This video is based on my visit to Kankwari Fort Sariska(कांकवाड़ी किला सरिस्का) and I will be telling you about Kankwari Fort History in Hindi(कांकवाड़ी किले का इतिहास). Kankwari Fort(कांकवाड़ी किला) is ruined fort located near Kankwari village in Alwar district of Rajasthan and is surrounded by dense forest of Sariska Tiger Reserve. Although it was built by Rajput king Jai Singh I of Amer in the 17th century but it is known as the place where Mughal Ruler Aurangzeb imprisoned is elder brother Dara Shikoh.
Kankwari Fort is known to be a hidden tourist attraction in Alwar and not a lot of people like including this ruined fort in their itinerary. It is said that the first buildings of the Kankwari fort dates way back to more than 300 years ago and that is why it is not much surprising that majority of the fort complex is said to be in a semi - ruined state at present. However, as it has great historical background fort houses along with its beautiful location which overlooks a lovely lake, ridges, aravali mountains and hills which makes it almost irresistible to miss. Kankwari Fort Alwar gives a naturally serene view, carrying quite an interesting historical relevance as well as the vintage charm of the fort, there is so much to explore and know about this Kankwari Fort.
History of Kankwari Fort:
Built during the 17th century, the Kankwari fort was constructed by King Jai Singh I, who was the ruler of Amer then and also a senior general of the Mughal empire. Due to the natural camouflage around the fort, Kankwari fort was basically used for imprisoning the political prisoners in custody centuries ago but at present it is known to serve as one of the best tourist places to visit in Alwar. In those times, forts were normally built at high mountains or hills in order to make them visible from afar but Kankwari fort is built on a relatively shorter hill in the lush green forest of Sariska and mountains for making it a completely safe place for imprisonment. We can also say that the Kankwari fort was built with the intention of Dara Shikoh’s imprisonment. The story of Dara Shikoh’ exile is still very vivid as well as fresh in local people’s mind.
Initially Shah Jahan as well as his elder daughter Jahanara wanted Dara Shikoh to be the next successor of Mughal Empire after the demise of Shah Jahan, but his other son, Aurangzeb wanted to be the next successor and so he did not like this decision. Due to this, for preventing Dara Shikoh from being the successor, Aurangzeb imprisoned his elder brother in Kankwari fort with the sole intention of getting the throne. Kankwari fort was chosen for Dara Shikoh’s imprisonment by Aurangzeb because this fort was situated at a convenient distance from Delhi and was known to be under the supervision of Jai Singh, who was known to be one of his most trustworthy people of Aurangzeb. It is said that Aurangzeb was so particular about the imprisonment, that he actually surrounded the fort with a huge rampart from each and every side and guarded it by placing his armed soldiers so that Dara Shikoh’s supporters from the Mughal Army could not help him in fleeing away from the Kankwari fort. If the rumours are to be believed, it is said that Dara Shikoh was captivated in this fort. This incident of Dara Shikoh’s imprisonment is known to be remarkable and gives this fort a great historical significance.
Architecture of Kankwari Fort:
If we talk about the architectural design and appearance of Kankwari fort, it is as beautiful as any other fort situated in the state of Rajasthan. The Kankwari fort has distinctive white minarets which tend to give this grand fort a kind of appearance which actually resembles more to a Mughal architectural style monument rather than a typical Rajasthani fort.
Also, there are entrance gates to the Kankwari fort which seems to make it appear even grander. However, since not a lot of people visit this fort, you may find this place a bit deserted. The Kankwari fort has a number of spacious rooms as well as wide hallways. The best part is that each of these rooms and hallways are made beautifully and are known to sport stunning designs as well as intricate carvings on their walls which are worth admiring.
Other than this, the delicate carvings engraved on the walls of Kankwari Fort are truly spectacular; the thing which is known to set them apart is that these beautiful designs are painted colourfully as well these tend to multiply their beauty manifold. While exploring this huge fort, you will come across a number of other structures apart from just normal rooms and hallways. For instance, there is a lot of open spaces, balconies as well as open galleries in this fort from where you can definitely enjoy the natural beauty all around and also you can take advantage of the fresh natural air. From Kankwari fort, you can even see a small but beautiful lake which is situated nearby.
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