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JALORE
FORT
Pride & Prestige of Jalore is its fort
that sings its own story of valor & strength. This fort is a property of
State Government’s archeological department and a protected building
since 1956. To go to
Jalore fort one has to go through zig-zag roads of mid of
town.
It is situated in south of Jalore
1200 feet over the mountains.A zig zag way leads to
the fort upon the mountain where on each step the height goes on
increasing. The first
gate comes while climbing upward called Suraj Pole. Arch of this gate is of
immense beauty. Here
there are made small rooms where the security
guards used to stay. To
refrain from artillery firing a huge wall surrounds the gate from
front.
This wall is around 25
feet high and
15
feet in width. After it walking for another
half a mile second gate known as Dhruv Pole comes. This obstacle was also
peculiar from defense point of view. Without winning this post ,
entry into the fort was negligible.
Third gate is called Chand Pole which is
more grand, strong and beautiful from others. From here onwards the
rampart that runs along the way on both sides is divided into many
parts and conceals within it rounded surface of mountain and then
expands. The place
between third & fourth gates, Fourth gate is called Sire Pole.
One part of the rampart before reaching there takes a left turn
upwards and touches the highest part of the mountain and the second
rampart moves towards right sick and while encircling mountain peals
around it meets the first boundary.
The length of the fort is ¾
Km. and breadth is half a Kilo Meter. Presently there is palace of
king Mansingh, two water reservoirs, one Shiv
Temple, temple
of goddesses Jogmaya, station of Viram Dev, three Jain temples
shrine of Mallik Shah and One Mosque.
Among
temples the temple of Parshavnath is the grandest of
all. The idols sculpted
on the walls in the back side of temple attracts visiters the
most.
Moving from the four faced Jain Temple to the palace of
Mansingh, one
pillar of Parmar dynasty stands reserved on a small platform. Probably this is the only
memorial of Parmars.
The human height red stone’s pillar instantly speaks out the
beauty of its artistic sculpting. Before many decades this
pillar was found while cleaning a water reservoir that was situated
here.
While entering the palace of
Man Singh one
big square meeting hall comes, whose right side is a hall. In this hall there is one
broken and one big artillery machine is placed. Some artilleries could be
found here and there in fort’s compound. Just down of Mansingh
Palace towards
general way are casements on height are good example of rock
out. Two storyed queen
palace is also there is this Palace.In its courtyard is one
underground reservoir that is now not open for general public. In palace are found big
storage houses that were used for storing foodgrains, Ghee etc.
Behind the palace is the read to Shiv Temple. There is located one big
ShivLing of white marble.
From the backside of the temple the way leads towards water
reservoir where there is a temple of goddesses Chamunda built. In this temple is found a
inscription on which it is mentioned that war encircled king
KanherDev was given magical sword by goddesses Bhagwati
here.
The post of Viram Dev is situated on the
highest of the mountain’s South East. From here scenes could be
seen afar. The flag of
Jalore was being flown here.
A newly built mosque is nearby this post presently. During Independence
struggle freedom fighters like Ganeshlal Vyas,Mathuradas
Mathur,Fatehraj Joshi and Tulsidas Rathi were imprisoned here by
Britishers.
Topkhana
In the midst of Jalore town are left
remains of a grand Sanskrit school and a temple of king Bhoj times
that after passage of several centuries it speaks of its grandeur
itself. Bhoj was an
intellect of Sanskrit.
For the spread of education he built many schools in his
capital Dhar, Ajmer and Jalore, all Three are of
same structure. Now a
days the Sanskrit school of
Dhar is known by the name
of Mosque of Kamaal Maula, Ajmer School by Adhai Din Ka Jhopda
and Jalore school by the name of
Topkhana.
Artilleries were kept during Rathore’s tenure
consequently the name Topkhana emerged for it. After
independence supply officers made it a storage for food grains. This is
a protected building of Archaeological department, One security
personnel is kept here.
Presently for any tourist a nominal
Rs.2.00 and from students Rs.1.00 is charged as fee for
visiting it. The way from panchayat samiti
office towards Badi Pole leads straight towards it from Tilak Dwar
also the straight way leads towards Topkhana.
In this school there is beautiful work on stone
carved.
On both flanks small temples are built where no idols are
present now. Just in front of entrance gate is
main structure built on whose strong pillars the roof is
surviving.
Every pillars attracts visitors for hours of
its tiny stone carvings. It is an example of the beauty of
middle ages art. The engravings of flowers,
chains, elephant, bells, vines and geometry. In the main premise one
room is built 10
feet above earth in the
right corner, stairs are built to lead there. This
might probably be the seat of headmaster or
teacher to teach students in large number.
There are 276 pillars in this building and
speaks of its prosperity. While entering from the main gate
on the left side is temple that might had Shivling
in past.
Now a days there are many idols left broken. In it
Vishnu,Shiv Parvati, Ganesha and Varaha idols are peculiar. In the
right side of school is flank, beautified by raw art. It is
felt that its construction was continuous but
because of some reasons it was left over.
The same thing is with main arch of canopy the
outside of which is also incomplete. The proper maintenance of it
can definitely attract tourist and foreigners. |
