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| 26°26′32″N74°37′06″E / 26.442154°N 74.618288°E | |
| Location | Ajmer, Rajasthan, India |
|---|---|
| Type | Fort |
| built by | Ajayaraja I |
Taragarh Fort is a fortress built upon a steep hillside in the city of Ajmer in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It was constructed in the 8th century by Ajayaraja Chauhan (721-734) [1] and it was originally called Ajaymeru Durg. [2]
This fort was known for its strength and strategic importance. First islamic attack on the fort was made in 724, during reign of Chauhan King Durlabhraj I, who bravely fought muslim armies under caliph Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik. In this war, King Durlabhraj I did not receive support from fellow rajput kings. This war witnessed India's second Jauhar conducted by queens of King Durlabhraj I, along with other females in Taragarh Fort. The war is also known for sacrifice of 7-year old Chauhan Prince Lot, who bravely fought muslim armies, and laid down his life.
Prithviraj, son of Rana Raimal of Mewar and elder brother of Rana Sanga, captured Taragarh fort of Ajmer during the end of 15th century, after slaying Governor Mallu Khan. [3] [4] [5] The fort is also called Taragarh, named after Prithviraj's wife Tarabai. [6] It remained under control of Mewar and later Rana Sanga granted it to Karamchand Panwar [7]
There are three gateways to the fort known as Lakshmi Pol, Phuta Darwaza, and Gagudi ki Phatak. There were 14 bastions in the wall of this fort. Most parts of these gateways are now in ruins. The largest of its battlements is the 16th-century bastion known as the Bhim Burj, on which was once mounted a large cannon called Garbh Gunjam, or 'Thunder from the Womb'. In the fort are water reservoirs.
The fort also holds a shrine dedicated to Miran Saheb ki Dargah, who lost his life in 1202 CE during a Rajput attack. He was slain in a perfidious Rajput attack that took place while him and his men were conducting their prostration (namaaz). [8] [9]
After conquering the fort of Kandahar, Emperor Jahangir built this Marble Cage (Kathera) in the dargah of Meera Syed Hussain in 1615. [10]
Ajmer is a city in the north-western Indian state of Rajasthan. It serves as the administrative headquarters of the Ajmer district and Ajmer division. It lies at the centre of Rajasthan, earning it the nickname 'the Heart of Rajasthan'.
Rana Sangram Singh I, popularly known as Rana Sanga, was the Maharana of Mewar from 1508 to 1528 CE. Belonging to the Sisodia Rajput dynasty, through his capable leadership, he transformed the Kingdom of Mewar into the most powerful state in northern India in the early 16th century. He controlled parts of present-day Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh with his capital at Chittor. His reign was admired by several of his contemporaries, including the first Mughal Emperor Babur, who described him as the "greatest Indian ruler" of that time. The Mughal historian Abd al-Qadir Badayuni called Sanga the bravest of all Rajputs.In contemporary texts, he is described as the Hindu Emperor (Hindupati) of northern India.
Pratap Singh I, popularly known as Maharana Pratap, was a king of Kingdom of Mewar, in north-western India in the present-day state of Rajasthan. He is notable for leading the Rajput resistance against the expansionist policy of the Mughal Emperor Akbar including the Battle of Haldighati.
The Sisodia is an Indian royal Rajput dynasty belonging to the clan that ruled over the Kingdom of Mewar, in the region of Mewar in Rajasthan. The name of the clan is also transliterated as Sesodia, Shishodia, Sishodia, Shishodya, Sisodya, Sisodiya, Sisodia.
Kumbhalgarh, also known as the Great Wall of India, is a fortress on the westerly range of Aravalli Hills in the Rajsamand district of the Rajasthan state in India. Situated approximately 84 km (52 mi) from Udaipur, it was built during the 15th century by Rana Kumbha. The wall of Kumbhalgarh is one of the longest continuous walls in the world, spanning 38 kilometers. It is also the birthplace of great king and military leader Maharana Pratap of Mewar.
Rao Maldeo Rathore was a king of the Rathore dynasty, who ruled the kingdom of Marwar in present day state of Rajasthan. Maldeo ascended the throne in 1531 CE, inheriting a small ancestral principality of Rathore's but after a long period of military actions against his neighbours, Maldeo swept significant territories which included parts of present day Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Sindh. He refused to ally with either the Sur Empire or the Mughal Empire.
The Chittorgarh, also known as Chittod Fort, is one of the largest living forts in India. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The fort was the capital of Mewar and is located in the present-day city of Chittorgarh. It sprawls over a hill 180 m (590.6 ft) in height spread over an area of 280 ha above the plains of the valley drained by the Berach River. The fort covers 65 historic structures, which include four palaces, 19 large temples, 20 large water bodies, 4 memorials and a few victory towers.
Ranthambore Fort lies within the Ranthambore National Park, near the city of Sawai Madhopur in Sawai Madhopur district of Rajasthan, India. 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 is believed to be constructed by numerous kings from several Rajput dynasties including Chahamana, Hada, Mewar Rajput Kings and then the Delhi Sultanate captured it for a brief time. The fort provides a panoramic view of the surrounding Ranthambore National Park and is now a popular tourist attraction.
The history of human settlement in the western Indian state of Rajasthan dates back to about 100,000 years ago. Around 5000 to 2000 BCE many regions of Rajasthan belonged as the site of the Indus Valley Civilization. Kalibangan is the main Indus site of Rajasthan, here fire altars have been discovered, similar to those found at Lothal.
The Kingdom of Mewar, also called Medapata, was an independent kingdom that existed in the Rajputana region of the Indian Subcontinent and later became a dominant state in medieval India. The kingdom was initially founded and ruled by the Guhila dynasty followed by the Sisodiya Dynasty. The earliest kingdom was centered around the south-central part of Rajasthan, state of India. It was bordered by the Aravali Range to the northwest, Ajmer to the north, Gujarat, Vagad and Malwa regions to the south and the Hadoti region to the east.
Raimal Singh Sisodia, also known as Rana Raimal, was a Hindu Rajput ruler of Mewar. Maharana Raimal was the son of Rana Kumbha and his Rathore queen, a princess of Idar.
Apart from the architecture of Rajasthan, the most notable forms of the visual art of Rajasthan are architectural sculpture on Hindu and Jain temples in the medieval era, in painting illustrations to religious texts, beginning in the late medieval period, and post-Mughal miniature painting in the Early Modern period, where various different court schools developed, together known as Rajput painting. In both cases, Rajasthani art had many similarities to that of the neighbouring region of Gujarat, the two forming most of the region of "Western India", where artistic styles often developed together.
The history of human settlement in the west Indian state of Rajasthan dates back to about 5,000 years ago.
The Battle of Khatoli was fought in 1517 between the Lodi dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate under Ibrahim Lodi and the Kingdom of Mewar under Rana Sanga, during which Mewar emerged victorious.
The Battle of Dholpur occurred between the Kingdom of Mewar, led by Rana Sanga, and the Lodi dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate, commanded by Ibrahim Lodi, culminating in a victory for Mewar.
The Battle of Gagron was fought in 1519 between Mahmud Khalji II of Malwa and Rajput Confederacy of Rana Sanga. The conflict took place in Gagron and resulted in Sanga's victory, with him taking Mahmud captive and annexing significant territory.
Gaur also known as "Gour" is a Hindu Rajput clan of India. They have ancient ancestry and find mention by James Tod as one of 36 royal races in his book Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan The Gaur Rajputs once held a prominent position in Ajmer till the time of Prithviraj Chauhan. Gorwar region gets its name from this clan. In later years they lost the territories ruled by them. In 15th century, they fought at least 13 battles with Shekhawats were defeated and were reduced to feudetory or jagirdars in Shekhawati region. The Rajgarh territory was one of the last bastion of Gaur Rajputs during the times of Mughal Emperors, Humayun and Akber, which was lost to Kishan Singh in 17th century. Gaur Rajputs remained allies to Mughal till the time of Aurangzeb, whose political decisions, alienated Rathods, Sisodias, Hadas and Gaur Rajput from Mughals.
Prithviraj Sisodia, generally known as Kunwar Prithviraj, was the eldest son of Maharana Raimal of Mewar and heir apparent of Mewar, of the Sisodia Rajputs. His mother was Jhali Rani Ratan Kanwar. His rapidity of moving from one place to another and lightning speed of attack earned him the title of Udno Prithviraj, the flying Prithviraj. He added the regions of Godwar and Ajmer to the territory of Mewar.
The Mewar- Malwa conflict was a series of wars between the Kingdom of Mewar and the Islamic Sultanate of Malwa. The conflict erupted due to mutual territorial expansion triggered by both sides on each other. The war was fought in what is now known as the Indian states of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. The Rana branch of the Guhilas, following their successful recovery of the Rajput stronghold of Chittorgarh and the entire region of Mewar alongside Rajputana after the Battle of Singoli, embarked on an ambitious expansion at the cost of their neighboring kingdoms. On the other side, with the invasion of Timur, the Lame Delhi Sultanate grew weak with its multiple subahs gaining independence which included Malwa, adjacent to Mewar.
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