This week Indispire prompts us to write a post about visiting a heritage site. In the last week of September and first week of October of 2019, I had visited Mehrangarh fort at Jodhpur – a heritage site.
Built on a hill by Rao Jodha between 1459 and modified / upgraded between 1638 – 1678, Meharangarh fort is between 350 to 550 years old.

From a distance the fort looked imposing, sitting on a hillock around 400 feet above the ground.

A winding road lead us to base of the fort from the parking lot below.

I was unfit and weary of climbing up the steps. As if god listened to my prayers. I came to know at the ticket counter that an elevator has been installed for some years now, for people like me. Up we went up to the thirteenth floor without any problem.

From the thirteenth floor we embarked on our upward journey on foot upto the sixteenth floor. We covered different rooms, some were meant for the kings, many were for the queens. Jodhpur royals had many queens, some as many as thirty. There were rooms dedicated to prayer, rooms intended for relaxation, some rooms stored royal armoury, others had cribs for royal babies.
Unlike a good travel writer, I could not pay attention to crucial details of each room of the site. Details slipped away, guide moved on to a different topic, as I tried to take photographs.

I came across this genealogy of Marwar Royals framed on one of the walls.

Shown above is a royal seat where king would hear grievances of his common subjects.








Mehrangarh fort has an UNESCO approved shop. Visitors can pickup mementos and knick knacks there. Our guide recommended us to pick up something from the shop. My avid bargainer wife was neither happy for not able to bargain, nor did she find the price acceptable. At different levels, fort has stall for drinks and one restaurant for food.
Visitors have to pay for entry fee for the fort, fee for carrying a camera, and pay for using the elevator. Besides, if anyone wishes to employ services of a guide, fee will be extra. We paid around one thousand rupees for six people carrying one camera and availing elevator. Fee for employing a guide for six people was six hundred rupees.
Jodhpur can be reached by road, rail and air. From Delhi, we availed Mandore Express from Delhi for overnight journey and arrived at Jodhpur at eight in the morning.
Note : This post is written in response to Indispire prompt. More posts responding to the prompt may be found here.
Wow! must have been quite an experience. Steeping your mind into the Royal History always has a kind of magic associated with it. I am sure you all must have experienced that magic of yesteryears.
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Thank you for reading. Yes forts can leave such a feeling of the past in a visitor.
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Wow. I am from Rajasthan and myself have never visited this place. You inspire me
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Thank you Urvashi Ji. It is like “ghar ki moorgi dal barabar”. Because you are so close, it appears distant.
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You are right 😬. This time when I am in India will make sure to visit few places to ensure I know my own state
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OK. Rajasthan is waiting.
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Mehrangarh Fort is the only major attraction in Jodhpur. What sets Mehrangarh apart from other forts is its height! Most forts in Rajasthan are spread over a huge area but this one is comparatively smaller but that is more than made up with its towering presence. I feel in current times, camera fees should be done away with. In fact, the sharing of pictures helps in increasing the popularity and therefore revenues. Charging camera fee is so very 1980s or 90s practice. Did you try Makhaniya Lassi at Ghanta Ghar?
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Thank you for reading. Your comments means a lot. I tried Lassi in this trip at several places like Ramdeora and Jaisalmer, but not makhaniya Lassi. May be next time.
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There’s always, next time! 🙂
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It was really amazing to go through your experience with these beautiful captures.
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Thank you.
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