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Forts of Rajasthan

Bila Quila Fort, Alwar

Fort, which bound the people to watch its magnetic beauty, towering on a hill dominating the town, is the BALA QILA (young fort). Amazing fortifications surround the NIKUMBHA MAHAI PALACE at the top, which has graceful Bengal caned marble columns and delicate latticed balconies. The fort is 595 mts. above the city, and extends about 5 Kms from north and south and 1.6 Kms from east and west.

The fort has 15 large and 51 small towers, which contains 446 loopholes for the musketry, its eight towers all around defend it. The most magnificent were 3,599 kanguras, each containing two loopholes for musketry. The fort can be entered through six gates, namely JAI POL, SURAJ POL, LAXMAN POL, LAXMAN POL, CHAND POL, KRISHAN POL and ANDHERI GATE.

This huge fort with its ramparts stretching 5 km from east to west, stands 304 meters above the city and 595 meters above the sea level, constructed before the rise of the Mughal empire .Babar had spent a night at this fort and took away the hidden treasures to gift to his son, Humayun. Akbar's son, Jahangir had also stayed here for some time during his exile.

The place where he stayed is called Salim Mahal. Maharaja Pratap Singh in 1775 A.D finally annexed the fort. It is a forbidding structure with 15 large and 51 small towers and 446 openings for musketry, along with 8 huge towers ening it. The fort has several gates - Jai Pol, Suraj Pol, Laxman Pol,Chand Pol, Kishan Pol and Andheri Gate. Also there are remains of Jal Mahal, Nikumbh Mahal, Salim Sagar, Suraj Kund and many temples.