Ranthambore Fort

Rajasthan, Ranthambore Fort Sawai Madhopur

Ranthambore Fort

lies within the Ranthambore National Park, near the city of Sawai Madhopur in Sawai Madhopur district of Rajasthan, India. the park being the former hunting grounds of the Maharajahs of Jaipur until the time of India's Independence. It is a formidable fort having been a focal point of the historical developments of Rajasthan. The fort is believed to be constructed by numerous kings from Several Dynasties including Yadav lineage (though it has been a topic of debate that it was Ahir kings or the Rajput yaduvanshi kings But looking at the Timeline it was constructed in the 5th century and the word Rajput itself was originated in the 12th century it has been speculated by the Archaeological department of the Jaipur circle that it was the Yadavs(Ahirs) who started its construction), Chahamana Rajputs, Hada Rajputs, Mewar Rajput Kings and then the Delhi Sultanate captured it for a brief time. The fort provides a panoramic view of the surrounding Ranthambore National Park and is now a popular tourist attraction.

In 2013, at the 37th session of the World Heritage Committee, Ranthambore Fort, along with 5 other forts of Rajasthan, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the group Hill Forts of Rajasthan.^[1]

History[edit]

Under king jayant[edit]

Archeological department of Jaipur circle the Ranthambore Fort was initially built by King Jayant in 5th century CE. Descendent of Jayant ruled over it till they were expelled by Prithviraj Chauhan in the 12th century. Subsequently, the fort was later occupied by the Muslim rulers of Delhi. Hammiradeva was the most powerful ruler of Ranthambhore

Under Chauhans Rajputs[edit]

Its earlier name was Ranastambhapura (Sanskrit: Raṇa-sthaṃba-pura, "City of the Battle Post").^[2] It was associated with Jainism during the reign of Prithviraja I of Chahamana (Chauhan) dynasty in the 12th century. Siddhasenasuri, who lived in the 12th century has included this place in the list of holy Jain tirthas. In the Mughal period, a temple of Mallinatha was built in the fort.^[3]

After the defeat of Prithviraja III (Prithviraj Chauhan) in 1192 CE, the fort came under the control of the Muslim Ghurid ruler Muhammad of Ghor.^[4]

The Delhi Sultan Iltutmish captured Ranthambore in 1226, but the Chauhans re-captured it after his death in 1236. The armies of Sultan Nasiruddin Mahmud, led by the future Sultan Balban, unsuccessfully besieged the fortress in 1248 and 1253, but captured from Jaitrasingh Chauhan in 1259. Shakti Dev succeeded Jaitrasingh in 1283, and recaptured Ranthambore and enlarged the kingdom. Sultan Jalal ud din Firuz Khalji briefly besieged the fort in 1290-91 but was unsuccessful in capturing it. In 1299, Hammiradeva sheltered Muhammad Shah, a rebel general of Sultan Ala ud din Khalji, and refused to turn him over to the Sultan. The Sultan besieged and conquered the fort in 1301.