Built around 1587, to protect 37 palaces, temples and
pavilions within it, Junagarh is one of its kinds, remaining unconquered
till date except once. The palaces within it are very well preserved,
the most notable of which are the Badal Mahal, Karan Mahal and Anup
Mahal. Bikaner's Rathore rulers spared no efforts to create and maintain
splendor in their royal residences with gold lacquer paintings preserved
well because of the dry desert climate.
Ganga Mahal, the
imposing halls added by Maharaj Ganga Singh, now houses the Fort Museum.
It contains a fine collection of antique Rajput weaponry, jade handle
dcaggers, camel hide dhals (shields) and inlaid handguns and camel guns.
Gold and silver howdahs, julas, palkis and a First World War biplane are
on view. Other important objects include a pair of drums belonging to
Jambhoji, the saint who predicted the foundation of the dynasty by Rao
Bika for 450 years. Photographs and items of personal used by Maharaja
Ganga Singh and miniatures are also on view.
Cities
in Rajasthan