Meherangarh fort, Jodhpur, Rajasthan India

Ensconced upon a 150 m high hill, the fort of Meherangarh is considered to be the most formidable fort in Rajasthan. The foundation of it was laid by Rao Jodha in 1459, but the subsequent rulers of Jodhpur have made significant additions to it. A 5 km road meanders its way up to the entrance of the fort from the town below. There are seven gates of which Jayapol (victory gate) was build to commemorate the victory of Maharaja Man Singh II over the armies of Jaipur and Bikaner and Fatehpol to commemorate Maharaja Ajit Singh's defeat of the Mughals. The second gate still bears the scars of the canon balls that the attacking Jaipur army hit on it.

To the left is the chhatri of Kirat Singh Soda, a soldier, who fell on the spot while defending the fort against the armies of Amber (Jaipur). Beside the final gate Lohapol, there are 15 palms imprints, covered with vermillion and silver foil, of Maharaja Man Singh's widows who threw themselves on his funeral pyre to become Sati.

The palaces inside the fort like the Sukh Mahal, Moti Mahal, Phool Mahal have now been transformed into a museum exhibiting a series of artifacts that range from palanquins to weapons to Rajasthani paintings. The Phool Mahal that was used as durbar hall by former maharajas has fine paintings adorning its wall. The specialty is that all these paintings are the work of a single artist who took over 10 years to complete them. Do look out the gold filigree work in its ceiling. The Jhanki Mahal displays the cradles of the infant princes of Marwar. At the southern end of the fort is situated Chamunda Devi temple. From here the view of the town is awesome.