1. Red Fort, Delhi
Located in the capital, Delhi, this fort is entirely made from red sandstone and served as the primary residence of the Mughal emperors for nearly 200 years. You can find numerous museums here while exploring its vast area.
The Red Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was built in 1639 and even today, every Independence Day, the tricolour flag is flown by the Prime Minister of India here. You can actually get an idea of the royal lives of the Mughal kings by seeing the various structures inside like Diwan-i-Khas and Hammam.
2. Red Fort, Agra
It is the most important fort in India situated in AgraUttar Pradesh,about 2Km form its more famous sister monument, “The Taj Mahal”. Sikandar Lodi was the first Sultan of Delhi who shifted to Agra and lived in the fort. The a UNESCO World Heritage site is lies on the right bank of the river Yamuna. Agra Fort also known as the red fort of Agra is among the best tourist places in Uttar Pradesh. Jhansi fort another marvelous architecture of forts in India.The fort was a residence of Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi located in Uttar Pradesh.
3. Jaisalmer Fort
This giant fort towering over the city of Jaisalmer in Rajasthan is one of the only few living forts in the world. You can still find one-fourth of the city’s population still living inside the walls of this fort which was indeed the city of Jaisalmer itself in the past. This 800-year-old fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the oldest in the country. The entire fort is made of yellow sandstone as a defence tactic to become camouflaged in the desert during the day.
4. Mehrangarh Fort
One of the most massive forts in India, this fort was built way back in 1460 by Rao Jodha and is constructed over the hill next to Jodhpur and towers over the city. From the top of this fort, you can see the entire city and even beyond. This massive fort has thick, imposing walls and boasts of some excellent palaces and courtyards. You can also explore the museum in the fort and marvel at the old royal palanquins and other items from the time of the Rathores.
5. Amber Fort (Amer Fort)
This is one of the most iconic forts of India. Overlooking a serene lake in the town of Amer in Rajasthan, the Amer Fort is built on a hill and is a popular tourist attraction in Jaipur. Constructed of red sandstone and marble, you can find many Hindu style elements inside this fort. The fort is also a palace, and you can stroll in the vast courtyards here or experience unmatched opulence in the Diwan-i-Khas. You could also visit the intriguing Sheesh Mahal which is made entirely from mirrors inside the palace.
6. Chittorgarh Fort
Chittaurgarh Fort is the largest fort of India and the grandest in the state of Rajasthan. It is situated on the left bank of the Berach river. It is also called as Water Fort, The fort had 84 water bodies inside, out of which only about 22 exist today. This living testimony represent the bravery of Maharana Pratap Singh and the great Rajput rulers of Rajasthan. One of the most significant forts in Rajasthan,host the biggest Rajput festival called the “Jauhar Mela”. The most valuable monuments in the Chittaurgarh Fort are Gaumukh reservoir, Vijay Stambha and Rana Kumbha palace. Rajasthan has famous numerous forts and palaces such as Amber Fort,Jaigarh Fort and Taragarh Fort.
7. Gwalior Fort
Gwalior Fort is one of the oldest forts in India and is said to date back to 6th century. Built by the Hindu kings of the country, this fort boasts of two palaces – Gujari Mahal and Man Mandir. You can explore the Gujari Mahal, which is a museum now and see some of the ancient artefacts from those times. You can also find the second oldest record of ‘zero’, which is believed to be more than 1500 years old, in this fort.
8. Lohagad Fort
Built at an elevation of 1000 meters above sea level, this fort near the hill station of Lonavala in Maharashtra is one of the many hill forts in the state. This age-old fort can be reached by an arduous trek, and this is what made it nearly undefeatable. From the top of the Lohagad Fort, you can see valleys on all the sides, and this gave the occupants a great vantage point. It is one of the best trekking routes in the state, and you can see clouds descend here every monsoon.
9. Golkonda Fort
Located in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad, this fort was built by Kakatiya dynasty and is built on a hill from where you can get panoramic views of the city. The vast area of the fort has enormous battlements which are still intact. Today, however, you can only find the ruins of this magnificent fort which fell after withstanding an eight-year-long siege.
To really appreciate the architectural prowess of the engineers, you can go to the Fateh Darwaza and clap your hands below a point in the dome. This clap can be clearly heard at the highest point of the fort. This was used as a warning measure during attacks.
Apart from these, India has hundreds of forts that can be explored to dive into the rich past of this nation. It’s time to get lost in the ruins and be awed by the magnificent constructions of the past!
