The Ranthambore Fort is located at the
top of a rocky outcrop in the middle of the forest covers an area of
approximately 7 kilometers in circumference. It is one of the
oldest forts in India. The fort was a
vital citadel for the control of central India, with the result that many wars
were fought for its possession. Due to its location and structure, it was one
of the most difficult forts to overthrow. Records show that the fort with stood
the assaults of people life Kutub-ud-din (1209), Allaudin Khilji (1301), Feroz Tughlaq
(1325) and Bahadur Shah of Gujarat (1530). The most successful ruler of this
fort was Rao Hammir in the 11th century. In 1528, the reign of
the fort went into the hands of the Mughals and even the great
emperor "Akbar" is said to have stayed at the fort between 1558 and 1559. According to a legend, over a thousand women once committed mass suicide as they would rather have killed themselves than fall prey to the invader army.
The Fort was finally gifted by the Mughals in the late 17th century to the Maharaja of Jaipur,
who ruled his kingdom not far away from the magnificent fort at Amer. The fort
then remained with the royal family of Jaipur. The surrounding jungles which
now form the National Park were then the royal hunting
grounds. This turned out to be a boon for the forest as hunting was extremely
well controlled and the wilderness allowed to flourish.
A trip to the fort is a thrilling experience. The first
thing that hits you is the breathtaking view in every direction. The interiors of
the fort are also stunning. The quality of workmanship is
difficult to match even today despite the advances that science has made in
every field. The acoustics of the Hammir court, where a whisper
can be heard at the other end of the building, is only one of the many marvels
one witnesses here.
The "Gupt Ganga" is another marvel which is a
series of steps cut into rock until they arrive at a perennial stream. For the religious minded,
the fort is an absolute must visit. The entire fort is dotted
with beautiful temples and also a mosque. The most
famous of these being the temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha. It
is said that devotees actually send in letters to the God at this temple, which
are brought up daily by the local postman.
If you are not a person interested in ancient architecture and history, you will still not go back disappointed because of the view of the park the fort offers. With a pair of good binoculars, it is definite that you would be able to spot any tiger coming out to the lake waters below. A sight that is different but equally awesome as seeing a tiger up close. The fort also possesses an excellent population of birds, resident and migratory. This is due to the numerous water bodies present within it's confines and the excellent vegetation.
A visit to Ranthambore National Park without a trip to
the fort should not even be imagined.
