Taragarh Fort

Rajasthan hosts a range of beautiful palaces and forts which have always remain the center of attraction for many tourists from the past. The rich heritage and culture of this desert city reflect its glorious past. In this article, you will have a virtual tour of Taragarh Fort, Bundi, which is one famous fort of Rajasthan that is shinning with its own historical past.

Taragarh Fort is also popularly known as Star Fort. It is situated on a steep hillside that was built in 1354 AD.

Visitor Information:

Entry to this magnificent fort is not free. The timings of entry are different in summer and winter times.

Entry fee, for Indians – 25 Indian rupees, for foreigners – 100 Indian rupees

Entry timings,

Summer season – 8 AM to 7 PM

Winter season – 8 AM to 5 PM

History:

Rao Deva founded the state of Bundi in 1341 during his reign. It is recognized as the first hill fort of India. It is an ancient fort too that had proudly witnessed a number of battles between the Rajputs, Muslims, Marathas, and British rulers to date.

Taragarh Fort, Bundi includes a historical dargah of the ages of Sultan Shahabuddin Ghori. The governor of Ajmer of his reign, Hazrat Miran Syed Hussain Asghar Khangswar was the owner of it. Later he was killed in the fort after the death of Qutubuddin Aibak by the joint attacks of Rajputs and Chauhans.

Architecture:

Though most of the forts of Rajasthan are built with sandstones, Taragarh fort is standing differently in the queue. It is made of green serpentine stones. Since this stone was not able to bear the intricacy of stone carvings, the fort walls include exquisite paintings.

The huge entrance of the fort has two large elephant painted towers called Hathia Pol. Chitrashala and Chattar Mahal are another two attractions of this fort. These contain a paintings gallery that includes rare old paintings.

The murals depict mythological themes and lifestyle of the ancient rulers of this fort. Normally green and blue colors have used in the murals with strokes of yellow and red between them to portray perfect looks.

You need to enter through the giant gateway of the Taragarh Fort, Bundi. Although three entrances are there which are Gagudi ki Phatak, Phuta Darwaza, and Lakshmi Pol, all of them are engraved with elephant carvings.

The tunnels of the fort are also must a visit. These used to play important roles during war times as secure exits for the king and his delegates to ensure their safety. But tourists are not allowed to enter those tunnels for their own safety reasons.

The fort houses countless gigantic ramparts. Bhim Burj is the largest among them. Garbh Gunjan cannons were once mounted on it. Chauhan bastion is another one of them which once secured many large-sized water reservoirs that were built for water storage and supply to the residents in emergency situations.

And, not to forget, the Rani Mahal is another tourist attraction here. It boasts of various stained glass murals and windows depicting the glory of the past. It includes Miran Saheb ki Dargah in it.

Best time to visit:

The best time to visit Taragarh Fort, Bundi is during November-March when the weather remains pleasant here.

How to reach?

The Taragarh Fort is only 10 km distant from the Dargah Bazaar. After reaching here, take an auto or cab through the Taragarh road. It is around 30 minutes’ drive from the bazaar.

Nearby attractions:

Bundi in Rajasthan holds many other attractions for its tourists. Some major of them include –

 Nawal Sagar Lake

 Bijolia

 Talwas Fort

 Dhabai Kund

Tips for visiting:

Remember the fort area is full of langoors and monkeys. For the safety of your belongings, you can carry a stick with you!

Carry a water bottle with you as there is no facility for drinking water inside the fort.

Try to start your visit early morning hours. Later the sun will be high on your head and walking under it can be a bit exhausting for you.