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Lohagarh
Fort, Rajasthan
Lohagarh
fort, or the Iron fort was built in the early 18th century
and took its name from its supposedly impregnable defences,
which are said to be inspired by a description given in the
epic, Ramayana. Maharaja Suraj Mal, the fort's constructor
and founder of Bharatpur, built two towers within the ramparts,
the Jawahar Burj and Fateh Burj, to commemorate his victories
over the Mughals and the British. The fort was encircled and
protected by deep moats, and according to a legend would fall
"only when a crocodile swalled up all the water of the
moat". The gate of the Lohagarh has an interesting history
behind it. It originally belonged to the fort of Chittorgarh
but was carried away by Sultan Alauddin Khilji of Delhi. In
the late 17th century it was brought back in triumph by the
victorious Jat armies from the imperial capital of Delhi to
Bharatpur.
How
to reach there:
Road: Bharatpur
is on the Agra to Jaipur road.
Railhead:
Bharatpur is on the Delhi to Bombay
broad-gauge line as well as the Delhi-Agra-Jaipur-Ahmedabad
meter-gauge line.
Accomodations:
- Forest
Jungle Lodge.
- Hotel
Sangam.
- Hotel
Falcon Ashok Forest Lodge.
Visiting
hours: The fort is open Saturday to Thursday
from 10 am to 4.30 pm.
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