The Hill Forts of Rajasthan are a group of six historic forts found in the Rajasthan state of northwestern India. These forts are grouped together and named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013. The series includes Chittor Fort in Chittorgarh, Kumbhalgarh Fort in Rajsamand, Ranthambore Fort in Sawai Madhopur, Gagron Fort in Jhalawar, Amer Fort in Jaipur, and Jaisalmer Fort in Jaisalmer.

Rajasthan has more than 100 forts built on hills and mountains. The "Hill Forts of Rajasthan" was first proposed to UNESCO as a group of five Rajput forts in the Aravalli Range. These forts were built and improved between the 5th and 18th centuries by Rajput kings from different kingdoms. The Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur is a hill fort but is not recognized by UNESCO as a heritage site. Some of these forts have long defensive walls, up to 20 kilometers, that still surround cities and include working water collection systems.

Selection

A group of hilltop Rajput forts was chosen to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site to show the culture and architecture of these forts.

The State Party of Rajasthan explained how the selection process for the Hill Forts series worked. The selection used four main criteria: the forts matched the natural features of the hilltops, they were centers of power, they included sacred areas, and they were built with urban settlements nearby.

Rajputs followed architectural rules that grouped forts based on their location. Early writings described four types of forts: Hilltop Forts, Water Forts, Forest Forts, and Desert Forts. This UNESCO series only included Hilltop Forts from Rajasthan. Other forts, like Junagarh Fort (a ground fort) or Mehrangarh Fort (a citadel without a civilian settlement), were not included because they did not fit the criteria.

A list of all forts in Rajasthan was first made using records from the Archaeological Survey of India. From hundreds of forts, 54 were studied because they shared important features of Rajput military architecture. The State Party then selected 24 of the most significant forts that had key aspects of Rajput fortifications. This number was later reduced to 13. Five forts were first chosen because they were all on the Aravalli Range and belonged to different clans. Later, Jaisalmer Fort was added to the group.

Hill Forts

Chittor Fort, also known as Chittod Fort, is one of the largest forts in India. The fort was the capital of Mewar and is located in the present-day city of Chittorgarh. It covers a hill that is 180 meters (590.6 feet) high and spans 280 hectares (691.9 acres) above the plains of the valley drained by the Berach River. Chittorgarh was originally called Chitrakut. It is believed that a local Mori Rajput ruler named Chitrangada Mori built the fort. One legend says the fort’s name comes from its builder. Another story claims the legendary hero Bhima struck the ground here, causing water to rise and form a large reservoir. This water body is called Bhimlat Kund. Small Buddhist stupas from the 9th century were found near Jaimal Patta lake.

Kumbhalgarh Fort, also known as the Great Wall of India, is a Mewar fortress on the western range of the Aravalli Hills. The fort is among the largest fort complexes in the world. The early history of the fort is unclear due to a lack of evidence. Before Rana Kumbha built the new fort, there was a small fort believed to have been built by King Samprati of the Maurya dynasty and called Matsyaendra Durg. The fort we see today was built by Rana Kumbha, a ruler from the Sisodia Rajput clan. He worked with the famous architect Mandan. Out of the 84 forts in his kingdom, Rana Kumbha is said to have built 32, with Kumbhalgarh being the largest and most detailed. There are more than 70 temples inside the fort, including both Jain and Hindu temples.

Amber Fort is located in Amer. Situated high on a hill, it is the main tourist attraction in Jaipur. The fort is known for its artistic design. Its large walls, gates, and cobbled paths overlook Maota Lake, which is the main water source for the Amer Palace. Amber was a Meena state ruled by the Susawat clan. After defeating Kakil Deo, the son of Dulherai, he made Amber the capital of Dhundhar after Khoh. The Amber Fort was originally built by Raja Man Singh. Jai Singh I later expanded it. Over the next 150 years, successive rulers added improvements until the Kachwahas moved their capital to Jaipur during the time of Sawai Jai Singh II in 1727.

Ranthambore Fort is a hill fort located within Ranthambore National Park, near Sawai Madhopur. It is a significant historical site in Rajasthan. The exact origin of the fort is still debated, but it is generally accepted that a settlement existed at the site as early as the 8th century A.D. The fort is believed to have been built by the Chahamanas. Construction likely began in the mid-10th century A.D. and continued for several centuries. In the 13th century, the Delhi Sultanate briefly captured the fort. Today, the fort offers a panoramic view of Ranthambore National Park and is a popular tourist destination.

Jaisalmer Fort is located in the city of Jaisalmer. It is one of the few "living forts" in the world, like Carcassonne, France, because nearly one-fourth of the old city’s population still lives within the fort. It is the second oldest fort in Rajasthan, built in 1156 A.D. According to legend, the fort was built by Rawal Jaisal, a Bhati Rajput, in 1156 C.E. The story says it replaced an earlier structure at Lodhruva, which Jaisal was not satisfied with, leading him to establish a new capital by founding Jaisalmer.

Gagron Fort is a hill fort located in the Jhalawar district. It is an example of a hill and water fort. The fort was built by Bijaldev Singh Dod, a Rajput king, in the 12th century. Later, it was controlled by Sher Shah and Akbar. The fort is built where the Ahu River and Kali Sindh River meet. It is surrounded by water on three sides and a moat on the fourth side, earning it the name "Jaladurg." The fort is said to have witnessed 14 battles and two jauhars of queens.