Mehrangarh Fort

Mehrangarh Fort Jodhpur The fort was built by Rao Jodha in 1459 when he transferred his capital from Mandore. Subsequently more additions were made by the other rulers of Jodhpur with passing time. The marks of canon balls from the past skirmishes are still prominent on the second gate of the fortress. The palm imprints that are smeared with vermilion paste and paper-thin silver foil on a gateway leading to the funeral pyre site, reminds the tourists of the princesses and the queens who committed self-immolation or Jawhar for the sake of their consorts.
The fort has 68-ft wide and 117-ft elevated walls which overlook the surrounding plain. The fort has seven gates and the most famous among them is the Jayapol (meaning victory). This gate was constructed by Maharaja Man Singh to celebrate his triumph over the armies of Jaipur and Bikaner. Another gate- Fattehpol, which also means victory gate was raised by Maharaja Ajit Singh to commemorate the defeat of the Mughals. The palm imprints are placed on the porch leading to the place of funeral pyre. At the left, lies the chhatri of Kirat Singh Soda, the valorous soldier who died on the spot while guarding the fort against the Amber armies. The splendid cenotaphs testify the valor and fearlessness of the Rathore kings of Jodhpur.
The magnificent craftsmanship of the Jodhpuri craftsmen is exhibited in the fascinating sandstone palaces within the Mehrangarh Fort. The Mehrangarh Fort houses grand palaces like the Moti Mahal or the Pearl Palace that houses the royal throne of Jodhpur known as the Sringar Chowki, the Phool Mahal whose ceiling is adorned by gold filigree work, the Rang Mahal and the Chandan Mahal. Other mansions are the Umaid Villas that showcases the Rajput miniature paintings, the Ajit Villas displays the musical instruments and the royal attires and the Maan Villas. Currently the fort encloses the Mehrangarh Fort Museum where all the decorated rooms of the palaces and villas are exhibited along with the royal palanquins, miniature paintings, furniture, and historic armory and etc.

History of the Museum
Constructed in 1459, the Mehrangarh Fort Museum has played a major role in the enhancement of Jodhpur tourism. The fort was built with the purpose of building a strong defense for Jodhpur. During the course of time the museum had gone through a number of changes and altercations. These altercations were done for the betterment of the fort only. Hence, these changes also reflect various significant incidents of history.

Attractions of the musuem
There are a number of features in the Mehrangarh Fort Museum which attracts a lot of tourists. Features like the presence of monuments like Phool Mahal, Sheesh Mahal, Daulat Khana, Moti Mahal and Sileh Khana impart an exquisite beauty to the fort museum. Other features include a number of galleries, dedicated to various themes. Tourists are also able to see the Elephant's Howdas, a type of two compartment seat hitched on elephant's back. The palanquins are also a great sight for the tourists. The museum also has a rich collection of fine and applied arts that date back to the Mughal periods. There is a weapon gallery as well. The large collection silver, ivory, rhine horn, sword hilts in jade, guns with their barrels, shields studded with rubies, emeralds and pearls will surely astonish you. Not to miss is the painting gallery as well which boasts a wide collection of Marwar paintings. There is also the Turban gallery, Cradle Gallery located in Jhanki Mahal. The Cradle Gallery is a must visit as it displays a number of beautifully designed cradles.

Best Time to Visit
When you are on a trip and you have already dreamt of witnessing the richness of the fort and its minutely made architecture, then it is advisable for you to plan it in any month between September and March. The reason is simple; you will not have to encounter the scorching heat, which shoots up to 45 degrees during the summers. In fact, when you visit the fort and even the city during the winters, you will not only end up falling in love with the beauty of the city, but the weather as well.

How to Reach
Reaching the city is simple. Also you get the chance to choose the type of medium you are comfortable with, whether a flight, train or bus. You can even get a cab booked or drive to the city. Once you are in the city, you can book a cab, either online or from the hotel or any local agent. If you want to see how the local people commute everyday and how it feels to travel like the people of Jodhpur, you can take auto-rickshaws or local buses.