Ranthambore Fort, in Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan, stands majestically atop a rocky plateau, marking over a thousand years of history. Built around 944 AD by the Chauhan kings, it later became the stage for epic battles most famously in 1301 CE when Sultan Alauddin Khilji besieged Raja Hamir Dev Chauhan. The fort’s name earlier was Ranastambhapura, literally “city of the battle post”.

Architecturally, it combines rugged hill-fort strength with artistic details: massive stone walls, some 7 km in circumference; imposing gates (‘pols’) like Ganesh Pol, Delhi Pol, Hathi Pol; numerous temples and a Jain shrine; pavilions, chhatris, palaces, step wells, and tanks for water. The Trinetra Ganesha temple, unique for its three-eyed idol, and the “Battis Khamba Chhatri” (32-pillared pavilion) are among its most visited structures.

Legend mingles with history: one story says that over a thousand women committed jauhar (self-immolation) to avoid capture when the fort was on the brink during the Khilji invasion. The fort also includes both Hindu and Islamic religious structures, signaling a historical acceptance of diverse communities. Today, its ruins, sweeping vistas, wildlife (including langurs and occasional leopards), and cultural fairs make it a potent symbol of Rajasthan’s layered past.