Taragarh Fort

Taragarh Fort or 'Star Fort' is located at a distance of 39 km from Kota. One of the most impressive structures of the city of Bundi in the Indian state of Rajasthan, Taragargh Fort was the home of a major princely state at the height of the Rajput heydays. Situated on the Nagpahari hillside, the fort was constructed in 1354 and can be reached by a steep paved road. The main gateway of the fort has some meticulous carvings of elephants.

There are three getaways to the fort, well known as Lakshmi Pol, Phuta Darwaza and Gagdi ki Phatak. Most parts of these impressive getaways are now in ruins. During its zenith, Taragarh Fort was renowned for its tunnels crisscrossing the entire hillside. These tunnels allowed the king and his deputies to flee in case there was an imminent danger to their lives from enemies. Unfortunately, no maps of these tunnels are available in present times. From the Taragarh Fort, a spectacular view of Kota town is available.

The Taragarh Fort has some huge water reservoirs carved out of solid rocks. These reservoirs were built to store water and supply it to the residents in the time of crisis. The fort also encloses the biggest battlement or the stone tower known as the Bhim Burj that housed the famous cannon called Garbha Gunjanor ‘Thunder from the Womb’, the second largest cannon in India. Rani Mahal is a small palace within the fort complex, built for the wives and the concubines of rulers. The Palace has lost most of its charm as the shine of its spectacular murals and stained glass windows have completely faded away. The fort also has Miran Saheb ki Dargah, a former governor of the fort who dedicated his life in an encounter.