Located on a hilltop overlooking the Blue City of Jodhpur, Mehrangarh Fort is among the largest and most well-preserved forts in India, and one of the top historical attractions in the state of Rajasthan.
Built over 500 years ago, the fort towers over the city with 120-fort walls. Within its walls you can explore magnificant palaces, museums full of Rajasthani artefacts and get some amazing views over the Blue City. It’s the star attraction of an already historical city.
In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to visit Mehrangarh Fort, including what to see, how to get there, ticket info and more.
Contents
Brief History of Mehrangarh Fort
Mehrangarh Fort traces its origins back to 1459 when the Mewar Kingdom moved their capital from nearby Mandore (just outside of modern Jodhpur). Construction on the fort began right away, but it’s unclear how much was actually built at this time. What is known, however, is that most of the fort you see today was built from 1638 onwards.
This massive fortress was the centre of the Mewar Kingdom, which ruled over a land similar in size and borders to the modern-day state of Rajasthan. Its massive 120-foot walls protected the kingdom’s central buildings, including palaces for the king and close members of the royal family, administrative buildings, and the royal temple.
Thanks to its size and location, Mehrangarh Fort looks impenetrable, but that hasn’t stopped people from trying. This fort has seen its fair share of sieges, having been attacked by multiple neighbouring kingdoms. In fact, damage due to cannonballs can still be seen on some of the outer gates.
Ultimately Mehrangarh Fort would fall, like the rest of India, to the Mughal Empire (the same people who built the Taj Mahal and the Red Fort) in 1570. While Rajputs would still rule from Mehrangarh Fort for another few centuries, they would do so as vassals of the Mughals and later the British.
After India gained its independence from Britain in the late 1940s, the former royal families of Rajasthan would lose their royal status, and forts such as Mehrangarh would become little more than a museum and heritage site.
Today, Mehrangarh Fort remains one of the largest and most well-preserved forts in India, and the top historical attraction in Jodhpur.
Things to see at Mehrangarh Fort
Mehrangarh Fort is a large fort with lots to explore inside, but here’s a few of the highlights you can expect to see:
1 | The 7 gates
The first thing you’ll see when entering Mehrangarh Fort are its gates, or ‘pols’.
Mehrangarh Fort has 7 gates which were built by various rulers over time, generally to commemorate victories over invading armies.
The Jai Pol (Gate of Victory) is the most impressive, and was built in 1806 to celebrate a victory over a combined invasion from nearby Jaipur and Bikaner. The Dedh Kamgra Pol and Loha Pol even bear scars left by cannonballs fired by the invaders.
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2 | The Palaces
There are a number of palaces within Mehrangarh Fort, built to house the King and close members of the royal family.
The largest and most important of these is the Moti Mahal (Pearl Palace). Decorated with vibrant colours and stained-glass windows, this palace was where the ruler would receive their subjects.
Another impressive palace is the Sheesh Mahal (Mirror Palace). Covered floor to ceiling in small, intricately arranged mirrors, this palace was used for royal gatherings.
3 | Mehrangarh Fort Museum
Soon after entering the fort you’ll come across the museum.
While it’s not a big museum, it does house an impressive collection of artefacts from Mehrangarh Fort and Rajasthan’s past, which include interesting things such as seats used for riding elephants, manuscripts, royal outfits, paintings and a large collection of weapons used by Rajput warriors.
4 | Chamunda Devi Temple
Tucked away on the ramparts at the far end of Mehrangarh Fort is Chamunda Devi Temple.
The personal holy site used by the royal family that used to inhabit Mehrangarh Fort, this small temple was one of the first buildings constructed inside the fort. It’s dedicated to the Hindu goddess Chamunda, which was the preferred deity of the royal family.
Chamunda Devi Temple also offers some of the best views of the surrounding Blue City.
Where is Mehrangarh Fort?
📍Mehrangarh Fort is located in the city of 📍Jodhpur, in the north-western Indian state of Rajasthan.
The fort itself is located in Jodhpur’s old town, known as the ‘Blue City’.
How to get to Jodhpur
Train
India has an extensive train network, and it includes Jodhpur.
Catching a train is a popular way of reaching the city, and its main railway station is located fairly close to Mehrangarh Fort and the main tourist area.
The cost of your ticket and the length of the journey will of course depend on where you’re coming from, but as an example a train from nearby Jaipur will take about 5 hours and set you back about $5 USD.
The best place to purchase your train ticket to Jodhpur is with 12Go Asia.
Bus
Depending on where you’re coming from, catching a train may not be an option. Thankfully, another great way to reach Jodhpur is by bus.
Most buses arrive at the Paota Bus Stand or Rai Ka Bagh Bus Stand, which are both centrally located and close to the main tourist area near Mehrangarh Fort.
The price of the ticket will of course depend on where you’re coming from, but as an example, an airconditioned bus from Jaipur should take around 6 hours and set you back about $6 USD.
The best place to purchase your bus ticket to Jodhpur is with 12Go Asia. Another popular resource for booking bus tickets in India is Red Bus.
Fly
The fastest way of reaching Jodhpur is to fly.
Because Jodhpur is located close to other popular tourist destinations that you’ll most likely be visiting too, flying is arguably only a suitable option if you’re coming from somewhere far away, like Mumbai, Kolkata or Bangalore.
You’d be flying into Jodhpur Airport (JDH), which is located about 5km from the main tourist area near Mehrangarh Fort.
The best place to find cheap flights to Jodhpur is with Skycanner.
Best time to visit Jodhpur
Being located in the Thar Desert, Jodhpur unsurprisingly gets pretty hot. So picking the right time of year to visit can make a difference.
The best time of year to visit Jodhpur is between October and March – the winter months.
It can get a little cold at night, especially in December and January when the nighttime temperature can drop below 10℃, but during the day you can expect a more comfortable 20 to 30℃.
While there’s no reason you can’t visit Jodhpur during the summer months, you should expect day time temperatures to stay consistently in the higher 30s and low 40s℃.
Mehrangarh Fort Opening Hours
The fort is open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
It’s a good idea to give yourself plenty of time to explore, as there’s a lot to see inside the fort. Plan to spend at least half a day here if you want to thoroughly enjoy the exhibits, architecture, and views.
Mehrangarh Fort Entry Fee
As of 2026, the entry fee for Mehrangarh Fort is ₹800 for foreigners, which includes access to the museum, palaces, and other sections of the fort.
For Indian citizens, the entry fee is ₹200.
For an extra ₹180 (for foreigners and Indians), you can also purchase an audio guide.
Tickets can be purchased from the ticket booth at the fort’s entrance, but can also be purchased online in advance from Mehrangarh Museum Trust website.
How Long It Takes to Visit Mehrangarh Fort?
Mehrangarh Fort is huge, and has a lot to explore. If you rush, you could easily explore it within 2 hours.
But if you want to get the most out of your visit, and explore all the palaces, museums, and temples, you should allow about 3 to 4 hours.
Either way, be prepared to be on your feet for a while and do a lot of walking as you navigate the fort.
Planning your trip to India
Now that you have all the information on visiting Mehrangarh Fort, it’s time to start planning your trip to India. Here are some resources to help you get started:
✈ Flights: Trip.com and Skyscanner are the best resources for finding cheap flights to India.
🚅 Transport: 12Go is the best online platform for booking trains and buses in India, and across Asia.
🏨 Accommodation: Booking.com is the best resource for finding amazing hotels in India, while Hostelworld is the best for finding hostels.
🏥 Travel Insurance: Heymondo covers all the essentials in India, including theft, medical and cancellations.
🛜 Internet: To stay connected in India, you can use Airalo. They offer an eSIM, meaning all you need is a smartphone and and the app.
🌐 VPN: To stay connected and access service that may not be available in India, use NordVPN.
🏄 Tours & Day Trips: Get Your Guide and Viator are the top platforms for tours and activities in India.
🎟 Tickets: Official websites to historical sites in India rarely sell tickets online. But often you can purchase them from Klook, allowing you to save time by booking in advance.
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Further reading on India
Here are more guides on India to help you plan your trip:
⬤ Mehrangarh is Jodhpur’s star attraction but there are many more historical sites to explore in this city. Check out: Historical Travel Guide to Jodhpur.
⬤ After Jodhpur, another popular place to visit is the historic fort town of Jaisalmer. Check out: Ultimate Travel Guide to Jaisalmer.
⬤ If you’re looking for more amazing historical sites in Rajasthan, check out: 2-Week Rajasthan Itinerary for History Buffs.
⬤ For more historical travel guides on India, check out our India page.
