Junagarh Fort, Bikaner

A Mighty Fort; The Great Jewel Of Bikaner; A Fort Never Conquered; The Fort With Mighty Turrets And Battlements; the only way to describe Junagarh Fort is in superlatives.

Junagarh Fort was built by Raja Raj Singh and has beautiful palaces, temples and pavilions numbering thirty-seven in all. Built in red sandstone and marble, they are all richly decorated with mirror work, paintings and outstanding stone carvings; the architectural brilliance of the fort is worth seeing. A 986 meter long wall along the periphery stands guard.

The Fort is one of the few not standing on a hilltop and is surrounded by a moat to protect it. Suraj Pol (the Sun Gate) is the main doorway of the fort. The notable tourist attractions are Chandra Mahal (The Moon palace), Phool Mahal (The Flower Palace), Karan Mahal (Karn Palace), Anup Mahal, Diwan-e-Khas (Public Audience Hall), Hawa Mahal (the Wind Palace), Badal Mahal (the Cloud Palace), Rang Mahal (the Color Palace), Dungar Mahal, and Ganga Mahal.

The palaces have a sublime beauty that cannot be described in words. These are all well maintained period rooms that were once inhabited by the members of the royal family. With mirrors, paintings and carved marble panels, these rooms are a wonderful sight to behold. Several illuminated manuscripts, jewels, painted jars and handcrafted carpets, arms and weapons, treaties, decorations and the 'Farmans' are on view in these rooms.

The fort is open from10 am to 4.30 pm daily and is closed on Fridays. The entry fee includes the fee of the guide.