Jaigarh fort
Delhi
The Jaigarh Fort, built by Maharaja Jai Singh II in the 18th Century, is a magnificent palace located on the Cheel ka Teela (Hill of the Eagle) promontory of the Aravallis in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Designed by an architect named Vidyadhar, the fort was built to depict the affluent culture of the city of Jaipur. Since the fort is located on an altitude, the entire city of Jaipur can be seen from the top. It mainly served as the residential building of the kings but later on, was used as the artillery warehouse. Jaigarh Fort has a rich history behind it. During the Mughal period, Jaigarh Fort, located 150 miles away from the capital, became one of the main cannon foundries due to abundance of materials there. It was also a storage place for arms, ammunition and other important requirements of war. It was looked after by Dara Shikoh but when he was defeated by Aurangzeb, the fort came under the rule of Jai Singh, who renovated and refurbished it. One interesting story goes with the history of the fort. According to folklore, the rulers buried a huge treasure in the soil of the Fort. However, the treasure was never recovered. One can get a panoramic view of Jaipur from the fort, it being located on top of a hill. Structurally, the fort looks like its immediate neighbour, Amber Fort, which is located almost 400 meters down. Otherwise known as Victory Fort, this huge structure is 3 km in length and 1 km in width. The outer layers of the fort are made of red sandstone and the internal layout is quite interesting, with a beautiful square garden at the centre. There are huge court rooms and halls provided with screened windows. The fort encloses the largest cannon in the world, called the Jaivana, which is kept on wheels. The grand palace complex consists of Laxmi Vilas, Vilas Mandir, Lalit Mandir, and the Aram Mandir, which used to be the residences of the royal family during the reign of the kings. Two vintage temples have increased the attraction of the fort, one being the Ram Harihar temple built in the 10th Century, and the Kal Bhairav Temple, built in the 12th Century. The fort is well protected from all sides with high walls. There is an armory and a hall for the warriors, along with a museum that preserves old clothes, manuscripts, weapons, and artworks of the Rajputs. One can find a watch tower at the centre, which provides a beautiful view of the landscape around. The adjoining fort of Amber is connected to the Jaigarh fort through a secret subterranean passage. It was designed for emergency escapes of the ladies and children. There is a central water reservoir in the fort to provide water to the Amber Fort.
