The foundations of the Junagarh fort was built in 1478 by Rao Bika. However, it existed just as a stone fort then. The present grand structure was inaugurated on 17th February 1589. Besides having a rich history, the Junagarh Fort is a feat of architecture. The palaces inside the fort, the gardens, balconies, kiosks, etc. Junagarh Fort was originally called Chintamani and was renamed Junagarh or “Old Fort” in the early 20th century. Junagarh fort Bikaner is one of the truly mesmerizing places to visit in Rajasthan. The unique amalgamation of Mughal and Gujarati architecture makes this fort one of its kinds.
Special attraction of Junagarh Fort:-
- Gates: The fort consists of seven gates. Out of these, there are two main gates – the Karan pole, the former main gate of entry and the Suraj pole, the current main gate. The Suraj pol is made of yellow sandstone. The Suraj pol faces eastwards, and when it receives the first rays of the sun, the golden visage is a sight to see. At the mouth of this gate, there are two red stone statues of elephants accompanied by mahouts. The other gates of the fort are Daulat pol (double gate), Chand pol and Fateh Pol. The Daulat Pol has several imprints of the hands of all those women who committed Sati on the funeral pyres of their husbands who died in battlefields. All the gates are worthy of the gorgeous palace that they lead to temple was built exclusively for the royal family.
- Har Narayan Mandir : The royal temple of the fort is the Har Narayan temple which is dedicated to Lord Lakshmi Narayan and his wife, Lakshmi. This temple was built exclusively for the royal family.
- Karan Mahal : Considered to be the most tranquilizing place of this fort, it narrates the victorious tale of Karan Singh over Aurangzeb and highlights the aesthetic side of the royal family.
- Phool Mahal : This is the oldest palace in the fort which was built by Raja Rai Singh.
- Anup Mahal: The erstwhile administrative block, it is beautifully built with Italian tiles, exquisite lattice balconies & windows, and the exceptional wooden work. It is a multistoried building with sophisticated designs.
- Chandra Mahal: A fine example of royal luxuries, the structure boasts of breathtaking luxurious rooms and mesmerizing gold work.
- Ganga Mahal: Ganga Mahal was built in the 20th century by Raja Ganga Singh. It houses a museum now.
- Badal Mahal: Badal Mahal is an extension of the Anup Mahal and consists of many brilliant paintings.
- Fort Museum: Built in an attempt to preserve the tales of the past, the museum also exhibits royal jewels and costumes alongside paintings of the royal family. One can also see the arms and ammunition preserved here in the museum. The library boasts its collection of Sanskrit and Persian manuscripts.
- Prachina Museum: Nestled peacefully in the corner of Junagarh fort, Prachina Museum exhibits the cultural spirit of Bikaner. The museum showcases ethnic royal dresses, beautiful portraits of former rulers, religious sculptures, art works, preserved crockery & cutlery, and a beautiful collection of handcrafted rugs & carpets.
Opening Time : Open all days of the week ; 9 am – 6 pm.
How to reach : You can reach Bikaner by Bus and Train from any Nearby City like Jaipur, Jodhpur, Nagaur, Jaisalmer etc.
Easy for Tourist :-
- This fort is situated on the land. This is not in any forest or not on a mountain, so tourist can visit this amazing Fort without worrying the time. There is also a Cafeteria(Garden Cafe) in The Fort so Not to worry about refreshment.
