Ranthambore Fort - Architecture

Ranthambore fort is one of the most visited forts in Rajasthan as it is situated in the Ranthambore National Park. There is a big and massive wall which protects the fort while seven gates are there for entering and exiting the fort. There are many other structures which can be visited by the tourists.

Hammir Kachaheri

Hammir Kachaheri was built by Hammir Singh and it faces Delhi gate. The kachaheri is built on a raised platform. The structure has a central chamber that measures 19.50m x 11.90m. There are two more chambers, one on each side of the central chamber. The pillars in the central chamber support the ceiling and are arranged in two rows.

These pillars divide the chamber into 15 sections. Toranas are located in front of the chamber and is supported by double row of columns. The structure was built with rubble stones which are attached to each other through lime mortar.

Hammir Palace

Hammir Palace was constructed by Hammir Singh. The eastern wing of the palace has three storeys while the rest of the sides are single storeyed. There are many chambers in the ground floor connected by small doors to each other.

The verandah of the chambers is common whose ceiling is supported by plain pillars. Balconies were constructed on the eastern façade. Stone rubble attached with lime and plastered with lime mortar is used to construct the palace.

Battis Khamba Chhatri

Battis Khamba Chhatri is a three storey building whose top terrace is square shaped that measures 12.5m x x12.5m. The roof of the building rests on 32 pillars or battis khamba and that’s the reason the building was named so. The pillars are arranged in two rows where the outer side has six and inner has four pillars.

The upper part of the pillar is octagonal in shape while the lower one is square-shaped. There is a verandah in which the center of the ceiling has a big dome which is surrounded by three small domes. Rest of the ceiling is flat.

Pols or Gates

There are seven gates in the fort which are used to enter and exit the fort. These gates are as follows −

• Navlakha Pol − The width of the gate is 3.20m and it faces east. The gate is built with ashlar masonry and an inscription on a copper plate is fixed on the gate. The inscription tells that the door in the gate were built by Sawai Jagat Singh of Jaipur.

• Hathi Pol − Hathi Pol is 3.20m wide and faces southeast. On one side it has fort wall while natural rock is there on the other side. A guard room in a rectangle shape can be found over the gate.

• Ganesh Pol − Ganesh Pol faces south and has the width of 3.10m. The brackets in the gate support the beam. Rock is attached to the eastern side of the gate.

• Andheri Pol − Andheri Pol faces north and has the width of 3.30m. Walls of the fort are on both side of the gate. The gate also has balconies on all sides.

• Delhi Pol − Delhi Pol has the width of 4.7m and it faces northwest. The gate has an arch and many guard cells.

• Satpol − Satpol faces south and is 4.7m wide. The guard cells in the fort is of two storeys and there are balconies on both sides of the gate. Brick masonry is used to make the battlements on the top.

• Suraj Pol − Suraj Pol faces east and is the smallest gateway. The width of the gate is 2.10m.

Ganesh Temple

Ganesh temple of the fort is popular because people write letters to Lord Ganesh which is posted daily by a local postman. That’s the treason the temple is very popular among the devotees.

Badal Mahal

Badal Mahal has a big hall which has 84 columns. The palace has been ruined but still walls can be seen whose height is 61m. The big hall was used by Hammir Singh for holding meetings and conferences.