Top 20 Majestic Palaces and Forts in India

India’s Forts and Palaces are the great monuments to memorize India’s heritage and greatness through them. From a small corner to the massive structures of forts and palaces in India are known for brilliant architectural styles and traditions. So many years gone but still, every fort and palace in India speaks about royalty and legacy of Indian kings.

With no doubt, we can say that the forts and palaces of India are like libraries of India’s history and lavishness of royal times.

Now, let’s known some famous and renowned forts and palaces in India. You will be mesmerized and attracted to the attractions of India’s famous monuments.

Top 10 famous Forts of India 

1. Mehrangarh Fort

A well-known fort in Jodhpur and also one of the largest forts in India, located at 400m above the city. This immense fort was built by Rao Jodha nearly 500 years ago and this imposing monument was secured by seven massive gates with 6 m thick walls. Inside the fort, you will be attracted to stunning palaces, temples, courtyards etc.

Mehrangarh Fort is an architectural marvel with detailed ceiling works, carvings, and structures. The main attractions of this fort are beautiful palaces like Moti Mahal, Sheesh Mahal, Chamunda Devi temple, and a museum which exhibits the history of Rathores through paintings, attires, and arms.

Also Read : Top 12 Historical Forts in Maharashtra

2. Red Fort

The imperial red sandstone fort located alongside holy river Yamuna is the majestic Red Fort, a famous monument by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. Red Fort in Delhi is the most visited fort in India with many attractions like Moti Masjid, Diwan-I-Aam, an archaeological museum, and the Indian war memorial museum etc. It is a perfect blend of different architectural styles.

Red Fort is also like the pride of India where every year flag hoisting will be taken place by the Prime Minister and President of India on National festivals. When it comes to the architectural styles of Red Fort is speechless with minarets, arched domes, octagonal towers, imposing great entrance gates etc made Red Fort as a familiar one in India.

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3. Gwalior Fort

Gwalior Fort is one of the historical forts in India where so many struggles and wars of Indian history had taken place from Tatya Tope fighting to Rani Lakshmi Bai last breathe. This majestic fort was built by Rana Man Singh Tomar in Madhya Pradesh.

And the architectural styles of Gwalior is a perfect blend of Mughal and Rajputs with beautiful motifs, lattice work, ceramic tiles etc. The attractive parts of Gwalior Fort are Bahu Temple, Man Mandir, and the Gujari Mahal at present a museum. Here you can witness the importance of Buddhism and Jainism religions.

Also Read : Top 10 Landmarks of India to Explore

4. Jaisalmer Fort

Jaisalmer Fort perched on Trikuta Hills and one of the largest forts in India and the world, built by Rawal Jaisal. Jaisalmer is the oldest fort in Rajasthan near the Thar Desert with the strongest fortification walls. It was located at an altitude of 76 m above the city and there is a lot to see inside the fort like palaces, Jain temples, colossal gates, and Havelis etc.

So, many myths and stories about this fort say that this fort was built without using water. However, it is the most visited fort in Rajasthan. At the sunset time, it turns into golden color due to the vicinity of the Thar desert so it was also called as Sonar Kila or Golden Fort.

Also Read : Top Things to Do in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan

5. Golconda Fort

Golconda is a majestic fort in Hyderabad which was built by Kakatiya Kings. This monument has a great history as the center for the diamond mine all over India and also known all over the world at that times. The precious diamonds like Kohinoor and the Hope diamond also excavated here only. Golconda is well-known as a Diamond mine in the olden days.

This majestic fort is famous for its architectural styles like eight gateways, royal apartments, temples, mosques, 87 semicircular bastions, four drawbridges, etc. An interesting thing in Golconda Fort is acoustic effect at Fateh Darwaza. It means when we clap our hands, the sound reaches 1 km far away at the Bala Hisar pavilion.

Also Read : 15 Best Places to Visit in April in the World 2020

6. Chittorgarh Fort

Chittorgarh Fort is India’s the largest Fort and well-known as “Water Fort” because it comprises 84 water tanks but at present, there are 24 only. The beauty of this fort is speechless with temples, ponds, wells, reservoirs, chhatris, palaces, massive gates, stambha, etc and these are the attractions of Chittorgarh Fort.

The Chittorgarh Fort is a great symbol of the history of the Mewar and built by Maharana Pratap Singh. And the most important monuments inside the fort are Gaumukh reservoir, Rana Kumbha Palace, and the Vijay Stambha. This fort host for the famous Rajput festival “Jauhar Mela”.

7. Kangra Fort

Kangra Fort is the largest fort in the Himalayas and one of the oldest forts in India. It was built by the founder of Katoch Dynasty on the confluence of the Banganga and Manjhi rivers in Kangra town. This fort is located at the top of the hill which looks like an isolated fort.

This fort comprises numerous temples and palaces and the famous temples of this fort are Vajreshwari temple, Jain temple, and Ambika Devi. And the Lord Lakshmi-Narayana shrine is the famous one in this fort.

8. Amber Fort

Amber or Amer Fort is a massive and the great hilltop fort in the city Amer of Jaipur. In Jaipur, Amber Fort is the center of attraction with gigantic fortification walls, beautiful palaces inside, gardens with lush greenery, decorated rooms with different architectural skills, divine temples etc.

The major attractions of this fort are Sheesh Mahal, Diwan-e-Aam, Sila Mata temple, Palace of Man Singh, and the summer residence etc. And the architectural styles of Amber Fort are complimentary with beautiful frescoes, mosaic works and latticework. Finally, never miss the light and sound show at Amber Fort.

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9. Junagarh Fort

Junagarh Fort is an impressive and famous fort in Bikaner built by Maharaja Rai Singh in the 16th century. The architectural style of this fort was renowned by all over the world due to its skillfulness. This fort was completely surrounded by a moat for the defense purpose.

This fort was comprised of numerous palaces and temples which are completely made of red sandstone and marble. The main attractions of this fort are its palaces with well-decorated balconies, windows, courtyards, kiosks. And the museum in this fort exhibits the post-medieval arms.

Also Read : Top Things to Do in Bikaner, Rajasthan

10. Srirangapatna Fort

Srirangapatna Fort is the most famous fort in Karnataka on the beds of Kaveri river. It was built in the 15th century under the Vijayanagar Empire but the most of the work done under the rule of Tipu Sultan. This fort was a double-walled construction with massive granite blocks which are the best for invasions.

The important attractions of this fort are the massive two entrance gateways known as Mysore gateway and the Elephant gateway. And this fort was equipped with temples, palaces, religious sites etc and they are Gumbaz, Daria Daulat Palace, Jama Masjid, and the Ranganathaswamy temple etc and these are the major attractions of this fort.

 

Top 10 famous Palaces of India

1. City Palace

City Palace in Udaipur on the eastern banks of Lake Pichola is a beautiful and marvelous Palace in the whole Rajasthan. This palace architectural style resembles both the Rajasthani and Mughal architecture. City Palace is one of the best destinations in Udaipur amid of greenery and pleasantness.

This extraordinary Palace comprises of different constituent palaces, temples, artworks etc. The interior designing of this palace is stunning architecture with murals, paintings, inlay-work, silver-work, mirror-work etc. All these things made to remember the history and greatness of the Mewar dynasty.

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2. Umaid Bhawan Palace

It is one of the largest private residences in the world and the last built royal palace in India by 1943. Actually, this palace was residence to Jodhpur family with 347 rooms. At present, this palace is India’s the best luxury hotel with all amenities and requirements.

The architectural style of this palace is a pure blend of western and eastern architecture styles. This massive palace equips library, museum, spa, indoor swimming pool, royal sauna, tennis court, etc. And the museum of this palace shows us the collection of the kings like ancient photographs, classic cars, mural paintings, etc and royal artifacts.

3. Lake Palace

Lake Palace it is like the beauty of Udaipur amid of Pichola lake with admirable and stunning attractions around it. Actually, Lake Palace is a summer retreat palace for the royal kings of Udaipur but now it was turned into a five-star hotel.

If you wanted to stay in this palace, undoubtedly you are going to witness the royalty of Indian kings with regal touch and lavish abilities of the palace. During the evening time boating on Lake Pichola is the must-do activity here. The surroundings around Lake Palace is so tranquil and come with the beauty of nature.

4. Taj Falaknuma Palace

Taj Falaknuma Palace is a well-known heritage monument of Hyderabad Nizams and also once it was residence to Nizams. However, this palace is one of the most popular palaces in India due to its uniqueness with rare furniture, grand marble staircases, chandeliers, artworks etc.

There are totally 60 guest rooms for accommodation in this royal palace with different rooms and suites. And this palace comprises spa, outdoor pool, etc for the recreational space. Taj Falaknuma Palace is the most visited palace in Hyderabad.

5. Mysore Palace

Mysore Palace is the prime destination in Bangalore to be visited and the famous palace in India. It is the official home of Wodeyars, the royal family of Mysore and this stunning palace was built by Krishnarajendra Wadiyar the 3rd. It is known for its architecture blend of various styles and its garden.

The garden around the palace is the major attractions with a lot number of varied species of flowers. The best time to see the beauty of Mysore Palace means during the Navaratri or Dussehra festival. Sound and light show of this palace is another attraction.

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6. Laxmi Vilas Palace

Laxmi Vilas is a huge and majestic Palace in Vadodara occupying nearly 700 acres of land. It is said to be the grandest private residence of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad in 1890. And the architecture of this palace is spell-bounding with a mix of Hindu, Mughal, and Gothic styles with immense minarets, carved domes, and arches.

This superior palace comprises some other palaces also and they are Moti Baug, Pratap Vilas, and Markarpura. Maharaja Fateh museum and a small zoo of crocodiles here are the tourist attractions. Here in the museum, we can see the painting collections of Raja Ravi Varma.

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7. Jai Vilas Palace

Jai Vilas Palace is one of the grandest buildings in Gwalior and built by Jaya ji rao Scindia in the year 1874. The palace houses 400 rooms which are completely furnished with royal looking amenities. The style of architecture followed in building this palace are Tuscan, Corinthian, and Italian styles.

Out of 400 rooms, 40 rooms were transformed into the museum and named as Jiwaji Rao Scindia Museum. The museum of this palace is a major attraction here in displaying arts and crafts of Scindia dynasty. And this palace is known for the collection of antiques and gadgets of old times.

8. Samode Palace

Samode Palace is one of the romantic heritage palaces in India which was nestled in amid of Aravalli greenery. This palace well-known for its finest frescoes and mirror work of Rajasthan state. Samode is a converted hotel by the hereditary owners and the hotel also famous for a luxurious and royal stay.

Due to near the Jaipur, this palace cum heritage hotel provides some crazy activities like elephant polo, horse safari, camel safari, and jeep safari. Near Jaipur, for accommodation Samode is the best choice.

9. Raj Palace

Raj Palace is a grandeur and royal looking oldest mansion in Jaipur which was built in 1727. At present this was a hotel but it never looks like because due to its royal charming look with royal architecture, courtyards, and gardens etc. Raj Palace is also one of the best palaces in Jaipur which has to be seen.

This royal looking palace famous for its restaurant Swapna Mahal which was decorated with pure gold leaf work and with a rare crystal chandelier. And the museum of this palace exhibits the old collections of plates, dishes, etc from the past centuries.

10. Hazarduari Palace

This Palace is a very important monument in Murshidabad, West Bengal. Hazarduari is a royal residence but in the year 1985, it was given to the Archaeological Survey of India. At present, this palace was converted into a museum with the collections of furniture, antiques, and valuable things of great kings like Nawabs.

Hazarduari Palace is a knowledgeable place belonging to the history of India. In Murshidabad, Hazarduari Palace is the most renowned and important palace.

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