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The
massive Mehrangargh Fort is situated about 5km from Jodhpur Town, the
former capital of the Marwar state, on the steep hill hidatoonk, at an
altitude of about 125 metres. The red sandstone fort dominating the city
has the appearance of an elegant peacock and so is also known as Moradwaj
Garh. The fort spread over an area of 5 sq. km, was originally started
by Rao Jodha in 1459 A.D., the founder of the capital city of the Rathores
(a Rajput clan) but the major part of the fort which stands today dates
from the period of Maharaja Jaswant Singh (1638 -78).
It is said that its unsuspecting architect was ordered buried alive so
that he could not reveal its secrets. The enormous Fort stands high above
the plains with walls up to 36m high and 21m wide. On Jaswant Singh's
death in 1678, Mughal ruler Aurangzeb occupied the fort, bringing the
first major period of fort extension to an end. Meherangarh came back
under the Rajput control of Jaswant Singh's posthumous son Ajith Singh
after the death of Aurangazeb.
This fort was run by the Maharaja of Jodhpur for over
500 years until he changed his residence to Umaid Bhavan Palace when it
was completed in 1943. Today the complex is maintained as a museum,
and houses 18 different apartments, each full of carefully displayed
antiquities, rare books and manuscripts. The museum displays collection
of palanquins, elephant howdahs (saddles), royal cradles, weapons, musical
instruments, paintings, costumes, ivory and wood antique furniture, a
tent etc.
The employees in the palace, dressed in traditional
Jodhpuri dress with shield, hookah welcome the tourists and offer information
related to the various rooms in the palaces, adding some folklore, legends
and royal stories in their friendly dialogue.
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