Six Rajasthan Hill Forts You Must Visit

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Rajasthan, the land of sacrifices, rich folklore and heritage, preserves itself as a destination that treats its guests with bone-rattling history, breath-taking beauty and a homely breeze that comforts and rejuvenates. The timeless sanctity of its villages, ancient tales woven in and around the walls of forts, the constants that still breathe despite the changes, ancestral ruins and the warmth and compassion in the hearts of its people is what defines Rajasthan and makes us fall in love with it all the more.

Amidst the wide array of experiences that Rajasthan Tourism has to offer, forts rank number one. Visit them and you’ll find yourself hearing stories of courage and grit they have to narrate. The mesmerizing grace and the unique beauty that each of these forts have to offer will imprint your heart with a sense of belongingness towards Rajasthan.

Scroll through to check out six Rajasthan hill forts you must visit which have, also, made it to the Unesco’s World Heritage List in 2013.  

Chittorgarh/Chittor Fort, Chittorgarh

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Built by the emperor of the Maurya Clan, Chitrangada Mori, the Chittor Fort occupies an area of up to 691.9 acres in the Chittorgarh district of Rajasthan. It is embarked along the banks of the river Berach on a 180-meter high hill and is an epitome of Rajput bravery and chivalry. The fort is adorned with seven gates, four palaces, a colony of Jain temples as a major tourist attraction and many other temples. The interiors speak of Rajput architectural excellence and have wtihstood the test of time.

Timings: 9:45 AM to 6:30 PM

Kumbhalgarh Fort, Rajsamand

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The Kumbhalgarh Fort in Rajsamand is the birth place of the legendary and the prestigious, Maharana Pratap Singh. The journey to Kumbhalgarh is laden with zig-zag ways, dense forests and a wall that used to shield the fort during a war. This wall is regarded as the second largest wall in the whole wide world after the Great Wall of China. The fort also comprises of a number of palaces amongst which the Badal Mahal is a must-visit. As the name suggests, the palace is set up with dreamy colours and looks like its floating amidst clouds. With a complex and strong architecture, the fort was used as a refuge to protect families during wartime and the view from the top of the fort is beyond compare. The best time to visit Rajasthan to explore this fort is October to December and February to March.

Timings: 9 AM to 5 PM

Ranthambore Fort, Sawai Madhopur

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The Ranthambore Fort is situated in the Ranthambore National Park of Sawai Madhopur. Built by a Chauhan emperor in 944 C.E., the name of which is still disputed, Ranthambore still stands strong with its architectural magnificence and granduer. The journey within the park and up to the fort is enthralling and if you’re lucky, there’s a possibility you might even spot some wild life. Climb your way up to the highest point of the fort and gaze at the heart-capturing beauty of this region of Rajasthan. Along the banks of some water bodies, you’ll observe a diverse range of wild life species. Serpent eagles, vultures and many other birds can be observed at eye level from here and tiger spotting is very common.

Timings: 6 AM to 6 PM

Also, read Tiger Spotting in India.

Jaisalmer Fort, Jaisalmer

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The Jaisalmer Fort in Jaisalmer is known as the Golden Fort or the Sonar Quila or Sone Ka Quila for the entire fort is built using the peculiar golden-yellow stone of Jaisalmer. The fort encapsulates various palaces which were home to Rajput Kings and are basically sandstone walls built into concentric circles. Unlike the other plain walls of the fort, these walls are carved with designs of flowers, fruits and chariot wheels along with shades of royal gold. A 60 feet tall wall guards the fort and presently, is embellished with a huge crack on it. The legend narrates the association of this crack to a Hindu saint who tried to cross the threshold.

Timings: 7 AM to 6 PM

Amber Fort, Jaipur

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Amber Fort in Jaipur gives you all the reasons why it should be added to your list of places to visit in Rajasthan. The entire fort is constructed using sandstone and marble and comprises of four courtyards, garden sections, palaces and halls along with the Shila Devi Temple. Locals around will tell you that sacrifices formed the rituals that had to be performed before the deity since she is a reincarnation of Goddess Kali. The most loved and renowned section of the fort is the Diwan-E-Khas where all the royals got together for meetings and entertainment. The reason why it is adored by all its visitors is that the walls here are covered with complex mirrors imported all the way from Belgium. Hence, it is also called the Sheesh Mahal (Hall of Mirrors). An open-air passage from this fort will connect you to the Jaigarh Fort.

Timings: 8 AM to 5:30 PM

Check out Jaipur Tourism to know more!

Gagron Fort, Jhalawar

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Gagron Fort in the city of Jhalawar is the only hill and water fort in the beautiful state of Rajasthan. Raja Bijaldev of the Parmara Empire built the fort in the 7^th century and it is known that he attained the wisdom of meditation here. Hence, the fort is also called Galkangiri. Three sides of Gagron are surrounded by the waters of Ahu and Kali Sindh whereas the fourth side is occupied by the forests. Your visit here will be enlivened by scenic views of the Mukundara Mountain Range along with the lyrical sound of peacocks, parrots and the euphoria of nature.

Timings: 9 AM to 4 PM

To those who love the idea of transcending back in time with places, culture and heritage, Rajasthan is an ideal destination to feed your curiosity. No matter what your Rajasthan Tour Package is, make sure you add these six hill forts to your list of things to do in Rajasthan.

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