Junagarh Fort in Rajasthan

The Junagarh Fort in Bikaner was built by Ram Singh, the ruler of Bikaner and a minister in the Mughal court. The fort was constructed in the sixteenth century. The Junagarh Fort has a distinctive architectural style, thanks to the vision of Ram Singh, the well traveled ruler who wanted the best architectural styles of the world to be incorporated into the construction of the palace.

First, let us start with the defense mechanisms of the fort. Though not built on top of an inaccessible cliff, the Junagarh Fort has the distinction of being the only fort in Rajasthan that was never conquered by an enemy army. The reason partly rests with the alliances that the rulers formed with the powerful monarchs of the Mughal era. The shrewd Ram Singh, instead of vowing to die fighting the Mughals, became an able minister in their court. The land on which the fort is built, indeed, most of the territory of the then kingdom of Bikaner, was a gift to Ram Singh from the Mughals themselves.

The fort has a wide and deep moat, another reason why it never could be taken over. The main entrance into the fort is through the Karan Pol which leads to the Suraj Pol. The Anup Mahal, the most magnificent palace within the fort complex, has red and gold interiors. The red is the lacquer that is used for enameling the walls, and the gold is real gold, beaten into thin sheets. The look is completed with mirrors set within the walls.

The Badal Mahal is dedicated to rain clouds, something not seen often in Rajasthan. The walls and ceilings of this palace are covered in delicate frescoes of clouds. Other frescoes here depict deities from the Hindu pantheon. The Rang Mahal was the pleasure house of kings, a place where evenings came alive through dances, sumptuous food, card games, and courtly gossip.

To break the strong grasp of material pleasure on the minds of kings and their hangers on, the fort also housed a temple. The Hari Mandir is the place where the king went to worship his favorite deity with his family.

Other palaces worth visiting are the Ganga Niwas, Vijay Mahal and Dungar Niwas. Each of these palaces has the distinctive red and gold touch on the walls. The Chandra Mahal (“Moon Palace”), true to its name, brings alive the romance of full moon nights through a riot of marble and mirrors.