Junagarh Fort is a Magnificent Indian Fort build by bikaner king Rai Singh ji under the supervision of his Prime minister Karan chand ji around 1588 AD in Bikaner , Rajasthan . In “junagarh ” ‘juna’ means old and garh means ‘fort’ , so the junagarh meand old fort . It’s older name is chintamani . This fort has been made outside the Stone fort which was build by Rao bikaji in 1488 . He was the founder of this city . This fort has not been build upon hilltop rather build in plain land in Thar desert . Junagarh was build by red sand stone and Marbel stone .
Junagarh fort has been build by several generations of Bikaner kings .Different palaces like Karan Mahal, Anup Mahal , Phool Mahal and Chhatar Mahal were build in different time zones of royal family . Roofs and walls are decorated with beautiful artworks . I must say that inner arts are most magnificent in this fort and inside the museum of this fort , there is an aieroplane used in world war 1 . It was gifted by British to bikaner king Ganga Singh ji .Upto 1902 Royal family of Bikaner lived here , later moved to Lalgarh Palace .
This fort is the central part of Bikaner city . Now where the current fort is situated , in older times it was called jungladesh which was a forest land .This palace has been the centre of power for generations in bikaner princely state . Many army attacked it but nobody able to capture it , only kamran mirza of Mughals army able to capture it for less than 24 hours and recaptured by Bikaner army again .
Timing to visit Junagarh Fort:
Best time to visit this fort is from October to march and daily opened from 10:00 am – 4:30 pm. This fort opened all the days of week including govt Holidays . don’t go here in monsoon time , as here normally rain is very less but when rains it is heavy . As the drainage system in this city not good so city becomes water logged . I have experienced it in august 2021 during my visit . Also in the summer months it is very hot , so if it possible avoid summer .
Entry fees for Junagarh Fort :
The entry fees of this fort is only Rs 50 for Indian Citizen and 300(3.59 USD) for foreigners . Within this fees also you get a free group guide , unless you book for private guide . They will tell the history and point out the important parts of the fort .
In my advice , who want to photography or blogging , First go with the tour guide , he will explain the important spots , then make another tour for photography and details understanding . As everything is written beside the items .
How to Reach :
Junagarh fort is in the middle of the Bikaner city . Bikaner city has been well connected by Rail with rest of India and buses toward all over the Rajasthan and Delhi from here . From the central bus stand you can get long route buses toward agra , Delhi , Jaipur , Jodhpur and Jaisalmer ect . It has one domestic airport which has direct flight towards Delhi and Jaipur city.
Like Jodhpur , here also the public transport is very weak . Mostly there is some small buses and Auto ricksha to roam around the city . Auto ricksha charge you very high . Either you have to hire a bike/cycle otherwise transport in the city becomes bit expensive .
Accommodation :
- I must say bikaner is little expensive rather than other Rajasthan cities .
- Here Hostels are very less so you have to book a Hotel which is expensive for solo traveller .
- Here you can get Luxury to mid range Hotels according to your budget , mostly concentrated around the railway station .
Foods :
- Being a touristy city you can get any type of food , either North Indian / south Indian , chines , continental within budget range
- Most of the budget restaurants are beside the railway station
- Sweets and Nam keen are famous in the Bikaner city . There have been different types of snaks which are not only famous in Bikaner but also throughout India . Some of the well known shops here are Bhikaram chandmal , Lalji resturent , chutu motu joshi ect .
Palaces of Junagarh Fort :
There are all total 37 Mahals in the Junagarh Fort. when a next-generation king comes , he does not like to stay on it’s predecessor’s palace and make new palace , that way so much palaces have been build . This palaces were of different archituctural style like Rajasthani , Indian , Mughals and western . some of the prominent palaces are
Phool Mahal:
It is considered to be the oldest part of this fort which was build by Raja Rai singh .
karan Mahal :
It was made by king Karan singh in the event of defeating mughal king aurangajeb in 1680 .
anup Mahal:
It is the biggest Palace in this fort and was made by king Anup Singh . It is a multi storied building
Chandra Mahal :
This chandra mahal is one of the most Luxarious palace and king’s bedroom where lots of mirrors were placed for strategic reason
Ganga Mahal :
It was made by king Ganga Singh ji in 20th century .It is called Darbar Hall (meeting place of king with general public) . This is now used as Museum , where war weapons and a world war 1 aeroplane were preserved .
Badal Mahal :
This palace has been the extension of the Anup Mahal . It was built in such a way that you feel , you were in cloud .
Gates in Junagarh Fort :
There are total seven gates in this fort but only Suraj Pol facing to the west and Karan pol facing east are the main entry gate . Now entry of the tourists is done through the suraj pol . The gate is made of yellow sandstone .Iron spikes are fitted in the door to oppose elephants. Other gates in this fort are Doulat pol , chand pol , Fateah pol and tripolia pol .
Key Points of Junagarh Fort :
- Around the fort there is a 30 feet deep moat for security so enemy can not attack easily.
- It was build for almost 350 years by 16 kings .
- There are many hindu and jain temples inside this Fort .
- It was build on plain land in the Thar Desert
- In it’s 400 year History only once it was captured by enemy but also for less than 24 hour by kamran Mirza of Mughals .
- A first world war plane has been preserved in this Fort which was gifted by british to king ganga singh ji .
- The fort has been made by rose red sand stone which are brought from nearby village dalmera . which is 65km from bikaner .
- This fort has rajasthan’s first electric lift .
- some of the tiles and furniture in this fort were imported from foreign .
- There were some people in Bikaner called “Sirdar” who can dance on iron spikes and sword or burning coal . They lived near Bikaner in village . They perform in king’s darbar .
Picture gallery Junagarh Fort and Museum :
Doors :
roofs:
weapons:
Miscellinous:
- There is a unique temple called Karni Mata temple , where it is full of rats and the holy prasadam are first eaten by rats . It is a unique attraction just 30 km from Bikaner city
Summary :
Once it was Junglasesh …. oasis in Thar desert . Rao Bika ji comes and start building his kingdom in 1472 . After 100 year from him Rai singh ji started building this fort and then generation after generation inhabited in this fort and also the city flourishes . New palaces being added in the Fort and the fort becomes bigger and bigger . Now It is one of the biggest Fort in Rajasthan . Though it was build on Plain Land still only once it was captured by enemy . This fort has been the centre of this city . Now it is Museum telling stories of this city and proof of more than 400 years of glorious Bikaner history . Current king of the Bikaner is Maharaja Ravi Raj Singh sinch 2003 who is 25 th king of this dynasty .
