The 15 Great Forts of India

India is a land full of ancient forts and monuments that describe its deep past. Two of the forts in India are part of the UNESCO world heritage sites: Agra Fort and Red Fort. The forts and palaces of India are the treasures of the country, because they are a manifestation of the magnanimity of the Royal Kingdoms of India.

The types of the ancient Indian forts are Jal durg, Giridurg and Vana durg. The Qila Mubarak is a historical monument in Bathinda and is the oldest surviving fort in India. There are a number of famous forts in India, while Rajasthan and Maharashtra have the highest number of forts. Some of the main forts in India are HariParbat Fort, Rohtasgarh Fort, Bekal Fort and Uparkot Fort.

1) Mehrangarh Fort - Jodhpur

The Great Mehrangarh Fort is located in Jodhpur, Rajasthan city. It is over 500 years old and is one of the largest forts in India. Fort Mehrangarh is located 400 above the city and was founded by RaoJodha. There are seven gates built by each Maharaja on the occasion of his victory; a gate is called Jayapol and was built by Maharaja Man Singh.

Inside the fortress, there are several brilliantly elaborate and decorated palaces such as MotiMahal, Sheesha Mahal, etc. The Chamunda Devi Temple and Museum is located within the Mehrangarh Fort. The Mehrangarh Fort Museum is one of the most well-stocked museums in Rajasthan. The Royal State Rajasthan is wonderful for many reasons, in fact it is one of the most visited tourist sites in India. Rajasthan is also famous for its great Thar desert, its beautiful lakes, its national parks and its attractive lifestyle.

2) Red Fort - Delhi

Lal Quila or the Red Fort is the most important historical building in India and is located in Delhi. Delhi's most famous monuments were built by the Mughal Emperor ShahJahan. This monument is called a red fort thanks to the thick red sandstone walls. There are important buildings and other structures within the forts, for example a mosque known as Moti Masjid, Diwan-i-Aam etc.

The fort is located along the "holy river of India", the Yamuna river. There is an archaeological museum and an Indian war museum inside the fort. This is the most powerful symbol of the sovereignty of India, in fact the Prime Minister of India addresses the nation and flies the flag of India on Independence Day and the Republic of India.

3) Gwalior Fort - Gwalior

Gwalior Fort is a fantastic historical monument located in Madhya Pradesh built by Rana Man Singh Tomar. This magnificent monument is an example of the wonderful ancient architecture of India. The main attractions of the Gwalior fort are the famous Sas-Bahu temple, the Gujari Mahal which is now a museum and The Mandir Man.

This majestic monument is one of the largest forts in India and therefore a postage stamp has been issued to remember the importance of this fort. Madhya Pradesh, the heart of India, is one of the most popular tourist attractions in India for its wonderful ancient Indian architecture.

4) Golconda Fort - Hyderabad

The famous Golconda fort is located in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, and was built by the Kakatiya kings. The heritage monument is known for its rich history and for its majestic and imposing grand structure. Golkonda was known for the magnificent diamonds found in the southeast of the Kollur mine near Lake Kollur.

The impressive Golconda Fort is famous for its military architecture and is one of the most wonderful monuments in India. Golconda Fort is one of the Seven Wonders of Hyderabad; the others are Charminar, Birla Mandir, Ramoji Film City, Sagar Hussain, the salarjung museum, and Mecca Masjid, the largest mosque in Hyderabad.

5) Jaisalmer Fort - Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer Fort, one of the largest forts in the world, is located in the state of Rajasthan and was built by RawalJaisal. The magnificent foundation of the Jaisalmer Fort is situated in the middle of the sandy terrain of the Great Thar Desert. This fort, also known as "Sonar quila" and "Golden Fort", was built on the triangular hill of Trikuta, 76 meters above the city.

It is the second oldest fort in the state of Rajasthany and is considered one of the most invincible forts in India. The main attractions within the forts are the Jain Temples, the Royal Palace and the Great Gates. Jaisalmer is the land of sand also famous for Trikuta Hill, Havelis, the palace and lakes.

6) Red Fort - Agra

It is the most important fort in India and is located in Agrauttar Pradesh, 2 kilometers away from its sister monument, "The TajMahal". Sikandar Lodi was the first sultan from Delhi who moved to Agra and lived in the fort. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is located on the right bank of the Yamuna River.

The Agra Fort, also known as the Agra Red Fort, is one of the best tourist spots in Uttar Pradesh. Jhansi Fort is another wonderful architecture of Indian forts. This fort was a RaniLaxmibai residence of Jhansi, located in Uttar Pradesh.

7) Kangra Fort - Kangra

The famous Kangra Fort was built by the Kangra royal family and is located at the confluence of the Banganga and Manjhi rivers, in the Kangra valley of Himachal Pradesh. The famous monumental fortress is one of the oldest fortresses in the world and the oldest in India, it is also the largest fortress in the Himalayas.

The most valuable monument at Kangra Fort is the Vajreshwari temple. The most beautiful way to look at the Kangra Fort is on the road while traveling. The famous monumental attractions of Himachal Pradesh are very close to the famous Dharamsala.

8) Chittorgarh Fort - Chittorgarh

Chittorgarh Fort is the largest fort in India and the largest in the state of Rajasthan. It is located on the left bank of the Berach River. It is also called the Water Fortress. The fort had 84 bodies of water inside, of which only about 22 exist today. This living testimony represents the bravery of Maharana Pratap Singh and the great Rajput rulers of Rajasthan.

9) Fort Panhala - Kolhapur

Fort Panhala is the largest and most important fort in Maharashtra, located in the Sahyadri mountain range near Kolhapur. The structures of the Panhala fort are representative of the great Maratha Empire. Most of the forts in Maharashtra are associated with Shivaji, the great warrior Maratha.

10) Srirangapatnam Fort - Karnataka

Srirangapatnam Fort is the famous fort in Karnataka, located near the holy Kaveri river. The Srirangapatnam Fort, or Tipu Sultan Palace, is one of the prominent monuments in Karnataka. Other attractions include a mosque called "Jumma Masjid", the Daria Daulat Gardens, the Rangantittu Bird Sanctuary and the Tipu Sultan Mausoleum.

The Karnataka forts and palaces form an indelible part of Karnataka tourism. Visiting Karnataka without seeing its forts is an incomplete tour because they are the best attractions in Karnataka. Another famous fortress is Belgaum, one of the oldest monuments in Karnataka.

11) Gingee Fort - Tamil Nadu

Fort Gingee is a strong survivor in Tamil Nadu and is listed as the most impregnable fortress in India. This fort is a major tourist destination in the Villupuram district.

12) Amer Fort - Rajasthan

The Amer Fort is located in the Aravalli Hills near the capital of Jaipur and is the main tourist attraction in Rajasthan.

13) Raigad Fort - Maharashtra

The Raigad Fort of Maharashtra is located high up in the Sahyadri mountain range and is one of the absolutely must-see places, built by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, where he was crowned King of a Maratha Kingdom.

14) Pratapgad Fort - Maharashtra

Fort Pratapgad or Valour is now a very popular tourist site near Pune, located 23 km from Mahabaleshwar. The fort is also found on many hiking trails in the area and is one of the great forts located in the Satara district.

There are a number of forts in Maharashtra famous for trekking such as Purandhar Fort, Bahadurgad Fort, Ahmednagar Fort and Ratnagarh Fort. Murud is a city famous for the impregnable fort of Janjira and for its beautiful beach; Janjira is the sea fort located in the coastal village of Murud, in the Raigad district of Maharashtra.

15) Kumbhalgarh Fort - Rajasthan

The Kumbhalgarh Fort in the state of Rajasthan is now part of the World Heritage Site, "Hill Forts of Rajasthan" and is also the site of the second largest wall complex in the world.

One of the most important forts in Rajasthan is home to the biggest Rajput festival called "Jauhar Mela". The most valuable monuments of the Chittaurgarh Fort are the Gaumukh Reservoir, Vijay Stambha and the Rana Kumbha Palace. Rajasthan has numerous and famous forts and palaces such as Amber Fort, Jaigarh Fort and Taragarh Fort.

Other lesser-known forts in India that have fascinating stories

• Alwar Fort, Rajasthan

• Junagarh Fort, Bikaner, Rajasthan

• Jaigarh Fort, Jaipur, Rajasthan

• Khandar Fort, Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan

• Prabalgad Fort, Maharashtra

• Karnala Fort, Panvel, Maharashtra

• Lohagad Fort, Khandala, Maharashtra

• Shivneri Fort, Pune, Maharashtra

• Tikona Fort, Lonavala, Maharashtra

• Rajgad Fort, Pune, Maharashtra

• Murud-Janjira Fort, Raigad, Maharashtra

• Visapur Fort, Maharashtra

• Purandar Fort, Pune, Maharashtra

• Ranjankudi Fort, Perambalur, Tamil Nadu

• Sankagiri Fort, Tamil Nadu

• Thirumayam Fort, Pudukkotai, Tamil Nadu

• Namakkal Fort, Tamil Nadu

• Vellore Fort, Tamil Nadu

• Rock Fort, Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu

• Ahilya Fort, Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh

• Narwar Fort, Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh

• Asirgarh Fort, Madhya Pradesh

• Raisen Fort, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh

• Basavakalyana Fort, Karntaka

• Palakkad Fort, Kerala

• Ramagiri Fort, Uttar Pradesh

• Tughlaqabad Fort, Delhi

• Barabati Fort, Odisha

• Chiktan Fort, Jammu and Kashmir

• Dhandidhar Fort, Jammu and Kashmir

• Qila Mubarak Fort, Punjab

These fortresses were important in the medieval history of India, and today, the Archaeological Survey Of India has numerous fortresses listed as heritage monuments.