Top 10 Must-See Forts and Palaces in India
India, generally accepted as one of the four ancient civilizations, abounds in major cultures and religions. In every corner of India, visitors can find an amazing fusion of various cultures, from antiquity to the present and the East to the West. The country has accepted profound cultural currents to shape its own features. It is full of forts and palaces that allure a growing number of tourists across the world. All, whether the Agra Fort or the City Palace, are treasures that India leaves for the world. Here, we recommend India's top ten must-see forts and palaces for you to visit during your trip to India. Travel around every site in awe and amazement, and you can get close to Indian history and traditions.
Agra Fort
After your visit to the Taj Mahal, your next destination must be the Agra Fort Complex. Two buildings stand only about 1500 meters apart. Agra Fort Complex is situated on the right bank of the Yamuna River in Agra, which was a former capital and served as the seat of government and the royal palace during the reign of the Mughal Empire. The capital was shifted from Agra to Delhi in 1638, and the walled city was abandoned. The Agra Fort Complex represents the Islamic architectural zenith and reflects the past splendor of the Mughal Dynasty in India. Thus, it was included as a World Heritage Site in 1983. Encircled by 12-meter-tall walls, the sandstone fort is constructed on a semicircular design, and massive columns to support the weight of the fort are evident. The whole sandstone fort complex looks magically reddish-brown. The Pearl Mosque (Moti Masjid) and Fort. Jahangir's Palace (Jahangiri Mahal) are two historical attractions. The palace is entirely made of white marble and serves as the fort's largest private residence. The mosque is perfect in design and made entirely of white marble as well. It's amazing to see Islamic carvings, paintings, and calligraphy on pillars and walls in the complex. They are based on Islamic themes but integrated with Hindu ornament, which forms an artistically exquisite fusion.
Agra Fort
Amber Fort
Amber Fort, one of the most prestigious forts in India, is situated on a hill named Amber in the suburbs of Jaipur in Rajasthan State. It was built using red as well as white stone marble by Emperor Man Singh in 1592. The fort, fusing the Islamic prototype with a Hindu style, is famed for its grand ramparts, decorated gates, and delicate cobbled paths. It includes several palaces built during different periods. The Sheesh Mahal, also known as the "palace of mirrors," is one of them. Sheesh Mahal features a unique design with countless pieces of glass and gems inset into its walls. In Sheesh Mahal, even the smallest glimmer of light cast on the walls can create a breathtakingly beautiful view. Furthermore, windows, marble pillars, and fort paths are adorned with exquisite carvings in various shapes. Wherever you visit Amber Fort, you may take in its glory. In addition, the light show held in Amber Fort every night from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. is a special experience you can’t miss. Lights will illuminate the entire Amber Fort, lasting about 50 minutes, during which you will gain knowledge of ancient anecdotes of Jaipur. The light show is educational, and you can watch it from the bottom of the hill at night.
Amber Fort
Red Fort Complex
The Red Fort Complex, which served as the royal palace, is the product of the relocation of the capital from Agra to Delhi during the Mughal dynasty. Overlooking the east bank of the Yamuna River in Delhi, the complex is based on the design of the Agra Fort Complex. The landmark is an ideal blend of Islamic prototypes and Hindu, Persian, Arabic, and Mongolian decorations and bears witness to the grandeur and decline of the Mughal Empire. It was built entirely of red sandstone in 1639 and is surrounded by massive enclosing walls and a moat. It has the same reddish-brown color as the Agra Fort Complex. The 500-year-old fort remains appealing to tourists around the world. There are many functional halls in the fort, such as Khas Mahal, used for receiving distinguished envoys and officials from across the world, and Diwant Khas, used to discuss official business. At first sight, it is like a legendary castle in a cartoon fairytale. It features a strictly symmetrical structure, and its pillars and walls bear sculpted reliefs in the shape of flowers and figures. The windows carved out of entire slabs of white marble are decorated with many types of gems. Walking along the passages in the fort, you must be impressed by its magnificent and dazzling beauty.
Jaisalmer Fort
Have you seen a magnificent fort in the desert? Are you curious about this unimaginable scene? Locals in Jaisalmer have created such a wonderful masterpiece for India and the rest of the world. Jaisalmer Fort absolutely meets the needs of your fancy and curiosity. Standing on the edge of the Thar Desert in Jaisalmer, the illusion-like fort, with a history of about 1000 years, is made distinctively of yellow sandstone, which is elaborately carved. The city is literally born in Jaisalmer Fort. It is home to thousands of people who have never left their hometown for generations. To visitors’ surprise, Jaisalmer Fort still houses local people and is also equipped with a multitude of shops, hotels, and restaurants. Although the fort looks very old, it is full of life and has been a residence where locals work and live. The streets of the fort are lined with a plethora of shops and hotels. The market here is packed with crowds. The vigor that Jaisalmer Fort shows to visitors makes it one of the unique forts in India and more and more popular across the globe. Jaisalmer Fort sits on the bank of the Indus River, where you can ride a boat as the locals do to get an overall view of the fort and streetscape from a distance.
Jaisalmer Fort
Gwalior Fort
Gwalior, known for its ancient history and magnificence, is considered one of the most desirable forts in India. Located in Gwalior city, northwest of Madhya Pradesh, Gwalior Fort was built by Man Singh Tomar to defend against foreign invasion, and over the course of 1500 years, it has been destroyed and expanded through many dynasties. The present scale of the fort was formed during the reign of the Rajput Tomar dynasty. Gwalior Fort consists of two main palaces: the Gujarati Palace and the Mandir Palace. The outer walls of the palaces are covered with blue mosaics and carved with rows of yellow ducks. Some of the walls and pillar tops are carved with elephants, peacocks, dragons, and other animals. In addition to the two most magnificent palaces, Gwalior Fort also includes many historical sites, such as Hindu and Jain temples and archaeological museums. The fort is also scattered with crumbling old buildings, and visitors will be struck by the ancient and turbulent history they hold. It is recommended that you visit the fort until dusk when the afterglow will turn the entire fort into a golden color, which forms a magnificent view as if the ancient fort has regained its glory. Even in the evening, you can't miss the fort. A grand sound and light show is held in the amphitheater in the fort every evening, which will add a chic and modern touch to this ancient complex.
Jaipur City Palace
If you are in India, you must visit Jaipur, and if you are in Jaipur, you cannot fail to visit the City Palace, a complex of pink palaces conceived and built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in the heart of the old city of Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan. The magnificent complex, one of the masterpieces of Indian cultural monuments, was built entirely of red sandstone in a flawless blend of Indian, Islamic, Persian, and European styles. You will surely be struck by a rose-pink palace shaped like a hexagonal beehive. The "Hawa Mahal", also known as the "Wind of Palace", is Jaipur's landmark and draws photographers from all over the world. The "Wind of Palace" is not a palace in and of itself, but rather a functional wall that serves as a windbreak for the palace. Hawa Mahal has five floors, covered with 953 small pink windows of special construction and inlaid with white-blue glass and various carvings. The Hawa Mahal is open to visitors, and there is no front entrance. The entrance, actually, is on the side of the City Palace. It is worth mentioning that the sunlight passes through the numerous small holes in this building, especially in the early morning and at sunset, when the glass in the windows reflects the sunlight, creating a scene of stunning brilliance. In addition, the museum in the center of the Pink Palace is worth seeing, with its many collections of ancient weapons, rugs, paintings, and curiosities on exhibition. This is a great opportunity for your children to learn about the architecture and history of India. The City Palace is so huge that it will take a lot of time to appreciate, but you'll certainly get a lot out of it.
Udaipur City Palace
If you're new to Udaipur, you can't miss the City Palace. This palace was first built by the city's founder, Udai Singh II, in the 16th century and was later expanded by several emperors. And this is how it is now: a complex of several separate palaces. Overlooking the lake and its surroundings, the City Palace, one of the landmarks of Udaipur, is built entirely of white marble on the bank of the city's Lake Pichola. The architecture is a blend of Islamic and European styles, and its interior and exterior are covered with elaborate decorations. Many of the decorations are handmade, including elegant lamps, gorgeous carvings, floors, and frescoes. The palace's walls, on which some of the windows are inlaid with colorful glass, are carved with portraits of kings from different periods and vividly exquisite peacocks. Because Udaipur receives a lot of sunlight all year, the corridors of the palace are always filled with colorful light and shadows of glass and gems. You can also stand at the highest point of the palace and see the entire White City. Whether you walk inside the palace or look out over the lake, you will be struck by its luxury and splendor. The back gardens of the palace are still available to the public for rent as a venue for weddings or major festivals, so if you're lucky enough to stumble upon one, be sure to attend.
Udaipur City Palace
Lake Palace
Voted as the best city to visit in the world by the famous travel magazine Travel + Leisure, Udaipur, the White City, is also famous for another landmark, the Lake Palace. Lake Palace is one of the most breathtaking spots you can't miss after a visit to City Palace. Placed in the center of Lake Pichola, it was built by Emperor Maharana Jagat Singh II in 1746 as a summer residence. The palace is made of white marble and resembles a white jewel inlaid in the heart of the lake. The Lake Palace has been converted into a five-star luxury hotel, making it an excellent choice for a night's stay after visiting the City Palace during the day. It is the ultimate experience to come in and out of the palace and take a tour of the lake on a luxury yacht. During the day, you can admire the jade-like surfaces of the palace, shimmering with the sunlight. At night, the light show that adorns the palace is the most fascinating view around here, and visitors can take a yacht ride on the lake to look at the palace decorated with resplendent and highly luxurious light.
Mysore Palace
The Mysore Palace, the most glorious symbol of the Mysore Kingdom, is located in Mysore, the cultural and historical center of Karnataka. The original palace was razed to the ground by fire due to war, and the present Mysore Palace was designed and built by an English architect, Henry Irwin, in 1912. As a result, this magnificent palace is a perfect fusion of ancient Indian, Islamic, and British royal architectural styles, making it an artistic treasure for India and the rest of the world. Mysore Palace is a unique structure with a graceful exterior and eight small and delicate Islamic rose-colored domes on its roof. The top of the inner palace is covered with stained glass and painted with magnificent feathers and peacocks. The walls and floors are covered with tiles decorated with various splendid patterns. Inside, you can also see many beautiful wood carvings, paintings, and ornaments, as well as perhaps an unfamiliar modern elevator. The evening light show at the Mysore Palace is also worth seeing. On Sundays and festival nights, countless bright lights are lit up inside and outside the palace, giving you a different surprise and experience at night, unlike the quietness of the day. If you are a yoga lover, don't miss Ashtanga Yoga, which originated in Mysore.
Umaid Bhawan Palace
In addition to the Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur, the romantic "Blue City," is home to a famous royal palace: the Umaid Bhawan Palace, a magnificent royal palace in the western Rajasthan State, which serves as a landmark of Jodhpur. Built in 1929, the Umaid Bhawan Palace is a large private residence in India. It was designed by the British architect Henry Vaughan Lanchester. The marble-made palace boasts 347 rooms and a garden of 26 acres. Today, parts of the palace have been established as a luxury hotel, with a museum and library that house a rich collection of books, treasures, clocks, and souvenirs. Although the Umaid Bhawan Palace was not built long ago, its ancient Indian architecture gives visitors a glimpse of its past glory, and the palace itself is a perfect testament to Jodhpur's integration into modern times. The palace is now equipped with recreational facilities such as restaurants, cabarets, banquet halls, swimming pools, and various playing courts. So, when you come to Umaid Bhawan Palace, you can not only visit the stunning architecture but also experience the modern comforts of life.
As Mark Twain praised India, "India is the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend, and the great-grandmother of tradition." The ten above-mentioned palaces and forts are just a small part of India's cultural heritage sites. If you travel throughout the big land, you must be stunned by its cultural diversity. India is an ancient but colorful country that travelers across the world should go to for a break. If you're planning a special trip to ancient monuments in India, please don't hesitate to share your travel ideas with us, and one of our travel experts can create a tailor-made itinerary to meet your requirements within 24hrs.
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