JUNAGARH FORT

#EPISODE: 4-1

JUNAGARH FORT

This post is about Junagarh fort. It is one among the places to visit in Bikaner, Rajasthan.

JUNAGARH PALACE
JUNAGARH PALACE

Junagarh fort was originally called as “Chintamani”, 5.28 hectares in area. Rao Bika built this fort in 1478.

JUNAGARH PALACE, BIKANER
JUNAGARH PALACE, BIKANER

Chintamani was constructed using Rajput architecture with red sandstones and marbles.

BIKANER
Red stone and white marble architecture
BIKANER
STEPS IN THE FORT
JUNAGARH FORT
MESH TO PREVENT BIRDS ENTRY

In Junagarh Palace, men and women celebrated Holi separately, as the queen and the royal women should not be seen by men.

BIKANER
THE PLACE WHERE THEY CELEBRATED HOLI.

The paintings on the white marble indicate that the King of Bikaner is the one who brought Current through coal, water, Railways for the first time in this city.

painitngs on the wall
paintings on the wall

The empire belongs to the Sun family, so they have a separate chamber for Sun God with seven horse for worshipping.

SUN GOD

This palace is has many sections called “Mahals”. Some of them are :

  • Anoop Mahal
  • Phool Mahal
  • Chandra Mahal
  • Ganga Mahal
  • Badal Mahal
  • Karan Mahal

PHOOL MAHAL:

Phool Mahal is one of the oldest section of the fort built by Raja Rai Singh. It is called “FLOWER PALACE” as Phool means “the flower” in Hindi.

Bikaner
a painted door in Phool Mahal

Inside the Phool Mahal, there is a “Jhoola“, which means Swing for the God Krishna. This jhoola is made up of wood and mirrors are embossed in it. As the swing moved too and fro, the candlelight reflects in the mirror and gives the twinkling effect.

JUNAGARH FORT
JHOOLA – SWING

Veena is the oldest traditional musical instrument of India that is kept inside the Phool Mahal

JUNAGARH FORT
VEENA, MUSICAL INSTRUMENT

BADAL MAHAL:

Badal Mahal is interesting place because of the Paintings on the wall. The wall inside the mahal portraits the monsoon with thunder and rainfall, as the people do not witness monsoon often.

JUNAGARH FORT
MONSOON PAINTINGS ON THE WALL

KARAN MAHAL:

The Public audience hall is present inside Karan Mahal. Junagarh palace also had some temples and Havelis. Havelis are the mansion or the private space of the rich people.

JUNAGARH FORT
KING’S PUBLIC AUDIENCE HALL

These sections are divided by several gates in the fort. Some of them are :

  • Karan Pol: This is the entry gate that is facing east.
  • Suraj Pol: This is called “the sun gate” which is the entry gate.
  • Daulat Gate: This gate consists of the Hand impression of the Royal Queens, (the wives of Bika) who committed “Sati”.
  • Chand Pol: This is the double gate also called “the moon gate”
  • Fateh Pol: It leads to the fort museum.
  • Tripolia Gate: This is the three gates which has the sharp iron needle like spikes to prevent the elephant ramming during the battles.
JUNAGARH FORT
GOLD AND VEGETABLE PAINTINGS ON THE WALL

In this fort, one of the room had this 70 kg (approx) pure silver door that provided added attraction to the luxury of the fort. It is now maintained inside the glass box.

JUNAGARH FORT
PURE SILVER GATE

Each room in the fort has a beautifully painted doors. Overall it looked colourful and attractive.

JUNAGARH FORT
TILES AND PAINTED DOOR IN THE FORT

ANOOP MAHAL:

The King’s Private audience hall is present inside the Anoop Mahal. This hall is made up of Gold and mirrors which will glitter when the sunlight falls on it.

JUNAGARH FORT
KING’S PRIVATE AUDIENCE HALL IN ANOOP MAHAL

The first 3D painting of Bikaner is displayed in the fort. This is the 450 years old 3D painting of Bikaner.

JUNAGARH FORT
FIRST 3D PAINTING OF BIKANER

King’s room has small bed compared to the King’s height, in order to prevent the enemies attack while sleeping. If the bed is bigger then the enemies will navigate and hide under the bed. They will attack when the King is asleep.

JUNAGARH FORT
KING’S BEDROOM

The fully covered Queen’s palace is at the last end of the palace. Men were not allowed here except the King.

JUNAGARH FORT
QUEEN’S PLACE

FORT MUSEUM

GANGA MAHAL:

Ganga Mahal is now converted into fort museum. This museum exhibits various weapons, chariots for public views.

JUNAGARH FORT
PLAY AREA OF KING AND QUEEN

By the time of King’s period, one of the strange entertainment is dancing over the sharp knives and weapons. Henceforth, this particular type of dance still exists in some parts of India.

JUNAGARH FORT
ENTERTAINMENT IN BIKANER

The British gifted the plane to Raja Karan Singh as the tribute to their participation in the war.

JUNAGARH FORT
PLANE USED IN WORLD WAR I

The different chariots used by the King and Queen  also displayed in the museum.

CHARIOT OF KING
JUNAGARH FORT
CHARIOT USED BY KING AND QUEEN

The museum has different weapons used by the army of Bikaner in the battles.

JUNAGARH FORT
BOW AND ARROW USED BY THE ARMY OF BIKANER
JUNAGARH FORT
WEAPONS USED IN BATTLES

The fort museum also exhibits the sandalwood throne of Rathore Emperors for public views.

JUNAGARH FORT
OLD SANDALWOOD THRONE

Furthermore, the other sections of Junagarh fort has the elephant camp, horse stables, gardens havelies, temples, etc.,

JUNAGARH FORT
OTHER SECTIONS OF THE FORT

In case, if you missed reading about explorations in Bikaner, then click here: Bikaner

 

JUNAGARH FORT

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