Gagron Fort: Difference between revisions

{{Infobox military installation

|caption =   Gagron Fort  

 

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   | designation1_free1name = Region

   | designation1_free1value = [[List of World Heritage Sites in Asia|South Asia]]

'''Gagron Fort''' ([[Hindi]]/[[Rajasthani language|Rajasthani]]: गागरोन का किला) is a hill and water fort and is situated in [[Jhalawar district]] of [[Rajasthan]], in the [[Hadoti]] region of [[India]]. It is an example of a hill and water fort.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://tourism.rajasthan.gov.in/jhalawar.html#gagron-fort|title=Jhalawar Tourism: Tourist Places in Jhalawar - Rajasthan Tourism|website=tourism.rajasthan.gov.in|language=en-IN|access-date=2018-03-11}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Sharma|first=Meghna|date=2008|title=Forts in Rajasthan and recent tourism inclination|url=http://www.sajth.com/old/12%20Forts%20of%20Rajasthan.pdf|journal=S Asian J Tourism Heritage|volume=1|pages=4}}</ref> The fort was built by Bijaldev Singh Dod (a Rajput king)

in the twelfth century. Later, the fort has also been controlled by [[Sher Shah Suri|Sher Shah]] and [[Akbar]]. The fort is constructed on the confluence of [[Ahu River]] and [[Kali Sindh River]]. The fort is surrounded by water on three sides and a [[moat]] on the forth side and hence earned the name ''Jaladurg ([[Hindi]]/[[Rajasthani language|Rajasthani]]: जलदुर्ग, translation: Water Fort)''.<ref name=":0" /> It was designated a [[UNESCO World Heritage Site|UNESCO world heritage site]] in 2013 as a part of [[Hill Forts of Rajasthan|Hill Forts in Rajasthan]].<ref name=":2" />

 

 

The last ruler of this fort is reported to be king Achal Das Khinchi. During the medieval power, there [[Muslims|muslim]] rulers of [[Malwa]] attacked Gagron fort. Sultan [[Hoshang Shah]] attacked the fort in the year 1423 with an army that included 30 thousand horsemen and 84 elephant riders. Achal Das Khinchi, on realizing that his defeat was inevitable, due to the Sultan's superior numbers and higher grade weapons, did not surrender and fought till he lost his life, which is accordance to [[Rajput]] tradition. Furthermore, many women performed [[jauhar]] (burnt themselves alive), in order to avoid being taken captive by the Sultan's forces.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Gagron Fort witness of sacrifice, thousands of women saved their chastity by sacrificing lives |url=https://www.maharajatrails.com/gagron-fort-witness-of-sacrifice-thousands-of-women-saved-their-chastity-by-sacrificing-lives |access-date=2021-07-03 |website=www.maharajatrails.com |language=en-us}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> The fort has reportedly seen 14 battles and 2 jauhars of queens.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

 

The fort has also been conquered by [[Sher Shah Suri|Sher Shah]] and [[Akbar]]. Akbar also reportedly made this fort a headquarter and later gave it to Prathviraj of [[Bikaner]] as a part of his estate.<ref name=":0" />

 

Gagron Fort is surrounded by water on three sides and a moat filled with water on the fourth side. It is constructed on the confluence of [[Ahu River]] and [[Kali Sindh River]]. The fort also boasts three ramparts as opposed to traditional forts that have only two. The towers of the fort are blended with [[Mukundara Hills National Park|Mukundara Hills]] of the [[Vindhya Range]]. The mountain that the fort sits on is itself the foundation of the fort. The fort also has two main entrances. One gate leads towards the river, while the other gate leads towards the hilly road.<ref name=":0" />

 

The following are some important sites of the fort:

 

The fort is the only fort in [[North India]] surrounded by water and has been named the ''Jaladurga'' (''Water Fort) of India.<ref name=":0" />''<ref name=":1" /> A mausoleum of Sufi Saint Mitthe Shah just outside the fort is the venue for an annual colourful fair held during the month of [[Muharram]]. There is also a monastery of Saint Pipaji across the confluence.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2017-06-05|title=Forts of Rajasthan — 6: Gagron Fort of Jhalawar|language=en-US|work=My Favourite Things|url=https://sudhagee.com/2017/06/05/forts-of-rajasthan-6-gagron-fort-of-jhalawar/|access-date=2018-03-11}}</ref>

Six [[Hill Forts of Rajasthan|Hill forts of Rajasthan]], namely, [[Amer Fort]], [[Chittor Fort]], Gagron Fort, [[Jaisalmer Fort]], [[Kumbhalgarh]] and [[Ranthambore Fort]] were included in the [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]] list during the 37th meeting of the World Heritage Committee in Phnom Penh during June 2013. They were recognized as a serial cultural property and examples of Rajput military hill architecture.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/247|title=Hill Forts of Rajasthan|last=Centre|first=UNESCO World Heritage|website=whc.unesco.org|language=en|access-date=2018-03-11}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/unesco-declares-6-rajasthan-forts-world-heritage-sites/article4838107.ece|title=Unesco declares 6 Rajasthan forts World Heritage Sites|last=Singh|first=Mahim Pratap|date=2013-06-22|work=The Hindu|access-date=2018-03-11|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Conserving fortified heritage : the proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Fortifications and World Heritage, New Delhi, 2015|author1=Jain, Shikha |author2=Hooja, Rima |isbn=1443894532|location=Newcastle upon Tyne, UK|oclc=964568862}}</ref>

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