Mehrangarh Fort, Fort in Jodhpur, India
Mehrangarh Fort is a fortified complex in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, rising from a rocky hill on the city edge. The red sandstone walls form a commanding ring around several palaces, courtyards and gates arranged on terraced levels.
The complex began in 1459 when ruler Rao Jodha moved his capital to this more defensible site. Successive generations expanded the compound over centuries, adding new palace wings and fortifications.
The name derives from Mehran, an older word for sun, reflecting the royal connection to the sun deity. Visitors today see decorated pavilions and courtyards where court life once unfolded and where cultural events now take place regularly.
The visit usually begins at the main gate, from where paths branch out to different courtyards and halls. A walk along the rampart offers views over the blue houses of the old town and surrounding landscape.
Handprints on one of the walls recall widows who gave themselves to fire during royal funerals. The bullet marks on the gates bear witness to attacks the fort withstood over the centuries.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
