Junagarh Fort, also known as Chintamani Mahal, is an imposing fort built by Raja Rai Singh, a general in the army of the Mughal emperor Akbar. Located in the heart of Bikaner, this fort is an architectural masterpiece and a symbol of the city’s rich history and culture.
Bikaner is indeed a must-visit travel destination in Rajasthan, India. It offers a unique blend of history, culture, architecture, and cuisine. Here are some of the reasons why Bikaner is a must-visit tourist destination in Rajasthan:
View this post on Instagram
History Of Junagarh Fort
Junagarh Fort is among the most popular historical places of India and is located in the Bikaner city of the Indian state of Rajasthan. Though almost all of the forts in Rajasthan are built on a hilltop, but Junagarh fort is unique as it not situated on a hill and is located within the old city of Bikaner. A part of the fort was established as a museum in the year 1961 and houses some rare artifacts, Sanskrit and Persian manuscripts, ancient weapons and valuable jewels and attire of the royal family.
Architecture Of Junagarh Fort
The construction of this fort was ordered by Karan Chand the Prime Minister of Raja Rai Singh. Who was the great ruler of Bikaner. The fort is mostly made up of red sandstone and the picturesque courtyards, windows, and jharokhas just multiply the beauty of this Fort. Junagarh Fort is considered as one of the most graceful and magnificent palace with some extraordinary work of art and designs on the walls, ceilings, and the floor and the art work of small pieces of marbles on the floor can be found here only. The fort is not just made in typical Rajasthani style but also has some structures like the ponds and domes of Indo – Mughal type of architecture. This fort has some excellent examples of carvings and paintings, and inlay work with precious and semi precious stones. The forts comprise of several other complex and palaces. The Anup Mahal for example is an oasis in the desert for the art lovers. It is a structure with multiple floors with wooden ceilings and colorful floral paintings on the walls. Some of the paintings and sculptures which are gold plated and formed using precious stones can be found in the Chandra Mahal. And the most amazing fact of this part of the palace is that this room was also the private chamber to the Maharaja himself and was very large and spacious so the mirrors in this room were designed and placed in such a way that the Maharaja could see any visitor entering his room from his bed.
How to Reach Junagarh Fort Bikaner
Junagarh Fort is located in Bikaner, not in Jaisalmer. If you want to reach Junagarh Fort in Bikaner, you can follow these travel options:
By Air: The nearest airport to Bikaner is Nal Airport (BKB), which has limited domestic flights. You can fly to Nal Airport from major Indian cities like Delhi and Jaipur. Once you arrive at the airport, you can hire a taxi or take a prearranged transport to Junagarh Fort, which is approximately 17 kilometers away.
By Train: Bikaner Junction is the main railway station in Bikaner, well-connected to major cities like Delhi, Jaipur, and Jodhpur.
You can take a train to Bikaner Junction and then hire a taxi or an auto-rickshaw to reach Junagarh Fort, which is around 2.5 kilometers away from the railway station.
By Road: Bikaner is well-connected by road to various cities in Rajasthan and neighboring states. You can take a bus or hire a taxi to reach Bikaner from nearby cities like Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Delhi. Once you reach Bikaner, Junagarh Fort is easily accessible by local transportation or a short taxi ride.
Keep in mind that Bikaner and Jaisalmer are two different cities in Rajasthan, so if you are specifically looking for Junagarh Fort, you should plan your travel to Bikaner, not Jaisalmer.
