- Located
in Bikaner. - Raja
Rai Singh started building Junagarh Fort in
1587
- It consists of
37 palaces, pavilions and temples built by
different Kings.
The fort is located in Bikaner. It is one
of the finest of Rajput monuments. Raja Rai
Singh, Akbar's contemporary started building
Junagarh Fort in 1587. Often attacked, Junagarh
is one of the few forts in India, which was
never conquered. It consists of 37 palaces,
pavilions and temples built by different Kings
stand protected by massive ramparts and round
towers.
Many of the inner rooms of the palaces are
beautifully decorated and painted in traditional
style. The walls of the Badal Mahal or Palace
of Clouds, are covered with fresco paintings
of Krishna and his consort Radha in the midst
of rain clouds. The Anup Mahal is a beautiful
structure where the inner walls are covered
with exquisite lacquer work of red and gold
as well as inlay work in glass. Gold leaf
has been used to decorate the pillars made
of white plaster.
The fort encompasses many palaces amongst
which the most spectacular ones are the Chandra
Mahal or Moon palace, the Phool Mahal or Flower
palace, both ornated with carved panels and
mirrors and the Karan Mahal.
Also
worth visiting are the Ganga Niwas,
Dungar Niwas, Vijai Mahal, and Rang Mahal.
The fort museum has an extensive collection
of illuminated manuscripts, jewellery, jars
and carpets, arms and weapons, treaties, decorations
and the 'Farmans'.
