Encircled
by a high wall and a moat, the Junagarh fort of Bikaner is an
unassailable fortress. Till date, the fort has never been conquered.
Raja Rai Singh, a general of the Mughal emperor Akbar, got the Junagarh
fort constructed. The fort has only two gates. The main gate of the fort
is east facing Karan Pol (gate). Next to it is the Suraj Pol (sun gate).
The Junagarh fort is a huge complex housing a number of fascinating
palaces. The main palaces are:Moon Palace
The palace has mirrors, paintings and carved marble panels
Phool Mahal
It is adorned with glasses and mirrors.
Karan Mahal
It was built to commemorate the victory over Aurangzeb.
Anup Mahal
A multi storied palace used as the governance chambers.
All the palaces are built of red sandstone and have a range of intricately carved courtyards, balconies, kiosks, windows and towers. There is also a chapel inside the fort, Har Mandir, built for the purpose of worshipping by the royal families. Not to be missed is a museum inside the fort, displaying a rich collection of illuminated manuscripts, jewelry, jars and carpets, arms and weapons, treaties, decorations and the royal farmans (messages). Other attractions of the Junagarh fort of Bikaner, Rajasthan include Ganga Niwas, Dungar Niwas, Vijay Mahal, and Rang Mahal.
