Amazing Arts: Unseen Rajasthan Exclusive-Ranthambore

Fort Enterance

The oldest settlement in the area near Sawai Madhopur was around the Ranthambhore fort. The exact origin of the Ranthambore fort is still disputed but it is generally accepted that there was a settlement at the site of the Fort, as far back as the 8th century A.D. It is widely believed that the construction of the Ranthambhore Fort was started during the reign of the Chauhan rajput King Sapaldaksha in 944 AD. Another theory stipulates that King Jayant, also a Chauhan rajput, built the Ranthambore Fort during 1110 AD. It is most likely that the construction of the fort commenced during the mid 10th Century A.D. and continued for a few centuries after that.

Since, the Ranthambhore Fort controlled the trade routes between North India and Central India, it was highly coveted by the rulers of North India. The Ranthambore Fort had its golden moments during the reign of the king Rao Hammir, the last ruler of the Chauhan dynasty (1282 - 1301 AD). During 1300 AD, Ala-ud-din Khilji, the ruler of Delhi sent his army to capture the Fort. After three unsuccessful attempts, his army finally conquered the Ranthambhore Fort in 1301 and ended the reign of the Chauhans. In the next three centuries the Ranthambore Fort changed hands a number of times, till Akbar, the great Mughal emperor, finally took over the Fort and dissolved the State of Ranthambore in 1558. The fort stayed in the possession of the Mughal rulers till the mid 18th century.

During the mid 18th century, the Maratha rulers of Western India were gradually increasing their influence in this region. In order to check the growing influence of the Marathas, Sawai Madho Singh, the ruler of Jaipur state, unsuccessfully, requested the Mughal emperor to hand over the Ranthambhore fort to him. In 1763, Sawai Madho Singh fortified the nearby village of Sherpur and renamed it Sawai Madhopur. This town, which is now commonly known as the "Sawai Madhopur City", lies in a narrow valley between two parallel hills, at the South Western edge of the Ranthambhore National Park. Two years later, the Mughals handed over the fort to the Jaipur state.

During the end of the British Raj, Sawai Man Singh, the last ruler of Jaipur state, got a railway link constructed between Jaipur and Sawai Madhopur. A railway station was built about 4 kilometers away from the Sawai Madhopur town. Gradually, a small settlement came up around the railway station. This twin of Sawai Madhopur, known as "Man Town", has now outgrown the older "City".

The Royal Wall To Save From Enemies

The Royal Fort And Temple Gurad.

This Statue Is Located Before The Entrance Of The Fort And Is Said That It Was The Royal Guard To Protect And Fort And Temple From Enemies And Other Powers.They Are Till Date Worshiped And Before Entering The Fort People Pray It.

Mata Annapurna Temple

Mata Annapurna Is The Food Goddess Of India.Her Favorite Animal Is Cow And Said By The People That If She Is Worshiped That A Family Will Never Lack Food In His Life.She Is Not Worshiped In Cities Generally But In Villages She Is One Of The Most Famous Goddess.

The Great Gates For Enterance

During The Rulers Time These Gates Were The Main Way Of Entrance And They Were Open In The Morning And Closed In The Evening .Basically Natives Of That Place Used This To Carry On Transactions Inside The Fort Premises.

The Royal Fort Coast

This Is The Place From Where The Soldiers Used To Do The Security Of The Fort.You Can See The Holes In The Wall Which Is Nothing Else But Thru These Holes The Soldiers Used To Keep Their Guns For Shooting The Enemies.

Fort Map And Direction Tool

For Us This Is A Beautiful Stone Which Is Well Carved But This Is Not A Stone This Is A Fort Map And Direction Tool That Was Used By The Kings To Guide The Soldiers And Team.This Is A Complete Map Of Fort.This Is Amazing..Old Kings Were So Intelligent That They Kept This Under Their Feet After Every Lap .

Accommodation For The Staff

This Is The Place Where King's Staff Used To Stay.They Were Not Supposed To Leave The Fort Premises As King May Need Them Any Time.So For That Purpose It Was Built Inside The Fort Only.

The Jain Temple (Lord Buddha )

This Is The Photograph Of The Jain Temple(Lord Buddha).This IS Also Located In The Fort Premises Only.

World Famous Lord Ganesha Temple

This Is One Of The Most Famous Lord Ganesha Temple.Before Any Wedding Happens In India The First Invitation Is Sent To Him Either By Going Personally Or By Post After That Only Weddings Are Done.You Can See The Crowd They Are No One Else But The People Waiting For Their Turn To Worship Lord Ganesha And To Invite Him In The Wedding.Photography Inside Is Not Allowed.

The Royal Umbrellas For Queens

This Is The Place Where The Queens Along With Her Friends Used To Sit In The Evening And Enjoy The Beauty Of Nature As 100's Of Kms It Is Only Forest And Very Dense.

Entrance To The Royal Fort

This Is The Entrance From Where People Used To Come .This Road Is Now Open For All And All The Tourists And Local People Arrive In This Fort Thru This Road Only.

The Pond In The Forest

In The Fort Premises Only King Was Having A Pond To Feed His Animals Like Horses,Elephants,Tigers,Dogs And Many Other.This Is A Fantastic Location As All Around There Are Hills Covering.

Lord Hanuman Temple

In Rajasthan Outside Every Village You Can Find The Statue Of Lord Hanuman.It Is Said That He Is The Most Powerful God And Will Exist Always By The Time Earth There.He Saves People From Evil Powers And Protects .He Has Never Married Lady And Was The Worshipper Of Lord Rama.He Was The Only One Who Burnt Lanka.Before Any Grain Farm Is Cut Some Part Of It Is Dedicated To Him And After That He Gives Prosperity.This Devotion To God Is Amazing.