Rajasthan is not called the ‘Land of Kings’ for no reason. The grandeur of Rajasthan lies in its glorious past with legendary kings, brave warriors, and heartwarming romance. The remnants of the past, from the intricate palaces to the grand forts, echo the tale of valour, grandeur, and rich heritage. You might have already known Rajasthan is filled with palaces and forts, but it is difficult to choose the ones to add to your itinerary. Why don’t we help you with it? Find below a compilation of the top 10 forts in Rajasthan that will blow your mind.

Top 10 Forts in Rajasthan

Amber Fort, Jaipur
Jaisalmer Fort, Jaisalmer
Ranthambore Fort, Ranthambore National Park
Chittorgarh Fort, Chittorgarh
Gagron Fort, Gagron
Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur
Hawa Mahal, Jaipur
Lake Palace, Udaipur
Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur
Kumbhalgarh Fort, Rajsamand

1. Amber Fort, Jaipur

Amber Fort of Jaipur is located on the Aravali highlands and offers magnificent views of the Maota lake. Built back in the 16th century by Raja Man Singh, the fort displays the Mughal style of architecture created using the red sandstone and marble doubles, giving it a grand look and also making it one of the best forts in Rajasthan.

Highlights of the fort: elephant rides, the panoramic city views, Diwan-I-Khas, Diwan-I-Am, Sukh Niwas, and Shesh Mahal.
Entry fee: Indians—INR 100 per person (adults) and INR 10 per person (students) | INR 500 per person (Foreigner) and INR 100 per person (Foreign students)
Timings: 8:00 am to 6:00 pm | Light show: 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Tourist attractions near Amer Fort: Jal Mahal, City Palace Jaipur, Nahargarh Palace and Hawa Mahal

2. Jaisalmer Fort, Jaisalmer

This majestic fort, located on top of the Trikuta hill, is the second oldest fort in Rajasthan. This spectacular beauty overlooking the dunes of Thar desert was built way back in the 12th Century using yellow sandstone by Rawal Jaisal and is one of the best and most visited forts in Rajasthan. Hence, the fort is also popularly known as “Sonar Quila” or “Golden Fort.”

Highlights of Jaisalmer Fort: Four grand entrances, Royal Palace, Lakshminath Temple, Shree Nath Palace, Jaisalmer Fort Palace Museum, many other Hindu and Jain temples, and villas of the merchants.
Entry fee: Entry is free. But camera fees (INR 50 for still and INR 100 for video) are applicable.
Timings: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
Tourist attractions to visit near Jaisalmer Fort: Bada Bagh and Salim Singh Ki Haveli are two of the best places to visit in Jaisalmer.

3. Ranthambore Fort, Ranthambore National Park

Ranthambore Fort is built around the Ranthambore wildlife sanctuary in Sawai Madhopur. Interestingly, this fort in Rajasthan was built on two hills back in the 10th century by Nagil Jats, who were the oldest royals of Rajasthan. At present date, although many parts of the fort are in ruins after witnessing attacks from the Mughals and Britishers, a few structures remain tall and stand strong, and hence it is still considered to be one of the best forts in Rajasthan.

Highlights of Jaisalmer Fort: Jungle safari in Ranthambore National Park, Jain Temple and Lord Sumatinath Temple
Entry fee: For Indians it is INR 25; for foreigners, it is INR 200
Timings: 6:30 am to 10:00 am and 1:30 pm to 5:30 pm
Tourist attractions near Ranthambore Fort: Malik Tala, Surwal Lake Raj Bagh Ruins and Jogi Mahal

4. Chittorgarh Fort, Chittorgarh

Chittorgarh Fort is one of the earliest forts of Rajasthan, which was constructed in the 7th century. It holds a significant part of Rajasthan’s history, and this UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to many romantic tales of Rajasthan. Spread over a broad area of 700 acres with seven large gateways termed as Pol, it is also usually known as Water Fort, as there are about 22 water bodies within the fort, making it a good spectacle and also one of the best forts in Rajasthan.

Highlights of Jaisalmer Fort: Kirti Stambha, Vijay Stambha, Padmini’s Palace, Gaumukh Reservoir, Fateh Prakash Palace, Rana Kumbha Palace, Meera Temple and annual Jauhar Mela
Entry fee: INR 5 per person (Indians) | INR 100 per person (Foreigners)
Timings: 9:45 am to 5:15 pm
Tourist attractions near Chittorgarh Fort: Bassi Wildlife Sanctuary

5. Gagron Fort, Gagron

Another UNESCO World Heritage site, the Gagron Fort of Rajasthan, is beauty in itself. This fort has wonderful surroundings and holds many archaeological marvels of history. One of the most visited forts in Rajasthan, this fort is the epitome of a “Jal Durg” which means it is surrounded by water on all sides. The Gagron fort was initially built as protection from armies in 1195 AD by the then ruler Bijaldev of the Parmara kingdom. The glory of the fort in Rajasthan has, however, faded through the years, but the charm still lives.

Highlights of Gagron Fort: Sparkling river on three sides
Entry fee: None
Timings: 8:00 am to 7:00 pm
Tourist attractions near Gagron Fort: Prithvi Vilas Palace and Chandrabhaga Temples

6. Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur

Mehrangarh Fort stands as one of the most prominent cultural landmarks of Jodhpur. The establishment of the fort was done way back in 1458 by then Rathore ruler Rao Jodha. One of the most beautiful forts in Rajasthan, this fort continues to stand strong and sparks wonder from all its visitors. There are seven massive gateways of the fort, and each of them signifies their great victory over different kingdoms. Even today, there are many unsolved mysteries that the fort holds that entices many around the world.

Highlights of Mehrangarh Fort: Wonderful views of the Blue City, the seven Pols, museums (housing armoury, paintings), temples and palaces
Entry fee: INR 70 per head (Indian nationals) | INR 600 per person (Foreigners)
Timings: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Tourist attractions near Mehrangarh Fort: Jaswant Thada, Balsam and Lake, Umaid Bhavan Palace, and Kaylana Lake are among the best places to visit in Jodhpur.

7. Hawa Mahal, Jaipur

Hawa Mahal is one of the most clicked forts in Rajasthan. Its unique honeycomb-shaped windows are totally a showstopper. It was built by the king Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh in the year 1799. The surprising fact behind the numerous windows, or jharokhas (as they call it) were built so that the queens and their daughters could see the views of the city and its daily hustle without being seen. Today, the palace has been transformed into a marketplace (Sireh Deori) where you can buy colourful jewels, handlooms, and everything that can take you back to the traditional Rajasthani artistry.

Highlights of Hawa Mahal: Intricately designed windows in the facade, the main market around the palace, and colourful glasswork inside
Entry fee: INR 50 per person (Indian nationals) | INR 200 per head (Foreigners)
Timings: 9:00 am to 5:30 pm

8. Lake Palace, Udaipur

Glorifying the title of Venice of the East, Lake Palace is among the best heritage hotels of Udaipur. The Lake Palace was built in 1743 and at present date has been modified into a luxury estate with 83 rooms that will surely take you back to the ancient days while having the comfort of modern facilities. This is a top recommendation if you’re planning your honeymoon in Rajasthan.

Highlights of Lake Palace: Houses the second largest freshwater man-made lake in Asia, holds an excellent vintage car collection.
Entry fee: No entry fee
Timings: Open 24 hours

9. Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur

Originally built as a huge mansion boasting its ancient heritage, this palace has been transformed into a boutique hotel that will give you a feeling of a king, a place where you will be treated like a maharaja with access to world-class amenities. The place is managed by the Taj Group of Hotels and has 347 luxuriant rooms in its space. One of the best picturesque forts in Rajasthan, on your Jodhpur vacation, ensure you do not miss Umaid Bhawan Palace.

Highlights of Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur: Lovely gardens
Entry fee: INR 30 per person (Indians) | INR 100 for foreigners
Timings: 10 AM – 4:30 PM

10. Kumbhalgarh Fort, Rajsamand

Kumbhalgarh Fort, towering over the Aravali ranges, is one of the most fabulous majestic forts in Rajasthan and holds a large part of history within its borders. The fort was built by Maharaja Rana Kumbha in the 15th century. The greatness of the fort lies in its great castles stretching to 36 kilometres, and interestingly, the Kumbhalgarh Fort is the next longest massive wall after the Great Wall of China.

Highlights of Kumbhalgarh Fort: 36 km long braced walls, Badal Mahal, fantastic panoramic vista of the region, seven massive gateways, Jain Temple and Hindu Temple
Entry fee: For Indians, it is INR 10; for foreigners, it is INR 100
Timings: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
Tourist attractions near Kumbhalgarh Fort: Rajsamand Lake

Got a clear picture of the forts and palaces in Rajasthan? That is evident from the smile on your face. Explore the beauty of Rajasthan through its remnants of the past and get to know the stories through your guides. Don’t forget to capture photographs of the remarkable places and make the trip more memorable. If you are into historical places, you can also check out