Taragarh Fort
The Taragarh Fort in Kota
was built in 1345 and was the center of a kingdom in Rajasthan. Within the fort
there are large reservoirs where water was stored in case of a siege, when all
the towns folk took shelter within the walls of the fort. These reservoirs are
carved out of the rocky base of the fort. On the largest rampart of the fort is
the Bhim Burj, a large and legendary cannon. The view of Kota town from Taragarh
Fort is spectacular, particularly at twilight and just after sunset. This large
fort is an interesting place to spend a day, wandering around its ruins and defensive
structures.
The main entrance to the imposing Taragarh fort is located
some 39 kms away from the town centre that can be approached by a sharply sloping
road. The main gateway of the fort has some meticulous carvings of elephants.
Infact, there are three gateways to the fort. They are named Lakshmi Pol, Phuta
Darwaza and Gagudi ki Phatak. Most parts of these impressive gateways are now
in ruins. During its heydays, Taragarh fort was renowned for its tunnels crisscrossing
the entire hillside. These tunnels allowed the king and his deputies to flee in
case there was an imminent danger to their lives from enemies.
