MEHRANGARH FORT AT JODHPUR IN RAJASTHAN, INDIA

The fort is among the most popular tourist places in India. The fort is located at a rocky hill which is 400 feet (122 m) above the surrounding places.

The fort is located at the centre of the city, spreading over 5 km top on a hill. Its walls, which are up to 36 m (118 feet) high and 21 m (69 feet) wide, protect it.

Inside its boundaries there are several palaces known for their wonderful carvings and expansive courtyards. A circular road heads to Mehrangarh from the city.

Rao Jodha (1438-89) ordered to build this fort, on an rock with a high elevation and better natural defenses.

For over 5 centuries Mehrangarh has been the home of the senior branch of Rajput clan, known as the Rathores.

What does Mehrangarh mean?

It is made up of two words:

‘Mihir’ (Sanskrit) – sun or Sun-deity
‘garh’ (Sanskrit) – fort
Mehrangarh means ‘fort of the sun’ – a reference to the clan’s mythical origin, from the sun god Surya.

History of this Fort

Rao Jodha (one of 24 sons of Ranmal) became the fifteenth Rathore ruler.

One year after he became king of the throne, Jodha decided to move his capital to the safer location of Jodhpur, as the 1000 years old Mandore fort was no longer able to provide sufficient security.

With the trusted aid of Rao Nara (son of Rao Samra) the Mewar forces were defeated at Mandore. With that Rao Jodha gave Rao Nara the title of Diwan.

With the help of Rao Nara the foundation and construction of the fort was started on date May 12, 1459 by Jodha on a rocky hill 9 km to the south of Mandore. This hill was known as ‘Bhaurcheeria’, the mountain of birds.

To build the fort Rao Jodha had to displace a hermit called Cheeria Nathji (the lord of birds).

Upset at being forced to move Cheeria Nathji cursed Rao Jodha that “Jodha! May your castle ever suffer a scarcity of water!”

Rao Jodha managed to please the hermit by building a house and a temple in the fort very near the cave where the hermit used to meditate (Yoga), though only to the extent that even today the area is plagued by a drought every 3 to 4 years.

He started to build the fort but the fort would destroy itself the next day. To ensure the prosperity of the new site he buried a man called “Raja Ram Meghwal” (of Soorsagar) alive in the foundations.

“Raja Ram Meghwal” was promised that in return his family would be looked after by the Rathores. To this day his children still live in Raj Bagh of Soorsagar. Raja Ram Meghwal Garden, an estate given to them by Jodha.

Though the fort was originally started in 1459 by Rao Jodha. Most of the fort which stands today dates from the period of Jaswant Singh (1638–78).