Home

Tsunami & After

Back to Index

Nagaur fort gets uplift, enthralls tourists
by Gyanendra Kumar Keshri

    Nagaur (Rajasthan): Truly like a beacon in the sandy stretch of the Thar Desert is the ancient fort of Nagaur in Rajasthan that has withstood fierce wars with as much ilan as it has stood the ravages of time, heat and disuse. Only 137 kilometers from Jodhpur, Nagaur is sheer poetry in stone. It is a blend of Persian and local Rajasthani architecture and is being rediscovered by the administration of the state's tourism department as well as by the tourists who flock to Rajasthan for a slice of the old world charm. "When they talk of Rajasthan, of course Jaipur is there, the capital and then we have only two to three major cities that we could concentrate on. But we want people to come and see the interiors of Rajasthan to reach the villages because that's where the culture is. It is more about the exposure to the culture and the tourists must know about it. It is amazing that in Rajasthan itself every region has a different language, cuisine and dressing. So it is a real paradise for the tourists to come and see. So that is the reason we are trying to get them here," said Usha Puniya, Rajasthan's Tourism Minister.

    The lofty walls of the spacious second century fort is a complex of richly painted palaces, mosques, temples, intricate baoris (reservoirs), water systems, fountains, open terraces and pleasure gardens dating back to the Mughal times. "It has been a wonderful slice of history as it has been here for so many years. It gives one an idea of the richness of the Indian culture. It has been a very fine experience for all of us. We have all enjoyed it," said Ted Rogers, an American tourist, who was smitten with the sights within the fort. Nagaur fort's massive ramparts and impressive gateways tell a fascinating tale of how the Mughals enjoyed uninterrupted power in Nagaur from the time Akbar conquered it in 1556 to when his grandson Shah Jahan voluntarily bestowed it to Amar Singh in 1638 and the tourists guides here can tell it by the rote. "The main attraction is inside the fort if you see, the Hara Rani Mahal (the Queen's Palace), the DeewanI-e-khas ((Hall of Nobles or the hall of private audience where the royals held private meetings with "Khas" i.e. important) people), the Diwan e aam (the Hall of Public Audiences) and if you'll see the pictures and paintings on the wall. You will see the frescoes, which are the best in Rajasthan's architecture. Also all the time there was war here. So the walls of the fort are very strong so nobody can conquer them.

    The fort is in the middle of the desert and that made it very difficult for the attacking army to fight in the sweltering heat outside," said Vikram Rathore, a tourist guide at Nagaur. Many tourists come here to peep into what was once a completely different world from what we live in. "For me it's got a special significance because one of my ancestors was the Lieutenant Governor of a fort in India. So it is very interesting for me because I have never seen a fort before. So if the other one is anything like this one, then it is a very big job he had. I think it is an extraordinary place and it is wonderful that OXFAM and the other organisations are getting together and putting money in its restoration," said Jane Dawson, an Australian tourist visiting with family in tow. The fort's conservation got a shot in the arm when it was awarded UNESCO's Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards for Culture Heritage Conservation in the year 2002.The fort has become the venue for fading traditions of performing arts, thus revitalizing those arts and enriching the community.Also called the Ahhichatragarh, the nagaur fort is one of few heritage sites in India.
-Feb 11, 2006

Leading Indian News Papers

Overseas Tourist
Offices

Tourist offices
in India

Helpline