There is no satisfactory answer of the year in which and when was it built, but by the references of many authors in their books, it is written that it was built in 944 AD by Ranthambhan Dev,therefore the name of the Fort was Ranthambhanpur and than Ranthambhore respectively. There is also written in some books that there are two hills named Ran and Thamb and Fort was built up on Thamb hill and a part of Ran hill, but it is not a satisfactory answer. Perhaps the only one Fort which is not visible from a long distance. The Fort is a massive enclave and quit high.
In 13 th Centuary grandson of Prithviraj Chouhan III, Govindraj established himself as a ruler of Ranthambhore in 1192 AD. After him came Valhandev, Prahaladandev (during his period Quttubuddin Ebak attacked on Ranthambhore in 1209 AD),Veernarayana was in 1211 AD, Bagbhatt, Nahardev in 1248 AD and than Jaitra Singh(Father of Hammir) respectively. After him in 1282 AD his IIIrd son Hammira sat on the throne of Ranthambhore. In 1298 AD Hammira refuged to give Mahammad Shah, a rebel, to Allauddin Khilji, Emperor of Delhi, than Khilji himself marched on Ranthambhore but Hammira stood like a rock against him, he could break but not bend. Because Hammira stood bravely so those besigers were not able to take the Fort.
Ultimately they won the Battle but because of the confusion of the Flag of Khilji, the Females at Ranthambhore Fort thought that they lost the Battle so they performed the ritual of Johar. It was the first Johar in Rajput’s history. And it was unexpected for Hammira, he ended his life by his own hands, chopped his head infront of Lord Shiva(He worshiped Lord Shiva a lot in his life). After Hammira the Fort was taken by Khilji on Tuesday 11th July 1301 AD. Hammira was an Idol of self sacrifice, self-respect and tenacity in keeping to one’s words.
In between the period from 1301 to 1758 so many ruler came and took the possession on it and in 1758 AD it was taken by Jaipur State from Mughals till 1947. Than Archeological Deptt. took it in 1964.
It is 1578 ft from sea level & about 750 ft from ground. Total area of the Fort is about 7 Sq.Kms. There is no drive way up to the Fort just about 175 steps. There are three big artificial Lakes up there in the Fort. Fort has seven big Gates-Kushalidarrah,Bhairondarrah,mishradarrah,Naulakha,Hathipole (there were a statue of an Elephant & Horse made of by a big rock but Muslim soldiers has broken out the one and now there is only a stone carved head of a soldier),Ganeshpole is the sixth one and the Last one is Torandwar (seven gates/Chourdarwaja).
Inside the Fort
- The Palace :- It is three storied underground in the hill and two stories are on the surface of the hill.
- 32 Pillar Cenotaph (chhatari) :-This 52 ft high Chhatari was made by Hammira in 1290 in the memory of his father Jaitra Singh.
- Mahadev Chhatari :- Lord Shiva’s Shivling in the middle of this Chhatari.It was built in 1610 AD.
- Mosque :-Built in 1301 AD by Allauddin Khilji.
- Big Wall :- Made in a night to protected the Palace during the Battle with Khilji in 1300 AD.
- Ganesha Temple :- This world famous temple of God Ganesha has three eyes and one nose only and b’coz of these three eyes it is known as Trinetri Ganeshji.
- Gupt Ganga :- Cold sweet running water at the hight of 1600 ft from sea level and Temple of Lord Shiva built in 1652 AD.
- Shiva Temple :- Behind Ganesha’s Temple it is a common belief that every night a beautiful maiden visits the shrine and offers two white flowers of Kaitki to the Lord.It is the Temple where brave Hammira chopped out his head to the Lord Shiva,now there is a carved head of the Rana Hammir is there.
Old City
The old city was founded in 18th Jan 1763 by Sawai Madho Singh-I of Jaipur and totally based on Jaipur pattern city plan of 90° angle cross roads. There are several Jain Temples with very good paintings, on the way to the old city there is Temple of Kalagora Bhairon, it is located atop the hill close to the main entry point of Old city. It is nine stories with garlanding Two big Elephants at the Gate. In this Temple there are two Idols of Bahiron Ji, one is Gora(white one) and Kala ji(black one). It is a place for observatory, like Jaipur. There is also a hanging Pillar.
