Junagarh Fort in Bikaner is an impressive fort built by a
Rajput ruler. Raja Rai Singh in 1587. A fort that has never
been conquered, though it has been attacked many times, Junagarh
Fort is an impressive monument, with huge towers and battlements
for defence. Raja Rai Singh who lived in the times of the
Mughal Emperors Akbar and Jahangir, was a famous military
leader. He was rewarded for his bravery in battle by revenue
from parts of Gujarat and Burhanpur. He used these funds in
the construction of the Junagarh Fort. The ideas he absorbed
during his travels across India after seeing many other forts
and palaces were also applied in the construction of Junagarh
Fort.
Junagarh Fort contains 37 palaces and many temples and pavilions.
Many of the inner rooms of the palaces are beautifully decorated
and painted in traditional style. The walls of the Badal Mahal
or Palace of Clouds, are covered with fresco paintings of
Krishna and his consort Radha in the midst of rain clouds.
The Anup Mahal is a beautiful structure where the inner walls
are covered with exquisite lacquer work of red and gold as
well as inlay work in glass. Gold leaf has been used to decorate
the pillars made of white plaster. The overall effect within
the Anup Mahal Palace is very ornate.
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