Geological Survey of India to encourage Geotourism in the country. This unique geological feature is part of the Malani Igenus Suite seen in the Thar desert region, spread over an area of 43,500 km². This unique geological feature represents the last phase of igneous activity of Precambrian age in the Indian Subcontinent.

The Chamunda Mataji Temple

The Chamunda Mataji was Rao Jodha’s favorite goddess, he brought her idol from the old capital of Mandore in 1460 and installed her in Mehrangarh (Maa Chamunda was the kul devi of Parihar rulers of Mandore). She remains the Maharaja’s and the Royal Family’s Isht Devi or adopted goddess and is worshipped by most of Jodhpur’s citizens as well. Crowds throng Mehrangarh during the Dussehra celebrations.