Rajasthan Forts and Palaces Forts and Palaces : Monumental Heritage of India Reminds of : The Rich Rajput Era. Highlights : Splendid Blend of Rajput and Mughal Architecture. Best Time To Visit : October to March.

Junagarh Fort , Bikaner

Fort and Palace in Rajasthan

Amber Fort Hawa Mahal Jaigarh Fort

Junagarh Fort Jaisalmer Fort Kumbhalgarh Fort

Mehrangarh Fort Nahargarh Fort

Forts And Palaces of Rajasthan- Relics of The Past

For centuries, if not millennia, the Rajput fortresses, the defensive castles, the composite havelis - were the abode of chivalry where hospitality was a way of life. Visitors, guests, even strangers were welcomed in a tradition that was a part of the lifestyles. Even enemies, should they have come calling, were treated with utmost respect "Aao Sa". And an extensive network of matrimonial alliances amongst the warring clans ensured that all battles ended on the field. It would not be an extravagant quote to say, that if the Rajputs had not been so humble to their enemies as to let them in, the colossal forts might never had been conquered! Take a royal fort and palace tours of Rajasthan to see the historical evidences.

The Forts That Stood The Test of Time

The forts in Rajasthan are no doubt the best manuscripts that spell the saga of the audacious Rajput clans. Believe it, these colossal structures are more experienced than you and me. They have seen sandstorms lash the towns in summer, trees being bent by fierce winds while they stood with their spirits high assenting the valor and intransigency of the mighty Rajputs. They have seen a 20th-century princess who fell in love with a man candidly, without regarding that he traces his family tree all the way back to monkeys, and married him in the face of medieval defiance, portraying true love amidst the desolate deserts. Above all the forts have witnessed mass immolations by thousands of graceful Rajput women, charging to their deaths in ash and saffron, endorsing the devotion and amour that these glitterati had locked in the secret archives of their heart for long. They grabbed the horns of destiny and changed its course of journey...enough to leave a foreign tourist mesmerized.

The Fort of Rajasthan are eloquent of the bygone era. The chivalry and gallantry of the warrior fraternity is reflected in the architecture of the feudal homes. Everytime you buzz the bell, after jaunting through the barren grasslands (because the forts were usually built atop a hill), you will be greeted with a colossal entrance; carved impeccebly enough to brake your eyeshot, if you try to peep into the voluminous courtyards disfavoring the grand architecture above you. Once inside you will be captivated to see the prodigious contours of the forts; lavishly spacious to accommodate 2-3 football grounds.

There were separate viewing galleries for women, and the ladies of the zenana regulated their own durbars and maneuvered considerable power from behind the purdah. Walk along the interspersed corridors while keeping an eye open for the beautifully embellished jaalis akin to intricate filigree, displayed on the mammoth parkotas of the coliseum on your sides. Some of the eminent forts also houses appalling chattels such as the Jaigarh Fort, which boasts of the largest cannon in the world, the Jaivan. Take a tour of the royal forts and palaces of Rajasthan to enjoy a historic holiday.

Umaid Bhawan Palace

The Palaces That Hold Their Beauty Eternally

Lalgarh Palace Umaid Bhawan Palace

City Palace - Udaipur Jal Mahal

Lake Palace City Palace - Jaipur

You must have heard "beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder". Rewind the phrase and you are talking about Rajasthan. The 'Land of Romance and Chivalry', flaunts of some magnificent palaces dotted along the barren sandscape of Rajasthan. They not only illustrate great works of craftsmanship, but also align majestic color combinations with the surrounding landscape; paragons that will put beauty in your eyes. Each and every corner of these grandiose edifices enter through a person's eyes but descends directly to one's heart. In the later palaces, the Rajputs often borrowed architectural inspiration from the Mughals. The sheesh mahal or mirror palace, which is profusely found in Rajasthan is a Mughal innovation. Every variety of artistic expression, from pietra dura to miniature styles to English landscapes and floral studies to some rare glass work, can be seen on the walls of these splendid architectural creations. The famous palace attractions fo Rajasthan will moon you.

Get onto a boat to reach the famous Lake Palace at Udaipur or book an elephant safari to reach Amber Palace in Jaipur, everywhere you will find the same chapter of grandeur and lavishness, printed in different pages of architectural deftness; be it sandstone or marble the letters glow with every sight.

Post independence, democratic India witnessed the merger of the Princely States, abolition of Jagirs, land reforms and finally the withdrawl of the special privileges and privy purse from the royal families a few decades later. Consequently, the noble families lost their traditional means of livelihood and even the wealthy merchants left their homes for more lucrative pastures. Their huge castles and mansions lay almost unattended till a few enterprising pioneers realised that perhaps the only way to maintain these historic homes was their appropriate reuse, transforming them into heritage hotels. Families in residence for centuries now welcome you to their homes as guests. And each ancestral home is different, uniquely so, reflecting its own exceptional history, tradition and period. The ambience is perfectly reflected through sepia photographs and family memorabilia. They not only share their dwells with foreign travelers, but also slice their lovable memories to them; and will show you the interiors with such enthusiasm, like the mother of a newborn baby. Though the royal legacy has subsided but still the Rajasthan forts and palaces have such great attractions that you cannot help but take a royal forts and palace tour in Rajasthan.