RANTHAMBORE FORT – FULL OF TRAGEDIES AND BLOODY WARS.

RANTHAMBORE FORT in the Indian state of Rajasthan, in the Ranthambore National Park, built in the year 994 AD by Sapaldakh Chauhan has the history of tragedies and bloody wars all for the fort and the rulers of this fort.
The name Ranthambore gets its name from two hills, one is Thambore on which the fort is located and second is Ran hill which is near by.
The tragedies started in the 14^th Century when the woman folk in fort heard that their king Raja Hammir Dev who was at war with Persian forces, had been killed, it was mistake only, but the woman folk preferred the Jauhar ( a self immolation by the woman to save being molested by invaders.) . Raja Hammir Dev was actually very much alive, but when he came back, and saw this, he beheaded himself before the statue of Shiva.
Since then from 12^th century to 17^th century numerous wars were waged for the control of the fort.
The fort has a black history that prisoners where forced to drink opium milk and thrown from the top of fort on rocks below.
Being vital for the control of Central India, Turks, Afghans, Moguls, Rajputs fought wars for the fort.
The Great Akbar of Mogul Dynasty won the fort and gifted it to Maharaja of Jaipur and then the wars slowed down.
The fort is really huge, the circumference of the fort is 7 kms and the area in side the fort is appr 4.5 sq. km. the height of the fort is 700 ft.
There is no road to enter the fort, one has to use stone stair case only.
Now the most interesting, from top of the fort people can watch the tigers and leopards roaming in the jungle , Ranthambore National Park.
The fort is in ruins, there are only few temples of Shiva and Ganesha, a Jain temple, a water tank and Badal Mahal in the north section of the Fort.
The fort serves as the best viewing point of national park.
Rajasthan tourism dept and other private tour operators have well organized guided tours which cover national park safari tours as well as fort tour.