One of India's mightiest forts. Towering 120 metres over the blue city of Jodhpur.
Mehrangarh is in Jodhpur. Entry is ₹100 for Indian visitors. It opens open daily, about 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Open all week. The best time is Morning for cool air. Clear views over the blue city.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Built | from 1459 |
| Built by | Rao Jodha, founder of Jodhpur |
| Height | ~120 m above the city |
| Run by | Mehrangarh Museum Trust |
| Location | Jodhpur, Rajasthan |
Mehrangarh rises on a sheer rock 120 metres above Jodhpur. Begun by Rao Jodha in 1459. He founded the city. Its walls are up to 36 metres high. Wrapping a maze of courtyards and palaces.
Today it is one of India's best-run forts. With a superb museum of palanquins. Arms, paintings and royal rooms. From the ramparts, the whole blue city spreads out below.
Sources: Mehrangarh Museum Trust · Mehrangarh — Wikipedia · Rajasthan Tourism.
What makes it special, and what to look for.
Key facts and figures — every data point links to its source.
| Detail | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Height above city | 122 m (400 ft) | Wikipedia |
| Wall height | Up to 36 m (118 ft) | Wikipedia |
| Wall width | Up to 21 m (69 ft) | Wikipedia |
| Complex area | 1,200 acres (486 ha) | Britannica |
| Gates | Seven | Wikipedia |
| Founded | 1459, by Rao Jodha | Wikipedia |
| Most building | 17th century | Britannica |
| Run by | Mehrangarh Museum Trust | Official |
| Beyond the walls | Ranisar & Padamsar lakes | Wikipedia |
| Famous gate | Loha Pol (handprints) | Wikipedia |
| City | Jodhpur, Rajasthan | Wikipedia |
| Museum | Trust-run galleries | Britannica |
| Palaces | Moti & Phool Mahal | Wikipedia |
| Activity | Zip-line over the lakes | Official |
| Festival | RIFF music festival | Wikipedia |
| Founder | Rao Jodha, Rathore clan | Wikipedia |
| Style | Rajput fort architecture | Wikipedia |
| Setting | A rocky hill over Jodhpur | Wikipedia |
| Gates include | Jai Pol & Fateh Pol | Wikipedia |
| Overlooks | The blue old city | Wikipedia |
| Nearby | Jaswant Thada cenotaph | Wikipedia |
The fort rises 122 metres above the city. Its walls reach 36 metres high. They are up to 21 metres wide.
The complex spans about 1,200 acres. Seven gates guard the climb. One recalls a 19th-century victory.
Rao Jodha founded it in 1459. Most building is 17th century. His successors added the palaces.
Delicate palaces surprise visitors inside. Mirror and flower rooms glitter. Carved screens filter the light.
The ramparts still hold old cannons. Views stretch over the blue city. The museum trust runs it today.
Two lakes sit beyond the walls. They are Ranisar and Padamsar. They caught the monsoon rains.
The Loha Pol bears small handprints. They honour royal widows. The marks are treated with reverence.
The palaces show delicate craft. Painted ceilings glow with colour. Carved screens filter the light.
The fort has never truly fallen. Its rulers held Marwar for long. The thick walls deterred attackers.
Sources: Mehrangarh Museum Trust · Mehrangarh — Wikipedia · Rajasthan Tourism.
Room by room, and detail by detail.
Sources: Mehrangarh Museum Trust · Mehrangarh — Wikipedia · Rajasthan Tourism.
| When | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1459 | Rao Jodha founds Jodhpur and the fort. |
| 1600s | Grand palaces are added within. |
| 1806 | The Jai Pol victory gate is built. |
| 1972 | The museum trust takes over. |
Sources: Mehrangarh Museum Trust · Mehrangarh — Wikipedia · Rajasthan Tourism.
Fees and timings change from time to time. Confirm on the official site before you go.
| Visitor | Ticket |
|---|---|
| Indian | ₹100 |
| Foreign tourist | ₹600 |
| Still camera | ₹100 |
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Open daily, about 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. |
| Weekly closing | Open all week. |
| Best time to visit | Morning for cool air and clear views over the blue city. |
| How long to allow | Allow two to three hours for the fort. |
Sources: Mehrangarh Museum Trust · Mehrangarh — Wikipedia · Rajasthan Tourism.
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| From the city | A short climb or drive from the old town |
| Nearby | Jaswant Thada is a five-minute drive |
| Mode | Best for | Book / source |
|---|---|---|
| ✈️ Air | Reaching Jodhpur from afar | IndiGo |
| 🚆 Rail | Trains across India | IRCTC |
| 🚕 Taxi / app cab | Door-to-door comfort | Uber / Ola |
| 🛺 Auto-rickshaw | Short local hops | meter / app |
Plan around India's seasons. Morning for cool air. Clear views over the blue city.
| Season | Weather | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| 🍂 Oct–Mar | Cool, dry, pleasant | Best time to visit |
| ☀️ Apr–Jun | Hot on the plains | Go early; carry water |
| 🌧️ Jul–Sep | Warm, monsoon showers | Fewer crowds, green views |
Base yourself in Jodhpur to visit with ease. It has stays for every budget. Book ahead in the cool season. Compare hotels on Booking.com. Find homes on Airbnb. See our Jodhpur guide for the best areas.
Beat the heat and the tour groups.
The included audio guide is genuinely good.
A good guide brings the history alive.
Shade can be limited here.
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| 🎫 Entry (Indian) | ₹100 |
| 🎫 Entry (foreign) | ₹100 |
| 🧑🏫 Local guide | ₹300–800 for a tour |
| 📷 Camera / video | Often a small extra fee |
| 🚕 Transport | ₹100–500 by auto or cab |
Costs are indicative. Confirm official rates on site.
Pair Mehrangarh with sights close by. Together they make a full, rewarding day. Start early to beat the crowds and heat.
Indian visitors pay ₹100 and foreign visitors ₹600. A still-camera fee applies.
It is open daily from about 9 AM to 5 PM.
Rao Jodha, the founder of Jodhpur, began it in 1459.
Yes — it is one of India's grandest forts. With a superb museum and blue-city views.
Two to three hours to enjoy the palaces. Museum and ramparts.
From the city: A short climb or drive. From the old town; Nearby: Jaswant Thada is a five-minute drive.
Morning for cool air. Clear views over the blue city.
You can also visit Jaswant Thada. Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur guide.
Stay in Jodhpur. See our Jodhpur guide.
Keep exploring around Jodhpur.
