Khandar Fort
Located in the Khandar Tehsil of Sawai Madhopur District in the Indian state of Rajasthan, Khandar Fort is one of the oldest forts over here. It forms the boundary of Ranthambore National Park. Situated about 40 kilometers from the main city, Khandar Fort is perched on a vertical hill, which has protected the fort from various enemy attacks in the past. Thus, the fort was considered as one of the most inaccessible and invincible forts in the state.
The fort was initially under the control of Sisodia Kings of Mewar before being taken over by the Mughals. After which, the fort was conquered by the Maharajas of Jaipur during the 18th century. During some period, Khandar Fort was also ruled by the Bargujar Kings and was also attacked by Allaudin Khilji. The damaged walls, doors and ceilings of the fort serve as the evidence of the various historical incidents and battles that took place over here.
There are several old temples situated within the fort that are very popular among both tourists and devotees. The old Jain Temple is very famous for its several skillfully carved idols of various Jain Gurus that are made out of rocks. There is also a Hanuman Temple in the fort, which consists of an idol of Lord Hanuman, carved out of a single stone, with a demon under his feet. Another popular temple in the fort is the Jayanti Mata Temple, which is famous for its annual fair that is attended by hundreds of tourists. The Chaturbhuja Temple is known for its extraordinary idol of the four-armed God. There is also the magnificent Rani Temple, which is situated at the highest point of the fort and consists of several damaged sculptures. Other popular temples situated inside the fort premises that one must visit include Jagatpalji Temple, Bramani’s Temple and Gobind Devji Temple.
Besides several temples, Khandar Fort is also home to two enormous water tanks namely Laxmankunda and Ramkunda. There are also few small ponds in the fort but because of lack of maintenance, only four of them are noticeably visible. Another popular tourist attraction within the fort is the beautiful Hawa Mahal, which is an architectural masterpiece with its delicately carved windows, pillars and arches.
There is also a popular picnic spot in the fort called Narsingha Dhar, where the sight of water calmly flowing from the rocks provides a beautiful and a relaxing spot for the tourists. Since the fort is also called the ‘gateway to Ranthambore’, one can even spot various wild animals such as tigers and leopards near the fort. All the attractions in the fort are a demonstration of the splendor and grandeur of the previous years.
Since Sawai Madhopur experiences extreme weather conditions, the best time to visit the fort is between the months of October and March, when the weather conditions are quite pleasant.
History of Khandar Fort
Due to its strategic location, Khandar Fort was often called as the ‘Security of Ranthambore’ during the medieval period in India. It is believed that the king of this fort never once lost a battle to its enemy in the past. It is because of this reason; Khandar Fort was always a favorite among the several dynasties across the country.The fort was initially under the control of Sisodia Kings of Mewar before being taken over by the Mughals. After which, the fort was conquered by the Maharajas of Jaipur during the 18th century. During some period, Khandar Fort was also ruled by the Bargujar Kings and was also attacked by Allaudin Khilji. The damaged walls, doors and ceilings of the fort serve as the evidence of the various historical incidents and battles that took place over here.
Attractions in Khandar Fort
Khandar Fort is home to several beautiful attractions that are definitely worth a visit. The architecture of the fort is a prime example of the rich culture and heritage present in the state of Rajasthan.There are several old temples situated within the fort that are very popular among both tourists and devotees. The old Jain Temple is very famous for its several skillfully carved idols of various Jain Gurus that are made out of rocks. There is also a Hanuman Temple in the fort, which consists of an idol of Lord Hanuman, carved out of a single stone, with a demon under his feet. Another popular temple in the fort is the Jayanti Mata Temple, which is famous for its annual fair that is attended by hundreds of tourists. The Chaturbhuja Temple is known for its extraordinary idol of the four-armed God. There is also the magnificent Rani Temple, which is situated at the highest point of the fort and consists of several damaged sculptures. Other popular temples situated inside the fort premises that one must visit include Jagatpalji Temple, Bramani’s Temple and Gobind Devji Temple.
Besides several temples, Khandar Fort is also home to two enormous water tanks namely Laxmankunda and Ramkunda. There are also few small ponds in the fort but because of lack of maintenance, only four of them are noticeably visible. Another popular tourist attraction within the fort is the beautiful Hawa Mahal, which is an architectural masterpiece with its delicately carved windows, pillars and arches.
There is also a popular picnic spot in the fort called Narsingha Dhar, where the sight of water calmly flowing from the rocks provides a beautiful and a relaxing spot for the tourists. Since the fort is also called the ‘gateway to Ranthambore’, one can even spot various wild animals such as tigers and leopards near the fort. All the attractions in the fort are a demonstration of the splendor and grandeur of the previous years.
Best Time to Visit Khandar Fort
Since Sawai Madhopur experiences extreme weather conditions, the best time to visit the fort is between the months of October and March, when the weather conditions are quite pleasant.