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Forts of Rajasthan

Lohagarh Fort, Bharatpur

Lohagarh fort, or the Iron fort was built in the early 18th century and took its name from its supposedly impregnable defences, which are said to be inspired by a description given in the epic, Ramayana. Maharaja Suraj Mal, the fort's constructor and founder of Bharatpur, built two towers within the ramparts, the Jawahar Burj and Fateh Burj, to commemorate his victories over the Mughals and the British.

The fort was encircled and protected by deep moats, and according to a legend would fall "only when a crocodile swalled up all the water of the moat". The gate of the Lohagarh has an interesting history behind it. It originally belonged to the fort of Chittorgarh but was carried away by Sultan Alauddin Khilji of Delhi. In the late 17th century it was brought back in triumph by the victorious Jat armies from the imperial capital of Delhi to Bharatpur.