Mehrangarh Fort is located in the city of Jodhpur, in the Indian state of Rajasthan. This massive 15th-century fort is situated on a rocky hill, 125 meters above the plain, and is surrounded by a ten-kilometre-long high wall with eight gates and countless bastions. Invisible from the outside, this fort has four gates connected by winding paths. Inside the fort there are many magnificent palaces, halls, temples, wonderfully carved doors and barred windows. Among the most prominent halls are: Moti Mahal, Phool Mahal, Sheesh Mahal, Sileh Khana, Daulat Khana, etc. Its palaces contain an amazing collection of royal Indian furniture.
This fort is one of the oldest in India and is a symbol of India's rich past. Rao Jodha, chief of the Rathore clan, is credited with founding Jodhpur (1459). Rao Jodha was one of the 24 sons of Raja Ranmal. He became the fifteenth ruler of the Rathore clan. A year after taking the reins of government, Rao Jodha began to feel that the old Mandore fort was not safe. He presented the idea of building a new fort on a hill 9 km from his then fort. This hill was known as Bhor Chidiyatunk, because many birds lived there. Rao Jodha laid the foundation for the fort on this hill on May 12, 1459. Maharaj Jaswant Singh (1638-78) completed it.
