Ranthambore Fort

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Ranthambore Fort

Type fortress

Location Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan, India

Coordinates
26°1′13″N 76°27′18″ECoordinates:
 26°1′13″N 76°27′18″E

Area 102 ha (0.39 sq mi)

Built 10th Century CE

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Type Cultural

Criteria Cultural: (ii)(iii)

Designated 2013 (37th session)

Part of Hill Forts of Rajasthan

Reference no. 247

ID 247rev-003

Region Asia and the Pacific

Buffer Zone 372 ha (1.44 sq mi)

Location of Ranthambore Fort in Rajasthan

 Show map of Rajasthan

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Siege of Ranthambore (1301)

Ranthambore Fort lies within the Ranthambore National Park, near the town of Sawai Madhopur,
the park being the former hunting grounds of the Maharajahs of Jaipur until the time of India's
Independence. It is a formidable fort having been a focal point of the historical developments
of Rajasthan. The fort was held by the Chahamanas (Chauhans) until the 13th century, when
the Delhi Sultanatecaptured it.
In 2013, at the 37th session of the World Heritage Committee, Ranthambore Fort, along with 5 other
forts of Rajasthan, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the group Hill Forts of
Rajasthan.[1]

Contents

 1History
o 1.1Under Chauhans
 o 1.2Under Mewar
o 1.3Under Hadas
o 1.4Under Jaipur
o 1.5Temples
 2Nearby attractions
 3Gallery
 4See also
 5References
 6External links

History[edit]
See also: Siege of Ranthambore (1301) and Siege of Ranthambore (1568)

A widely held belief states that the fort was built in the reign of Sapaldaksha, in 944 CE. Another
theory states that the fort was built during the reign of Jayant, in 1110 CE. According to Government
of Rajasthan's Amber Development & Management Authority, it is likely that the construction started
in the mid-10th century during the reign of Sapaldaksha, and continued a few centuries after that.[2]
Under Chauhans[edit]
See also: Chahamanas of Ranastambhapura

Its earlier name was Ranastambha or Ranastambhapura. It was associated with Jainism during the
reign of Prithviraja I of Chahamana(Chauhan) dynasty in the 12th century. Siddhasenasuri, who
lived in the 12th century has included this place in the list of holy Jaintirthas. In the Mughal period, a
temple of Mallinatha was built in the fort.[3]
After the defeat of Prithviraja III (Prithviraj Chauhan) in 1192 CE, the fort came under the control of
the Muslim Ghurid ruler Muhammad of Ghor. Prithviraja's son Govindaraja IV accepted the Ghurid
suzerainty, and ruled Ranthambore as his vassal.[4] His descendants made various attempts to
become independent.

The Delhi Sultan Iltutmish captured Ranthambore in 1226, but the Chauhans recaptured it after his
death in 1236. The armies of Sultan Nasir ud din Mahmud, led by the future Sultan Balban,
unsuccessfully besieged the fortress in 1248 and 1253, but captured from Jaitrasingh Chauhan in
1259. Shakti Dev succeeded Jaitrasingh in 1283, and recaptured Ranthambore and enlarged the
kingdom. Sultan Jalal ud din Firuz Khalji briefly besieged the fort in 1290-91. In
1299, Hammiradeva sheltered Muhammad Shah, a rebel general of Sultan Ala ud din Khalji, and
refused to turn him over to the Sultan. The Sultan besieged and conquered the fort in 1301.
Under Mewar[edit]
The fortress was captured by the kingdom of Mewar under Rana Hamir Singh (1326–1364)
and Rana Kumbha (1433–1468).[5][6]
Under Hadas[edit]

Akbar's entry into the fort of Ranthambore, 1569, Akbarnama

During Rana Udai Singh I's reign (1468–1473) the fortress passed to the Hada Rajputs of Bundi.
Sultan Bahadur Shah of Gujaratcaptured the fortress from 1532 to 1535. The Mughal
Emperor Akbar captured the fortress in 1569.
Under Jaipur[edit]
The fortress passed to the Kachwaha Maharajas of Jaipur in the 17th century, and it remained part
of Jaipur state until Indian Independence. The area surrounding the fortress became a hunting
ground for the Maharajas of Jaipur. Jaipur state acceded to India in 1949, becoming part of the state
of Rajasthan in 1950.
Temples[edit]
Inside Ranthambore fort, there are three Hindu temples dedicated to Ganesh, Shiva and Ramlalaji
constructed in 12th and 13th centuries from red Karauli stone. There is also a Jain temple of
Lord Sumatinath (5th Jain Tirthankar) and Lord Sambhavanath.

Nearby attractions[edit]
Water Gateways

1. Kachida Valley
2. Surwal Lake
Picnic Sports

1. Malik Talao
Wild Life
 1. Bakula
2. Lakarda And Anantpura
3. Rajbagh Talao
4. Ranthambore National Park
Historical Places

1. Jogi Mahal
2. Padam Talao
3. Raj Bagh Ruins
4. Ranthambhore Fort
5. Ranthambhore School Of Art
6. Ganesha temple
7. Jain Temple