Complete Guide to Nahargarh Fort, Jaipur

Visitor Information

  • Famous For: History, scenic views and medieval architecture.
  • Entrance Fee: Rs. 50/- per person for Indian Nationals, Rs. 5/- per person for Indian Students, Rs. 25/- per person for foreign students and Rs. 200/- per head for foreign tourists.
  • Opening Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. (daily)
  • Visit Duration: 2-3 hours.

Think Rajasthan and you have majestic forts and palaces coming into your mind. Nahargarh Fort is one such majestic and magnificent fort, situated in the Aravalli mountain ranges in Jaipur. Nahargarh was earlier known as Sudarshangarh and was built in 1734 by Maharaj Sawai Jai Singh II, primarily as a strong defence for Jaipur city.

Nahargarh means ‘abode of tigers’ and was named so after the tigers which were believed to have roamed around the hills. It is also believed that the fort was named after Prince Nahar Singh Bhomia. There are many structures within the fort – a temple dedicated to deity of Jaipur monarchs, another temple dedicated to Prince Nahar Singh Bhomia, a 2-storey building known as Madhavendra Bhavan named after Sawai Madho Singh who built it and Diwan-I-Aam, an open enclosure where the kings used to meet common public to hear out their grievances.

Photo by Tharakan, Public Domain

Facts About Nahargarh Fort

  • Nahargarh Fort was built for defence purpose but it was never attacked by enemies. The field guns stationed at the fort were never used for war but to indicate time through firing.
  • The most spectacular part of the Fort is the Madhavendra Bhawan which had 12 identical suites for each of the 12 queens of Sawai Madho Singh. There are stunning frescoes in the interior of the building and there are connecting hallways to the different rooms. It is said that the rooms for the queens were built in such a way that when the king visited one of the queens, others could not find about it.
  • Nahargarh Fort was also believed to be haunted and it is said that the spirit of a prince named Nahar Singh Bhomia roamed about the place and hindered the construction of the fort. It was then, Sawai Jai Singh promised to build a temple dedicated to the prince and also to name the fort after him to appease the ghost. After that, the construction went on smoothly.
  • During the Great Uprising of 1857, the then ruler of the region Sawai Ram Singh provided protection to many Europeans who were moved to the fort.
  • Nahargarh Fort is also a popular film shooting location. Some of the films shot here include Rang De Basanti, Jodha Akbar, among others.

Today, Nahargarh Fort is one of the prime tourist destinations of Jaipur. At any time of the day, it is a visual treat to watch the splendid palace stand in its glory but in the evenings, the floodlit fort looks like a dream. You should visit the fort in the evening when you can get a great view of the city with lights on.

Things to Do

Cycling and trekking are two activities that can be done at Nahargarh Fort. There are many groups which organize these activities for a fee. You can also visit the Nahargarh Biological Park located within the fort premises. History, royalty and nature at one place, that is what Nahargarh Fort is!

What to Carry

Nahargarh is an extensive fort and walking around can take quite some time. It will also be a sunny day. So, ensure that you carry your water bottles. Also, keep some packaged food with you but kindly not litter. Dress in loose, cotton clothes and also carry a wide-rim hat and your sunglasses. Since you will need to walk quite a bit, wear comfortable shoes.

Places to Eat Around

  • There is an open-air restaurant, Padao, within the fort premises but an entry fee of Rs. 50 is charged.
  • Another restaurant in the fort premises is Once Upon a Time
  • Nahargarh Palace Hotel

Timings

Nahargarh Fort is open to visitors from 10.00 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.

Fees

  • Entrance Fee: Indians – Rs. 50/- Foreigners – Rs. 200/-

Composite tickets are also available – Rs. 300/- for Indians and Rs. 1000/- for foreigners. This ticket will include the fees of Amer Fort, Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar and the Central Museum.

  • Camera Fee: Indians –Rs. 20 / Foreigners – Rs. 50
  • Video Fee: 70

Availability of Guides

Guides are available for a fee and the rate may vary from person to person and also the services taken.

Best Time to Visit

Rajasthan is a desert, so you can expect warm temperature all the time and that is why, it is best to visit during winter months, that is from October to March. Though the days will be sunny at 20-220 C but nights are much cooler with the temperature dipping to 50 C.

Estimated Visit Duration

2-3 hours

View from Nahargarh, Photo by Evonne, CC BY 2.0

How to Reach

Nahargarh Fort is easily accessible via road or rail. There are three railway junctions nearby, which are Jaipur, Gandhinagar and Durgapur. The city railway station and bus stand is just 17 km away. From the capital city, you can hire a bus, a taxi or an auto rickshaw to reach the splendid Fort.

Nearby Attractions

Jantar Mantar, an astronomical observatory and one of the famous locations of Jaipur is just 2.7 km away from the Nahargarh Fort. Other attractions located nearby are Jaigarh Fort, Amer Fort, City Palace, Hawa Mahal and Jal Mahal.

Nahargarh Fort may not have been a war zone but it has witnessed many historical events. It is also a proud symbol of India’s ancient heritage and architecture. That is why, a visit to the fort means revisiting those historical moments and to salute the great knowledge of yesteryear where beauty and pride were captured in magnificent buildings. Nahargarh Fort is definitely a shining example of such a beauty.

Note: As the ticket cost, visit timings and other fees keep changing with time, please comment on this page with the latest fees in case you have visited City Palace recently so that we can update this page accordingly. This will help tourists get updated information. Above information was last updated on September 2019.

About Rohit

An architect by profession, Rohit Agarwal is a curious traveller, seeking out the minutest detail about the places he travels to, and that’s what one will find in his writings. His writings have appeared in various blogs, he’s currently trying to bring forth as many different places a traveller who shares the same level of curiosity like him would like to visit through his writings.

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