ONE of India’s biggest forts, the Mehrangarh Fort or the Citadel of the Sun, stands atop a 125-metre hill in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. It was built by the Rajput king, Rao Jodha Singh in the 1450s. Resplendent in pink sandstone, the fort looms over the city. It has seven massive gates. In the early days, the gates would be kept closed at dusk, after which no one was allowed to leave or enter the city.
The fort’s walls are six metres thick and bear marks of the sieges and battles fought. Unlike other forts in the region this fort was invaded more often by the neighbouring Rajput kings and chieftains than by Mughals and Afghans. At the southern end of the fort, one can see cannons used in warfare jutting out from the ramparts. Three huge guns Kilkila, Shambhubaan and Ghazikhan are still kept in perfect condition in the fort.
The Iron Gateway or the Loha pol is the final gate leading to the palaces. On this gateway you can see hand prints of Maharaja Man Singh’s widows who committed sati. The palaces are built around a courtyard, which houses the royal treasures such as palanquins, paintings, howdahs, weapons, costumes and jewels.
There are many palaces inside the fort. Moti Mahal has many hidden balconies from which it is said, the queens followed the court proceedings below. Sheeshmahal has huge paintings of religious figures among others.
The fort overlooks Brahmapuri, the oldest settlement in Jodhpur. It was inhabited mainly by Brahmins once. Their houses were painted blue to distinguish them from those of the others.