The Ranthambore Fort is located at the top of a rocky outcrop in the middle of the forest, which almost literally marks the meeting of the Aravali and Vindhya hills ranges. A marked difference can be noticed in the terrain in front of and that behind the fort. The fort is huge and covers an area of approximately 7 kilometers in circumference. It is one of the oldest forts in the country and is said to have been built in 944 AD a Chauhan warrior The Delhi Sultan Iltutmish captured Ranthambore in 1226, but the Chauhans recapture it after his death in 1236. The armies of Sultan Nasir ud din Mahmud , led by the future Sultan Balban unsuccessfully besieged the fortress in 1248 and 1253 but captured from Jaitrasingh Chauhan in 1259 Hamir Dev succeeded Jaitrasingh in 1283 and recaptured Ranthambore and enlarged the kingdom. Sultan Jalal ud din Firuz Khilji briefly besieged the fort in 1290 -91 In 1299, Hamir Dev sheltered Muhammad Shah, a rebel general of Sultan Ala ud din Khilji and refused to turn him over to the Sultan. The sultan unsuccessfully besieged the fortress in 1299, but returned in 1301 to personally oversee a long siege, and succeeded in capturing the fort. The fortress was captured by the kingdom of Mewar under Rana Hamir Singh (1326-1364) and Rana Kumbha (1433-1468). After the reign of Rana Kumbha's successor Rana Udai Singh I (1468-1473) the fortress passed to the Hada Rajputs of Bundi Sultan Bahadur Shah of Gujarat captured the fortress from 1532 to 1535 The Mughal Emperor Akbar captured the fortress in 1559. The fortress passed to the Kachwaha Maharajas of Jaipur in the 17th century and it remained part of Jaipur state until Indian Independence. The area surrounding the fortress became a hunting ground for the Maharajas of Jaipur. Jaipur state acceded to India in 1949, becoming part of the state of Rajasthan in 1950. The main parts of the Ranthambore Fort in Sawai Madhopur that make the fort a major tourist attraction include Sukh Sagar, Jaunra- Bhonra, Phansi Ghar, Rani Talab, Badal Mahal, Hammir Court and Jogi Mahal. The major mansions and memorials at Ranthambore Fort in Sawai Madhopur are Hammir Mahal, Rani Mahal, Raj Mandir and Haveli of Sanghiji. This fort located in the premises of the national park has a number of gates that are worth a mention. These gates include Bara Darwaza, Mor Dwar, Nav lakha, Hathi Pol, Ganesh Pol, Toran Gate, Andheri Gate, Suraj Pol, Delhi Gate and Satpole. Inside Ranthambore fort there are three Hindu temples dedicated to Ganesh,Shiva and Ramlalaji constructed in 12th and 13th centuries from red Karauli stone.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 |
