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Jaigarh Fort or the victory fort is one of the most splendid forts of Jaipur. It was built by Sawai Jai Singh II in 1726 for defense purpose and was named after him. It is perched on the Cheel ka Teela (Hill of Eagles) one of the peaks of Aravalli hills. The fort provides a magnificent view of the Amer town, Sagar Lake, and surrounding hills. The perfect position of the fort regarding its majestic view highly compliments its names.
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Jaigarh Fort – The invincible Fort of Maharajas
The Jaigarh Fort is also rumoured to have a huge treasure which is believed to be buried under its water reservoir.
History
It was built in the early eighteenth century by the Kachwaha dynasty King Jai Singh II who ruled the Kingdom of Amber from 1688 to 1743. During the Mughal period, the fort became a storehouse of arms and ammunition. It also had the empire’s most important canon foundry due to the availability of iron ore in that region.
The fort never faced any attacks other than the one in which Aurangzeb attacked and killed his brother Dara Shikoh in 1659. He had secured this canon outpost in 1658 during the war of succession after the death of his father Shah Jahan.
About the Fort
The fort has been fortified by strong walls made of red sandstone and is spread in a large area of three kilometers in lengths and on kilometer in width. The fort has Laxmi Vilas, Aram Mandir, Vilas Mandir and Lalit Mandir. The fort also has lush gardens. The fort is strongest in comparison to the other three forts in Jaipur.
It was designed by architect Vidhyadhar Bhattacharya who had also designed Jaipur city. Rajputs used the fort for the manufacturing of artillery. It is also known to keep one of the largest wheel cannons used during early modern Indian period.
Special Attractions
Jaigarh fort is home to the ‘largest cannon on wheels’ in the world known as Jaiban. It was built in the forts canon foundry but it was never used in any war. The canon was used only once that also was a test fire.
There are recreations of scenes from the dining and kitchen area of how they looked like back during the time of Jai Singh. There is also a small museum of war machinery and weapons in the fort which you can pay a visit too.
How to Reach
The fort is about 15 kilometers away from the Jaipur city. If you are visiting Amer fort and Jaigarh on the same day which is about 7 kilometers away from it, you can hire a private vehicle or a take a public transportation to reach there.
Important Information for Tourists
The fort remains open between 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM throughout the week. There are different charges levied from Indians i.e. Rs. 35 and foreigners i.e. Rs. 85 for entry. An extra charge is also to be paid for photography. The fort is spread over a very large area, so visitors are advised to wear comfortable shoes.
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