Palaces in Rajasthan - Though a number of these forts and palaces have been left in ruins, one can still feel the royalty it once exuded. A look at the massive walls that guard the forts and palaces show that they once served as a defence for the rulers who often fought war among themselves and sometimes with foreign invaders. These structures are scattered all over the state, their location specifically chosen in view of their strategic position. As such, today every region of this state has at least one formidable fort and a beautiful palace. Many of these structures have been converted into heritage hotels and museums.

¤Hawa Mahal: Also called Palace of Wind is a Jaipur landmark. The design of the mahal is that of the crown of Krishna, the Hindu god with and the five-storey exterior is meant to look like a honeycomb of the beehive. It has 953 small windows. The mahal was built by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh in the year 1799.

¤Jaisalmer Fort: This fort figures among the largest in the world 457 m in length and 229 m in breadth. It is built atop Trikut Hill towering conspicuously in sharp contrast to the desert that encloses it. The Jaisalmer town is centred around this fort, a typical feature of Rajasthan architecture.

¤Amber Fort: The Fort stands in sheer brilliance high on a hilltop about 11 kms from the capital city Jaipur. The ruling Kachhawa clan of Amber who built it took from both Hindu and Mughal architecture reflected in the unique delicate glass works in the mirrors on the walls and ceiling that scatters the rays of the sun all over the site. There is a fascinating royal elephant ride up to the fort.

¤Nahargarh Fort: The Nahargarh Fort offers a captivating view of Jaipur and the Man Sagar Lake below. Sawai Raja Jai Singh the Maharaja of Jaipur’s eye for architecture is revealed by this Fort. It was constructed in the year 1734 atop the Nahargarh Hills at a height of 600 ft above the sea level. The colossal walls of the fort surround the magnificent structures like Hawa Mandir and Madhvendra Bhawan.

¤Mehrangarh Fort: Built in 1459, this is one of India’s largest forts. It stands at Jodhpur on the terrain of the Aravali Ranges at a height of 125 m conspicuous due to its height and tint of red sandstone.

¤Kumbhalgarh Fort: Standing atop the Aravali Ranges, Kumbhalgarh is the second best fortification in India. It is found 64 km north of Udaipur in the back city amidst the woods of the town. It is particularly noted for its huge flat wall that extends about 36 kms.

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