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Jaigarh Fort
Location : Jaipur, Rajasthan
Built In
: 1726 AD
Built By
: Raja Sawai Jai Singh
Attraction : World's Largest Canon On Wheels
Also known as the fort of victory, Jaigarh Fort is a rugged structure built in 1726 by
Sawai Jai Singh. It was the royal treasury for several years. It is one of the few ancient Indian military structures to be kept intact through the ages,
Jaigarh Fort has recently been opened to the public. It was sealed for seven years, due to a
rumour, that an enormous treasure in gold was buried, in the fort area. The fort houses several palaces, gardens, a granary, an
armoury, temples, and most significantly the Jai Ban, the largest antique canon, in the country.
The fort is perched on a cliff and is surrounded by huge battlements with inside walkways offering stunning views on all sides. The World's largest cannon on wheel,
Jaivan, is to be found here. Also of interest is the intricate water supply and storage system, which is considered a marvel of planning. The fort has its museum and provides some excellent view of Amber Fort. Situated in the north of
Jaipur, the Jaigarh Fort has more or less same structure as of Amber Fort. The fort also houses a beautiful museum and gives breathtaking views of
Jaipur below and Amber Fort.
The Jaigarh Fort is one such place that tourist can get a glimpse of the heritage and history of Rajasthan during their
Jaipur travel. Standing tall over a small hillock overlooking the Pink City, Jaigarh Fort is a classic example of the many forts Rajasthan is peppered with.
Fort Attractions
Jaivana
The chief attraction of this rugged military structure is Jaivana, world's largest cannon on wheels. The cannon was built in the year 1720 in the foundry of Jaigarh. Although a debatable issue, some historians are of the firm opinion that the cannon was fired only once. It is said that the huge cannon had the potential of causing immense damage if fired upon approaching enemies.
Water Channels
Another striking feature of Jaigarh are the water channels built inside the fort. All the channels were part of the rainwater harvesting system. There are a total of 3 underground tanks at the fort. The largest of them had the capacity to store 60,00,000 gallons of water. Thus, it was clear that proper arrangements were in place to store essentials during times of war.
Fort Museum
Jaigarh fort also houses a beautiful museum. The museum has a very impressive collection of armory used during that period. This collection includes swords, shields, guns, muskets and cannon balls. Some old photographs of
Jaipur's rulers and military generals have also been kept in the museum.
Shubhat Niwas
Another place that stores some of the precious items of Rajput warriors is
Shubhat Niwas, the meeting hall of warriors. One could surmise the circumstances under which military strategies were devised after visiting the place.
HOW TO GET THERE
Air: Jaipur has its own airport, and is well connected to all other tourist and business centres.
Rail: An excellent connection to Delhi by Shatabdi Express and the Pink City Express. Other connections to Jaipur are from Bikaner, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Ahemadabad, Secunderabad and Lucknow.
Road: A network of reasonably comfortable tourist buses, run by road corporations of Rajasthan, Haryana and others
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