Mountain forts of Rajasthan

Mountain forts of Rajasthan
UNESCO world heritage
	Fort of Jaisalmer
National territory:	India
Type:	Culture
Criteria :	(ii) (iii)
Reference No .:	247
UNESCO region :	Asia and Pacific
	History of enrollment
Enrollment:	2013 (session 36)

Several of Hill Forts of Rajasthan in northwestern India have been in 2013 as a UNESCO - World Heritage Sites recognized. Specifically, these are the forts of Amber , Chittorgarh , Gagron , Jaisalmer , Kumbhalgarh and Ranthambhor .

Other mountain fortresses are missing - such as B. the spectacularly situated forts of Jodhpur or Sirohi . Other mountain forts in the vicinity of Jaipur , in and around Udaipur , or in Gwalior are not (yet) part of the World Heritage Sites.

Historical background

Mountain forts made of clay have existed in Rajasthan since ancient times . At the time of the advance of Islam into the north-west of India (11th century), however, these proved to be useless compared to the better military technology of the Islamic armies. Since there were enough stones in Rajasthan, which were used almost exclusively in the construction of temples , crenellated fortresses were built from stone, which were based on models in Persia and Afghanistan . Later there was mutual influence between the Rajput architecture and that of the Sultanate of Delhi or that of the Mughal Empire .

architecture

Apart from their historical and cultural importance, the forts provide insights into the basic structures of north Indian fortress and palace architecture with their defensive walls, gate structures , water reservoirs, temples, horse or elephant stables, victory towers, audience halls, courtyards, etc. Often the fortress walls consisted in their core Quarry stones and were clad on the outside with reddish or yellowish sandstone blocks . In their core, walls of the palace buildings were often built from bricks, which were then clad with sandstone or marble slabs or with stucco .