India has a lot of amazing fortresses, but Mehrangarh Fort might be the best of them.
Located on a hilltop overlooking the Blue City of Jodhpur, this fort is among the largest and most well-preserved in the country, and one of the top historical attractions in the state of Rajasthan.
Mehrangarh Fort is a masterpiece of Rajasthani architecture, with 120-foot walls, beautiful palaces, 500-year old artefacts, and the best views of the Blue City.
Whether you’re a history buff or not, this historical site belongs on your India bucket list, and in this guide I’ve provided you with everything you need to know to visit Mehrangarh Fort.
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A Brief History of Mehrangarh Fort
To get the most out of your visit to Mehrangarh Fort, it helps to have a little back-story…
Mehrangarh Fort traces its origins back to 1459 when the Mewar Kingdom moved their capital from nearby Mandore. Construction on the fort began right away, but it’s unclear how much was actually built at this time. What is known, however, is that most of the fort you see today was built about 80 years later, from 1638 onwards.
This massive fortress was the centre of the Mewar Kingdom, which ruled over a land similar in size and borders to the modern-day state of Rajasthan. Its massive 120-foot walls protected the kingdom’s central buildings, including palaces for the king and close members of the royal family, administrative buildings, and the royal temple.
Thanks to its size and location, Mehrangarh Fort looks impenetrable, but that hasn’t stopped people from trying. This fort has seen its fair share of sieges, having been attacked by multiple neighbouring kingdoms. In fact, damage due to cannonballs can still be seen on some of the outer gates.
Ultimately Mehrangarh Fort would fall, like the rest of India, to the Mughal Empire (the same people who built the Taj Mahal and the Red Fort) in 1570. While Rajputs would still rule from Mehrangarh Fort for another few centuries, they would do so as vassals of the Mughals and later the British.
After India gained its independence from Britain in the late 1940s, the former royal families of Rajasthan would lose their royal status, and forts such as Mehrangarh would become little more than a museum and heritage site.
Today, Mehrangarh Fort remains one of the largest and most well-preserved forts in India, and the top historical attraction in Jodhpur.
How to get to Jodhpur
Mehrangarh Fort, and the city Jodhpur, are located in the Indian state of Rajasthan, in the country’s northwest region.
Getting to Jodhpur is fairly straightforward, since it’s a major city and well-connected to nearby tourist destinations like Udaipur, Jaipur and Jaisalmer.
To reach the Blue City, you have 3 main options…
Train
India has an extensive train network, and it includes Jodhpur.
Catching a train is a popular way of reaching the city, and its main railway station is located fairly close to Mehrangarh Fort and the main tourist area.
The cost of your ticket and the length of the journey will of course depend on where you’re coming from, but as an example a train from nearby Jaipur will take about 5 hours and set you back about $5 USD.
The best place to purchase your train ticket to Jodhpur is with 12Go Asia.
Bus
Depending on where you’re coming from, catching a train may not be an option. Thankfully, another great way to reach Jodhpur is by bus.
Most buses arrive at the Paota Bus Stand or Rai Ka Bagh Bus Stand, which are both centrally located and close to the main tourist area near Mehrangarh Fort.
The price of the ticket will of course depend on where you’re coming from, but as an example, an airconditioned bus from Jaipur should take around 6 hours and set you back about $6 USD.
The best place to purchase your bus ticket to Jodhpur is with 12Go Asia.
Another popular resource for booking bus tickets in India is Red Bus.
Fly
The fastest way of reaching Jodhpur is to fly.
Because Jodhpur is located close to other popular tourist destinations that you’ll most likely be visiting too, flying is arguably only a suitable option if you’re coming from somewhere far away, like Mumbai, Kolkata or Bangalore.
You’d be flying into Jodhpur Airport (JDH), which is located about 5km from the main tourist area near Mehrangarh Fort.
The best place to find cheap flights to Jodhpur is with Skycanner.
Best time to visit Jodhpur
Being located in the Thar Desert, Jodhpur unsurprisingly gets pretty hot. So picking the right time of year to visit the Blue City can make a big difference to your daytime adventures.
The best time of year to visit Jodhpur is between October and March – the winter months.
It can get a little cold at night, especially in December and January when the nighttime temperature can drop below 10℃, but during the day you can expect a more comfortable 20 to 30℃.
While there’s no reason you can’t visit Jodhpur during the summer months, you should expect day time temperatures to stay consistently in the higher 30s and low 40s℃.
Mehrangarh Fort Opening Hours
The fort is open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
It’s a good idea to give yourself plenty of time to explore, as there’s a lot to see inside the fort. Plan to spend at least half a day here if you want to thoroughly enjoy the exhibits, architecture, and views.
Mehrangarh Fort Entry Fee
The entry fee for Mehrangarh Fort is INR 600 (approximately 7.50 USD) for foreigners, which includes access to the museum, palaces, and other sections of the fort.
For Indian citizens, the entry fee is INR 200.
There are also optional fees for additional activities:
- Audio guide: INR 180 for both Indian and foreign visitors
- Elevator ride to the top of the fort: INR 50 (optional, but convenient if you want to avoid the long climb)
Tickets can be purchased from the ticket booth at the fort’s entrance, but can also be purchased online in advance from Mehrangarh Museum Trust website.
How Long It Takes to Visit Mehrangarh Fort?
Mehrangarh Fort is huge, and to explore it fully, you should set aside at least 3 to 4 hours.
The fort complex is vast, with plenty of areas to explore, including several courtyards, palaces, museums, and viewpoints. If you’re interested in the historical exhibits or want to take your time and get the most out of your visit, you might need to make it a half-day trip.
Make sure to pace yourself, as the fort sits on top of a hill, and there is quite a bit of walking and stair climbing involved.
Things to see at Mehrangarh Fort
Mehrangarh Fort is massive, with lots of things to explore inside its walls. Here’s a few of the highlights you can expect to see on your visit.
The 7 gates
The first thing you’ll see when entering Mehrangarh Fort are its gates, or ‘pols’.
Mehrangarh Fort has 7 gates which were built by various rulers over time, generally to commemorate victories over invading armies.
The Jai Pol (Gate of Victory) is the most impressive, and was built in 1806 to celebrate a victory over a combined invasion from nearby Jaipur and Bikaner. The Dedh Kamgra Pol and Loha Pol even bear scars left by cannonballs fired by the invaders.
The Palaces
There are a number of palaces within Mehrangarh Fort, built to house the King and close members of the royal family.
The largest and most important of these is the Moti Mahal (Pearl Palace). Decorated with vibrant colours and stained-glass windows, this palace was where the ruler would receive their subjects.
Another impressive palace is the Sheesh Mahal (Mirror Palace). Covered floor to ceiling in small, intricately arranged mirrors, this palace was used for royal gatherings.
Mehrangarh Fort Museum
Soon after entering the fort you’ll come across the museum.
While it’s not a big museum, it does house an impressive collection of artefacts from Mehrangarh Fort and Rajasthan’s past, which include interesting things such as seats used for riding elephants, manuscripts, royal outfits, paintings and a large collection of weapons used by Rajput warriors.
Chamunda Devi Temple
Tucked away on the ramparts at the far end of Mehrangarh Fort is Chamunda Devi Temple.
The personal holy site used by the royal family that used to inhabit Mehrangarh Fort, this small temple was one of the first buildings constructed inside the fort. It’s dedicated to the Hindu goddess Chamunda, which was the preferred deity of the royal family.
Chamunda Devi Temple also offers some of the best views of the surrounding Blue City.
