There is an undeniable charm in walking through the portals of history.
I recall my visit to The City Palace in Jaipur last year. Despite the cacophony of laughter, chatter and shutter sounds — gratis the crew of eager photographers — on the grounds, the echoes of the past managed to outdo the din. Everywhere I looked, I saw remnants of history etched into the darbars (courts), the endless corridors, and the sprawling gardens.
And this magic isn’t confined to the Jaipur rajbari (royal residence).
Forts and palaces have that effect, they deem the past to be remembered. Through the years, I’ve ensured that my vacation itineraries included a visit to at least one history marvel — sunsets at Fort Aguada, Goa; a sound and light show at the Mysore Palace; and of course, college treks to Fort Raigad.
But these are the tip of the iceberg. Here’s a mix of 80 odd forts and palaces across India to discover.
1. Chandragiri Fort, Andhra Pradesh
Known to be one of the most frequented forts in the state, Chadragiri (translating to ‘hill of the moon’) dates back to the 11th century. Within it, one can find two buildings — the Raja Mahal and Rani Mahal. The former — which in 1989 was converted into a museum showcasing artefacts, armoury, coins and sculptures — is a three-storey structure made of stone and mortar, and decorated with stucco.
The latter is a two-storeyed building which once served as the commander’s home. The scenic trek to the summit makes this a must-add item to your bucket list.
2. Cooch Behar Palace, West Bengal
During my visit to Jaipur, a chatty auto driver wasted no time in bragging about how he’d spotted Maharani Gayatri Devi on a certain special occasion at The City Palace. “She was the most beautiful woman in the world,” he remarked. This sentiment is echoed by history too.
So why are we mentioning the queen in the context of the Cooch Behar Palace, you ask?
The two share an umbilical link; the palace was where she grew up!
Another standout is that the palace is said to be one of the few marvels in India built with Renaissance architectural sensibilities. For proof, turn to its darbar hall. Dodecagonal in design, it is positioned atop four arches supported by Corinthian pillars and resembles the St Peter’s Church in Rome.
During your visit, you can admire the oil paintings, antiquated arrows, and clay figurines on display.
3. Akhnoor Fort, Jammu
For aeons, the fort, built by Raja Alam Singh in 1802, has stood on ground that gives us clues to our past. If you’ve paid attention to history lessons in school, the Chenab River will ring a bell. It was here, after all, that jars, dishes and goblets dating back to the Harappan Civilisation were found. Later on, the site was also earmarked for finds of early historic pottery and a wall of rubble diaper masonry.
Because of its strategic location, the two-storeyed fort was declared a national monument protected under the Monument Act, 1958. But the region’s gravitas lies in the Jia Pota Ghat on the Chenab River. It was under one of the Jia Pota trees that the Raj Tilak ceremony of Maharaja Gulab Singh, the first ruler of the princely state, happened.
4. Lakhota Palace, Gujarat
Where can you see a whale skeleton?
Head to the Lakhota Palace whose museum is a repository of beautiful artefacts dating back to the 18th century. Its paintings and frescoes, depicting the coloured history of the Jadeja Rajputs, can be enjoyed by those with an affinity for art.
The palace is anchored in the middle of a manmade lake that was created on orders of Jam Ranmal II, the king of Nawanagar, following a series of failed monsoons in the years 1834, 1839 and 1846. He intended to offer the city residents relief from the drought. Today, the insular locale makes for quite a picturesque view.
5. Qila Mubarak, Punjab
It is hearsay that the ceilings of the fort vibrate each time someone walks by.
While we can’t confirm this, what we can confirm is that Qila Mubarak is one of the oldest surviving forts in India. It is located in Bathinda and was built between 90-110 CE by Raja Dab of the Kushana dynasty. But beyond the architectural brilliance and structural ingenuity that the fort displays, it went down in history as being at the epicentre of a love story, one that involved the legend Razia Sultana — the first and only woman emperor of Delhi.
The governor of Bathinda, Malik Altunia, fell in love with Razia, who did not reciprocate the feeling. But Malik was intent on winning her over. So, he imprisoned her in the fort until she eventually gave in and agreed to marry him.
But, the governor’s happiness was short-lived. The couple was assassinated by local villagers. Following their demise, the fort surrendered to natural forces as time passed and fell into a state of disrepair until its next inhabitant Maharaja Ala Singh, the founder of Patiala, took ownership.
6. Bangalore Palace, Bengaluru
It is hard to miss the Bangalore Palace. It dominates the skyline, punctuating it with its towers shaped like rooks on a chessboard. Spread across 45,000 sq ft, the palace bears close resemblance to the castles of England.
Fun fact: It was designed by a high school principal Rev Garett, in 1878 and was inspired by Windsor Castle in London. The Wodeyar dynasty eventually acquired the historic marvel.
7. Ita Fort, Arunachal Pradesh
Dating back to the 15th century, the Ita Fort, also known as the ‘fort of bricks’ (ita means bricks in Assamese dialect) is a time-tested structure. What’s fascinating is its design mastery — the fort boasted an irregular facade of brickwork that was 16,200 cubic metres in length.
Some credit the ingenious structure to King Ramachandra, the last king of the Jitari dynasty that ruled in the 11th century. However, Lila Gogoi, an authority on the Buranjis (a class of historical chronicles and manuscripts written initially in the Ahom) of Assam, reveals that Ita Fort was built under the aegis of the Ahom King Chakradhwaj Simha in 1688 AD.
Today, the spot on which the majestic fort once stood is marked by ruins. But don’t let that deter you from making a trip here. There are always gorgeous views of Dikrang Valley to look forward to.
8. Rabdentse Fort, Sikkim
Rabdentse was the second capital of the Kingdom of Sikkim from 1670 to 1814. The reason it is known as ‘India’s very own Machu Pichu’ is because its morphology bears an uncanny resemblance to that of the Peruvian wonder.
While here you can pay a visit to the Pemayangtse Monastery, 130 km from Rabdentse, which is part of the holy quartet Buddhist pilgrimage. The other three include the Dubdi Monastery at Yukosam, the Sanga Choeling Monastery, and the Khechopalri Lake.
Edited by Pranita Bhat
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