Gagron Fort
A 15 mins drive from Jhalawar town leads us to Gagron fort, which is one of the most impressive forts in Rajasthan and a world heritage site of UNESCO. Gagron was strategically established where the Ahu and Kali Sindh rivers meet, which makes it a unique hill-andwater fort. Three rivers serve as natural defenses and sheer cliffs rise on a fourth side with walls protecting the city at the top.
As we stride through Gagron, we understand for the first time. It was a fortress intended to withstand sieges, floods and time. There’s no gratuitous embellishment — just purposeful stronghold. It provides a panoramic view of the river valleys, and in monsoon, the fort almost becomes an island.
Gagron, too has a sadness to its history. It is said that the Queen of Malwa, along with other women in the palace committed Jauhar here as they witnessed the enemy ranks marching towards the palace. Here, honor is above everything, and these stones remind us that they were victorious in protecting what mattered the most.
Gagron is not like one of those heavily restored forts – for the mostpart, it stands in peace, silent enough.
