Interesting Facts You Did Not Know about the Mehrangarh Fort

Rudyard Kipling described Mehrangarh Fort as “A palace that might have been built by Titans and colored by the morning sun”, and we totally agree! Epitomizing royalty and glory, this gem in Jodhpur is one of the largest and most beautiful forts in India. Built by Rao Jodha (the founder of Jodhpur) in 1459 overlooking the blue city, the fort is known for its beautiful architecture.

But, did you know these interesting facts about this Instagram-worthy fort?

1. How it got its name...

For the Rathore dynasty, Sun was the most superior of all Gods. Hence, they named the fort ‘Mehrangarh’, a name which was derived from two words: ‘Mihir’, that stands for Sun and ‘Garh’ implicating Fort. The locals gradually began to call Mehar-garh as Mehrangarh in their local accent, hence the name.

2. The legend of a curse…

According to a legend, a hermit called Cheeria Nathji used to meditate on the hill, where Rao Jodha decided to build the fort and had the hermit move from the site. Agonized by this, Nathji cursed Rao’s family saying that his fort would suffer from scarcity of water. However, Rao Jodha had built a home and a temple in the fort for Nathji. To avert the curse, Rao had a man named Rajiya Bambi buried alive, to ensure that the new fort was auspicious. In return, the man was offered that his family and descendants would be looked after and compensated by the Rathores. Even today, the fort faces draughts every 3-4 years.

Read More: 6 Places to Visit in Jodhpur That You Must Add to Your Bucket List

3. Movies shot here...

Many blockbuster movies were also shot at this magnificent fort. The famous Hollywood movie “The Dark Knight Rises” has its significant scenes shot here. Bollywood is not too far behind! Movies such as “Awarapan”, “Hum Saath Saath Hain”, “Shudh Desi Romance” and “Holiday- A Soldier Is Never Off Duty”, are amongst the few Bollywood flicks that have been shot at Mehrangarh Fort.

4. The architectural beauty…

The fort is protected by walls measuring 118 ft in height and 69 ft in width, and still houses several palaces, known for their intricate carvings and expansive courtyards. The fort has a museum, that has preserved a vast collection of paintings, costumes, arms and ammunitions from the Rathore rulers. It also features relics and artefacts from the Mughal dynasty.

There are seven gates to enter the Mehrangarh fort, which were made by different rulers in honor of victory over the Bikaner and Jaipur armies. You can still spot the imprints of cannonballs fired by the Jaipur army at the Dedh Kamgra Gate. To the left of the Loha Gate, are the hand prints of the royal satis, the wives of the rulers. It is said that the satis carried the Bhagavad Gita along with them while sacrificing themselves on the funeral pyre of their husband, but the royal book would not perish.

Read More: Head to Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur and Live The Royal Life!

5. The land it stands on...

The fort is also declared a National Geological Monument by the Geological Survey of India. It is built on a Malani Igneous Suite Contact representing the last phase of igneous activity of Precambrian age in the Indian Subcontinent, making this geological feature very impressive.

Adjacent to the Mehrangarh Fort is the Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park. Containing ecologically restored vegetation of arid and desert land, this park was created in 2006 and was subsequently opened to the public in February 2011. The area in and around the park contains unique volcanic rock formations such as welded tuff, rhyolite, breccia and sandstone formations.

If you’re amazed by these facts, you NEED to visit the unbelievably beautiful Mehrangarh Fort. We promise, you won’t be disappointed!

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