NAHARGARH FORT, JAIPUR
Jaipur, the city of palaces and forts, as its famous for, is none less than a treat for folks who have a penchant for Indian Heritage. As I wander around, I find each corner so well preserved and every bit regal. It’s a must visit place for its opulence and grandeur. There is a lot more to explore in the pink city, known due to the color of the monuments. Some of the most talked about monuments are Hawa Mahal, Jal Mahal, Jantar Mantar, Birla Temple, Statue Circle, Rambagh Palace, City Palace. As we go further ahead, almost 11 kms away are three famous forts; Amer Fort, Nahargarh Fort and Jaigarh Fort that depicts the true essence of the Mewar Kingdom. Amer is being the prominent fort, however, Nahargarh fort is my most revered, for it is subjected to various stories. My inquisitiveness had no bounds when I happened to read about the Fort while scrolling through the list of the most haunted forts in India. This was enough to head towards the fort without much fret.
Situated at the apex of Aravallis, reaching Nahargarh Fort is not difficult, albeit. You can hire a cab and cover all the three forts in the same day. Roads are clear, but narrow enough for it has one lane for each side to commute. There are not too many steep curves and the drive to the fort is pretty comfortable. There is a minimal entry fee of 50 INR for Indians and 200 INR for foreign tourists. As we step in the palatial premise of the fort, just at the entrance you would see a Wax Museum and Sheesh Mahal that has an entry fee of 500 INR, which is optional. There is a step well on the right side of the entrance, which is used to conserve rain water and has filters attached to provide water to the fort that is situated at the hillock. There is a food court beside the wax museum, that has a decent menu and is reasonably priced, and for the sitting, its more rustic, basic, I would say but neat. Try wearing cotton clothes and comfortable shoes as you would need to walk all through the day. Carry water bottle and don’t forget your camera. PS: there is no extra charge for carrying a camera.
Going back to the history of the Fort, Nahargarh along with Jaigarh Fort were built as the defense of the capital and both the forts were well connected through fortifications. The fort was never attacked due to its location and robustness. It was built in 1734 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, that was later extended and revamped by Maharaja Jai Singh as a retreat place. There is a lot of buzz about the construction of the fort. When the work of building began, strange things started happening. Every morning the workers would find the previous day’s work sabotaged, this was when Maharaja Jai Singh discovered the land was haunted by the spirit of Rathore Prince, Nahar Singh Bhoomia. However, the spirit was pacified when a shrine in his name was built inside the fort and also later the fort was named after him. Also, Nahar means “abode of tigers” which again was one of the reasons behind the name of the fort.
The fort, was used by the king as a hunting retreat. While the queens used the palace as their abode to take a break from their mundane life. I was captivated by the splendor of Madhavendra Bhawan, that has nine identical, two storey apartments, that were built for his nine wives. Each of these quarters depicts the exquisite Rajputana architecture. All the walls are painted in subtle colors with beautiful art effects, and each of them overlook towards the rectangular courtyard from three sides while the fourth side is connected to the king's apartment through a corridor that only the king had access to. Also, as I moved to the top of the fort, the view from there was splendiferous as you could see the panoramic view of Jaipur city. The sunset view from here was breathtaking. Most of the fort now is being converted into museum to attract more tourists. As, Nahargarh Fort remained understated due to the solemnity of Amer Fort, the footfall at Nahargarh fort had been scanty however, I found it mystical than any of the three forts.
I like to visit Jaipur at any time of the year, however, winters are the ideal time. Since the place is close to desert, and it’s usually hot throughout the year, summers being unbearable for many. September till February are the best suitable months for the first timers.
