Popular Forts And Palaces In India

India is a rich country of varied culture and history written in golden words. It is a country which has innumerable forts, palaces, havellis and other monuments which till date very well showcases the erstwhile legacy and grandeur of the princely states ruled by the mighty rulers. These magnificent forts and palaces are the fine example of architectural marvel of the earlier craftsman. At the very first sight you will be mesmerized by their awesome beauty they have. If you peep into these majestic and sprawling forts and palaces of India, you will find yourself amidst of the royal ambiance of the bygone era. Today most of these forts and palaces are converted into the heritage hotels, so that you can experience the princely lifestyle

Most of the Indian states are blessed with these architectural masterpieces. Among them the most fave destinations of both international and national tourists are Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Andra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Beside Rajasthan which has largest number of forts and palaces, forts and palaces built in other states also helps in enhancing the glory of India. Some of the popular forts in India are Agra fort, Red Fort, Delhi, Amber Fort, Jaipur, Gwalior Fort, Golconda Fort, Hyderabad and some beautiful palaces in India are City Palace, Lake palace, Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur and last but not the least Mysore Palace, Mysore.

Agra Fort: For most holidaymakers, the city of Agra is synonymous with Taj Mahal. But Agra has much more tourist spots to offer. For instance, Agra fort, a World Heritage Site, is merely 2.5 km northwest from the elegant Taj Mahal, is also situated on the bank of the river Yumuna. The construction of the Agra fort was started on 1156 A.D and finished on 1605 A.D. It has housed to all the major Mughal Emperors namely Babur, Humayun, Akbar, Jehangir, Shah Jahan and Aurangazeb. The main part of the fort was built by Akbar but Shah Jahan has built most of the buildings inside the fort. The fort has a wall made up of red sandstone. This wall has two gates namely Delhi gate and Amar Singh Gate. The later gate is the only way to enter the fort. The fort has a pillared Diwan-i-Am (Hall of Public Audience) which was built by Shah Janan in 1628 and two beautiful mosques known as Nagina Masjid & Mina Masjid. Some of the palaces inside this fort are Jahangiri Mahal, Macchi Bhavan, Khas Mahal, Shish Mahal, Shah Jahani Mahal, Rang Mahal and Shahi and Musmman Burj .

Red fort: Red fort of Delhi is also known as the Lal Quilla. This fort was constructed by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in 1639 A.D. Due to its architectural brilliance and significant history, it has acquired the status of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2007. The art work in the fort is known as Shah Jahani style which is blend of Persian, European, and Indian art work. Some of the importan buildings inside the fort are Diwan-i-Aam, a large pavilion for public imperial audiences, Nahr-i-Behisht, a stream that runs through the center of each pavilion, Zenana which comprises Mumtaz Mahal now turned into a museum and lavish Rang Mahal, Khas Mahal which contains suites of bedroom, prayer rooms, varanda and the Mussaman Burj, a tower. Moti Masjid and Hayat Bakhsh Bagh, an imperial garden.

Amber Fort: Amber fort is located at a distance of 11km from Jaipur. It was the ancient citadel belonged to Kachhawaha clan of Amber before they shifted their capital to the Jaipur. In the 1592 Raja Man singh I has started its construction. It was built in white marble and red sandstone. It is fine blend of both Hindu and Mughal architecture. In contrast to outer look, its interior is very soothing. It is decorated with fine paintings and mirror work. Kali temple also known as the Shila devi temple, Diwan-i-aam, Ganesh pol and Jai Mandir are some of the noteworthy attraction of Amber fort. To reach this fort which is situated atop a hill, an elephant ride is the best option.

Gwalior Fort: Quoted by Mughal emperor Babur as the "pearl in the necklace of Hind", Gwalior fort was situated on an isolated rock. It was constructed by Raja Man Singh Tomar . It has two parts, a Main Fort and Gurjari Mahal, which was later addition to the fort. It was built by the king for his beloved wife. This fort is one of the largest fort in India and its architecture is very unique because it has Chinese influence as the Chinese dragons are crafted at the hilt of the pillars. It has some beautiful temples such as Saas bahu ka mandir, Teli ka mandir, a Sikh Gurdwara and a mosque.

Golconda Fort: Golconda fort is situated at distance of 10km from Hyderabad at the western outskirts of the city. It was built by the Kakatiya rulers in the 13th century but renovated by Qutub Shahi kings into a magnificent and massive fort. This fort is located on a hill 400 feet above the surrounding plain. The main attraction of the fort is its system of Acoustics which means if you clap your hands at the entry gate, it can be heard at the Balahissar gate. The outer wall of the fort is 10 km long. The main gate of the fort is known as the Fateh Darwaza or Gate of Victory. The Balahisar Darwaza is the most impressive gate of all. The Golconda Fort comprises of a palace, a parade ground, Toli mosque, an armory and two temples namely Taramathi Gana Mandir and Premathi Nritya mandir. More than 380 uneven stone steps starts from the Balahisar Darwaza to the fort.

City Palace: .One of the significant monument of Jaipur is the outstanding City Palace. It was built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh during his tenure. The complex covers a huge area, divided into a series of gardens, courtyards and buildings. The palace premises shimmers with a number of buildings like Chandra Mahal, Mubarak Mahal, Mukut Mahal, Maharani's Palace, Shri Govind Dev Temple and the City Palace Museum.

Lake Palace: Lake Palace was built in between 1743 to 1746 A.D by Maharajah Jagat Singh II. It is situated on the picturesque lake Pichola in Udaipur city of Rajasthan. It is now converted into a luxury hotel. It was earlier known as Jag Niwas Palace in accordance with its builder.

Umaid Bhawan Palace: It is the largest private residence in world having 347 rooms. Its construction was started by Maharajah Umaid Singh in 18 November 1929 and finished on 1943. It was located on Chittar hill due to which it is also known as Chittar palace. This sprawling palace is spreads over 26 acres of land. It is now divted into three parts. One part as the private residence of Jodhpur's royal family, one part is converted into a heritage hotel runs by the Taj Group of Hotel and the last part is served as museum comprises of paintings, arms ,swords and other artifacts of Jodhpur's Royal family.

Mysore Palace: Mysore Palace is situated in Mysore in Karnataka state. It was initially built by the two ruler of Muslim dynasty, Haider and Tipu. But after their downfall, rulers of Wodeyars dynasty has rebuilt it and has added some more beautiful palaces and temples to it. The architecture of the Mysore Palace is a blend of Hindu, Muslim, Rajput and Gothic style of architecture. Some of the important ad unique rooms within the palace are Ambavilasa or Diwne-i-khas, It was used by the kings for the private audiences. Gombe Thotti (Doll’s Pavilion), it is a gallery of traditional dolls belongs to the 19th and 20 th century, Kalyana Mantapa, a marriage hall, a durbar, an armoury. There are some beautiful temples within the palace complex namely Someshvara Temple, dedicated to God Lord Shiva and Lakshmiramana Temple, dedicated to God Lord Vishnu. This palace is the main venue for the Mysore Dasara festival.