Jaigarh Fort is a muscular hilltop stronghold built more for war than for show. Standing on Cheel ka Teela (Hill of Eagles), it overlooks both Amer Fort and Maota Lake, connected by hidden passages that allowed men and materials to move safely between the two. Long walls, watchtowers, cannon emplacements and granaries underline its military purpose, while the internal palace section has courtyards, gardens and residential rooms. The fort museum displays armour, old photographs and the highlight – the gigantic Jaivana cannon, once considered one of the largest wheeled cannons ever made. From the ramparts, you can see the full defensive chain of hills that once protected the Kachwaha capital.
About this place
History & highlights
The origins of fortifications on this hill go back many centuries, with early structures associated with local rulers in the 11th century. The fort as seen today was largely developed under the Kachwaha rulers of Amer, especially Sawai Jai Singh II, to serve as the main military fort and treasury stronghold. During the Mughal period, Jaigarh also functioned as an important cannon foundry and armoury, and it is associated with internal Mughal conflicts, including the struggle in which Aurangzeb defeated his brother Dara Shikoh. Notably, Jaigarh Fort is said never to have been conquered in open battle, contributing to its reputation as the strongest of Jaipur’s three main hill forts. In recent decades it has been opened up as a tourist site under a charitable trust, adding interpretation galleries while preserving its rugged character
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