Mehrangarh Fort

Fort in Jodhpur

must-see attraction

Opening hours: 9:00am-5:00pm

Address: Fort Rd, Jodhpur, Rajasthan

Ticket price: Indian/foreigner including audio guide ₹100/600, guide ₹400, camera/video ₹100/200

Visit duration: People typically spend 1 to 2 hours here

Website: www.mehrangarh.org

About Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur

The impregnable-looking Mehrangarh Fort stands perpendicular to the land. The fort was built on a rocky hill called Bhakurcheeria or the hill for birds. It is a must-see attraction of Jodhpur and is visited by tourists from all over the world. It is an amalgamation of diverse history and stunning architecture.

Mehrangarh Fort is one of the largest forts in India covering an area of over 1,200 acres. The battlements of the fort are as high as 6 m to 36 m and were chiselled from the rock of the hill on which it stands. This gives the fort an appearance that makes it merge with the base.

As soon as you enter the fort, you see a stark difference between its exterior and interior. There are several palaces with beautiful and intricate carvings and open courtyards within the walls of the Mehrangarh Fort.

History of Mehrangarh Fort

The foundation of the formidable Mehrangarh Fort was laid by Rao Jodha in the year 1459. Since then, the construction of various parts of the fort has continued for centuries.

There is a legend that surrounds the construction of the fort. It is believed that in order to build the fort, Rao Jodha had to forcefully shift a hermit called Cheeria Nath. Infuriated, he cursed that the fort would face severe drought. Even the construction collapsed the very next day it started. To break the curse, the hermit said that someone has to bury himself alive in the fort's foundation. A man named Raja Ram Meghwal got buried alive breaking the curse. The ruler had promised to take care of his family and even to this day, the current generation of Raja Ram Meghwal's family is living in the Raja Ram Meghwal garden.

Architecture of Mehrangarh Fort

The Mehrangarh Fort is guarded by seven walls.

The main entrance is the Jai Pol by Maharaja Man Singh to celebrate his victory over Jaipur's Maharaja Jagat Singh in 1808. Another gate that was constructed to remember is the Fateh Pol or Victory Gate. This was constructed to celebrate taking back control of the fort from the Mughals in 1707.

The other gates are Amriti Pol, Lakhna Pol or Dedh Kanghra Pol, Loha Pol and Suraj Pol. The Loha Pol has the handprints of 15 queens who performed Sati, an ancient practice in which the queen and royal ladies of the family sacrificed their lives willingly in order to escape enslavement by Mughals.

There are several palaces including the Sheesh Mahal, Phool Mahal, Takhat Vilas Palace, and Moti Mahal among others. These palaces are a reminder of how opulent the lives of the kings and queens were. In some of these palaces, you can still see pictures of the kings.

Some of the temples in the fort that are worth seeing are the Chamunda Mataji Temple, Nagnechiji Temple and Jaswant Thada Cenotaph.

You can take a tour of the Mehrangarh Fort Museum and witness all these amazing places that are steeped in history and showcase the fineness and glory of the bygone ages.

Entry fee and timings

The tickets to visit the Mehrangarh Fort is ₹100 for Indians and ₹600 for foreigners. This ticket fee includes an audio guide that helps visitors know the history of the fort and its significance. The audio guide also helps to navigate the fort in about one or two hours.

On 12th May every year, the doors of the fort open to all for free to celebrate Jodhpur Foundation day.

The fort opens its gates to the tourists at 9:00 am and remains open till 5:00 pm.

Facts and tips about Mehrangarh Fort

• The Mehrangarh Fort has been the filming location of Hollywood blockbusters like The Jungle Book and The Dark Knight Rises.


• There are two temples inside the Mehrangarh Fort which showcase the work of different musicians across 500 centuries.


• At the entrance of the fort, you can find folk musicians performing. You can also spot them in restaurants, city bazaars and exhibitions.

Other attractions near Mehrangarh Fort

• Jaswant Thada - 1.0 km
• Old Blue City & Clock Tower Market - 3.1 km
• Umaid Bhawan Palace - 6.0 km

FAQs about Mehrangarh Fort

1. Can you click photographs at Mehrangarh Fort?

You can click photographs and even shoot videos at the Mehrangarh Fort by paying a minimal fee of ₹100 and ₹200 respectively for photos and videos.

2. Can aged people visit the Mehrangarh Fort?

Yes, aged visitors can visit the Mehrangarh Fort and avail of the elevator service to go up instead of taking the steep path leading inside the fort.

3. Can we visit Mehrangarh Fort at night?

The fort remains open till 5 pm. However, the fort when lit up after sunset has a stunning view so you can spend some time in a nearby restaurant in the evening and catch a glimpse of the fort lit up at night.

4. How much time do you need to spend visiting the Mehrangarh fort?

It usually takes around 2 hours for visitors to take a tour of the fort. However, if you wish to spend more time learning the history of the place, your visit could last a good 3 to 4 hours.