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Forts and Palaces of Rajasthan — REET EVS Notes

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This page covers Rajasthan's major forts and palaces — who built them, where they stand, and what makes each one distinctive — including the six hill forts that made it onto UNESCO's World Heritage list. In REET EVS this is a state-specific (Rajasthan GK) topic that shows up as straightforward factual questions, and occasionally as a genuinely disputed one.

  • 1 question in REET 2024
  • Class 1–5 level
  • 6 min read
Verified 17 September 2026 · Source: Hill Forts of Rajasthan — Wikipedia

How this topic is asked in REET

The REET 2024 question on this topic ('which fort is known as Ajaygarh?') was declared BONUS by BSER in the final answer key, with marks awarded to every candidate — the board never explained why. That's a useful signal: questions built around a fort's 'nickname' can turn out to be disputed, so the safer exam strategy is to lock in the builder, the location (district), and one verified, well-documented feature for each fort rather than chasing nicknames.

Major Forts of Rajasthan

FortDistrictKey facts
Chittorgarh FortChittorgarhRajasthan's largest fort; included in the UNESCO World Heritage list
Kumbhalgarh FortRajsamandBuilt by Maharana Kumbha; famous for its massive perimeter wall
Mehrangarh FortJodhpurBuilt by Rao Jodha in 1459 CE
Jaisalmer Fort (Sonar Qila)JaisalmerBuilt by Rawal Jaisal in 1156 CE; a 'living fort' of yellow sandstone where people still live today
Amer FortJaipurBuilt by Raja Man Singh I, later expanded by Mirza Raja Jai Singh I; on the UNESCO list
Jaigarh FortJaipurBuilt by Sawai Jai Singh II in 1726 CE; home to Jaivana, the world's largest cannon on wheels
Ranthambore FortSawai MadhopurAssociated with the Chauhan rulers; sits inside Ranthambore National Park; on the UNESCO list
Gagron FortJhalawarA 'water fort' (jal durg) surrounded by water on three sides at the confluence of the Ahu and Kalisindh rivers; on the UNESCO list

Chittorgarh, Kumbhalgarh, Ranthambore, Gagron, Amer and Jaisalmer — these six forts together were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013 as the 'Hill Forts of Rajasthan'.

Major Palaces of Rajasthan

Hawa Mahal, Jaipur — built by Sawai Pratap Singh in 1799 CE; its five-storey honeycomb structure with hundreds of small latticed windows (jharokhas) was designed so the royal women could watch street life below while observing purdah.

City Palace, Udaipur — founded by Maharana Udai Singh II in 1559 CE; standing on the bank of Lake Pichola, this palace complex remained the principal residence of Mewar's rulers for centuries. Jal Mahal, Jaipur — sitting in the middle of Man Sagar Lake, this palace is partly submerged, with four of its floors underwater.

Chittorgarh and Kumbhalgarh Forts — Special Facts

The Vijay Stambh (Victory Tower) inside Chittorgarh Fort was built by Maharana Kumbha to commemorate his 1440 victory over Sultan Mahmud Khilji of Malwa; the fort also houses the Kirti Stambh, dedicated to Jainism. Chittorgarh is also remembered for the episodes of jauhar (mass self-sacrifice) in Rajput history, which makes it one of Rajasthan's most historically significant forts.

Kumbhalgarh Fort's perimeter wall runs roughly 36 kilometres and is widely described as the world's second-longest continuous wall after the Great Wall of China — wide enough for several horsemen to ride abreast. The fort is also famous as the birthplace of Maharana Pratap.

Fort Architecture (The Rajput Fort-Building Style)

Most of Rajasthan's major forts were built atop hills or Aravalli peaks, making it easier to watch for enemies and defend the position. They typically featured several concentric walls (parkotas), massive gateways (pols), stepwells or water-storage tanks, and temple and palace complexes inside — all so the fort could remain self-sufficient during a siege.

It was precisely these features that led UNESCO, in 2013, to jointly recognise six of Rajasthan's hill forts as a World Heritage Site — one of the largest such groups of forts to be listed together from any single Indian state.

Tourism and Cultural Importance

Rajasthan's forts and palaces today form a major pillar of tourism and contribute significantly to the state's economy — many are now preserved as museums or heritage hotels. UNESCO World Heritage status strengthens both the conservation and the international recognition of these sites, which also connects to the EVS idea of 'our heritage'.

How to Teach This to Children

Classroom activity

If there's a fort or palace near the school, organise a field trip; otherwise use pictures and a map to have children mark 'Rajasthan's forts' on it.

Teaching aids

Show models of forts, picture cards, or short film clips to explain a fort's structure (walls, gateways, stepwells) — visual material sticks far longer than rote memorisation.

Common misconception

Children often assume all forts look and feel the same. Teachers should anchor each fort to one distinctive identifier (Jaisalmer = Sonar Qila, Jaigarh = the Jaivana cannon) so they don't get mixed up.

Assessment idea

Have children prepare a short drawing plus 3-4 lines about a fort or palace in their own district or nearest to them — a simple project that connects the topic to local identity.

Storytelling method

Tell simple, age-appropriate stories of valour and sacrifice linked to these forts (such as Maharana Pratap's birth at Kumbhalgarh) — this helps children retain facts through an emotional connection.

Memory trick

Be cautious with questions built around a fort's 'nickname' — REET 2024 showed that such questions can turn out disputed and end up as bonus. The safest exam strategy: lock in the builder, the year, and the location (district) firmly, since these facts are asked correctly almost every time.

REET 2024 Questions (Solved)

Question 146Bonus — dropped in the final key

Which fort of Rajasthan is also known as Ajaygarh ?

  1. Aसोनार किला
  2. Bकुंभलगढ़ दुर्ग
  3. Cमेहरानगढ़ किला
  4. Dरणथंभौर दुर्ग

Explanation

BSER ने अंतिम उत्तर कुंजी में इस प्रश्न को BONUS घोषित कर दिया, अर्थात सभी अभ्यर्थियों को अंक दिए गए। बोर्ड ने प्रश्न हटाने का कारण नहीं बताया।

Practice Questions

Question 1

When were the Hill Forts of Rajasthan included in the UNESCO World Heritage list?

  1. A2010
  2. B2013
  3. C2016
  4. D2019

Explanation

Rajasthan's six hill forts were jointly declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013.

Question 2

Which of the following forts is NOT included in the UNESCO World Heritage list?

  1. Aचित्तौड़गढ़ दुर्ग
  2. Bमेहरानगढ़ दुर्ग
  3. Cकुम्भलगढ़ दुर्ग
  4. Dआमेर दुर्ग

Explanation

Mehrangarh Fort (Jodhpur) is not on UNESCO's 'Hill Forts of Rajasthan' list; that list includes Chittorgarh, Kumbhalgarh, Ranthambore, Gagron, Amer and Jaisalmer.

Question 3

Who got Jaisalmer Fort built?

  1. Aराव जोधा
  2. Bरावल जैसल
  3. Cमहाराणा कुम्भा
  4. Dराजा मानसिंह प्रथम

Explanation

Jaisalmer Fort was built by the Bhati Rajput ruler Rawal Jaisal in 1156 CE.

Question 4

Who got Hawa Mahal built?

  1. Aसवाई जयसिंह द्वितीय
  2. Bसवाई प्रताप सिंह
  3. Cमहाराणा उदयसिंह
  4. Dराव जोधा

Explanation

Hawa Mahal, Jaipur, was built by Sawai Pratap Singh in 1799 CE.

Question 5

Where is "Jaivana," the world's largest wheeled cannon, located?

  1. Aमेहरानगढ़ दुर्ग
  2. Bचित्तौड़गढ़ दुर्ग
  3. Cजयगढ़ दुर्ग
  4. Dगागरोन दुर्ग

Explanation

Jaivana, the world's largest cannon on wheels, is located at Jaigarh Fort, Jaipur, built during the reign of Sawai Jai Singh II.

Question 6

In which district is Gagron Fort located?

  1. Aजैसलमेर
  2. Bझालावाड़
  3. Cसवाई माधोपुर
  4. Dराजसमंद

Explanation

Gagron Fort is located in Jhalawar district at the confluence of the Ahu and Kalisindh rivers, surrounded by water on three sides as a 'jal durg'.

Question 7

In which city is Mehrangarh Fort located?

  1. Aजोधपुर
  2. Bजैसलमेर
  3. Cबीकानेर
  4. Dउदयपुर

Explanation

Mehrangarh Fort is located in the city of Jodhpur, built by Rao Jodha in 1459 CE.

Question 8

What was the main purpose of building Baori/Tanka (water-storage structures) in Rajput forts?

  1. Aसजावट के लिए
  2. Bघेराबंदी के दौरान जल की आत्मनिर्भरता बनाए रखने के लिए
  3. Cव्यापार के लिए
  4. Dपशुओं को नहलाने के लिए

Explanation

Stepwells and water-storage tanks (baoris/tankas) were built in Rajput forts so the fort could remain self-sufficient in water during a siege.

Question 9

If a school is located near a historical fort/palace, what would be the most effective teaching method for an EVS teacher?

  1. Aकेवल पाठ्यपुस्तक से पढ़ाना
  2. Bशैक्षणिक भ्रमण (field trip) कराकर प्रत्यक्ष अवलोकन करवाना
  3. Cटॉपिक को छोड़ देना
  4. Dकेवल परीक्षा के लिए तथ्य रटवाना

Explanation

Using local resources for direct observation through a field trip is one of the most effective teaching methods for EVS at the Class 1-5 level.

Question 10

Who originally got Amer Fort built, which was later expanded by Mirza Raja Jai Singh I?

  1. Aराजा मानसिंह प्रथम
  2. Bसवाई जयसिंह द्वितीय
  3. Cमहाराणा कुम्भा
  4. Dरावल जैसल

Explanation

Amer Fort was originally built by Raja Man Singh I, and was later expanded by Mirza Raja Jai Singh I.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many forts of Rajasthan are on the UNESCO World Heritage list?+

Six forts — Chittorgarh, Kumbhalgarh, Ranthambore, Gagron, Amer and Jaisalmer — were jointly inscribed on the UNESCO list in 2013 as the 'Hill Forts of Rajasthan'.

Where is the Jaivana cannon located?+

Jaivana, the world's largest cannon on wheels, is located at Jaigarh Fort in Jaipur.

Why is Jaisalmer Fort called the Sonar Qila (Golden Fort)?+

Because it's built of yellow sandstone that turns golden in sunlight, Jaisalmer Fort is called the 'Sonar Qila' or Golden Fort.

Who built Mehrangarh Fort, and when?+

Mehrangarh Fort was built by Rao Jodha, the founder of Jodhpur, in 1459 CE.

Why is Gagron Fort called a water fort (jal durg)?+

Gagron Fort stands at the confluence of the Ahu and Kalisindh rivers and is surrounded by water on three sides, which is why it is called a 'jal durg' or water fort.

How long is Kumbhalgarh Fort's wall?+

Kumbhalgarh Fort's perimeter wall is about 36 kilometres long, and is widely described as the world's second-longest continuous wall.

Who built the Vijay Stambh, and why?+

Chittorgarh's Vijay Stambh was built by Maharana Kumbha to commemorate his 1440 victory over Sultan Mahmud Khilji of Malwa.

Read Next

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Previous EVS topic — Rajasthan's traditional food and dishes.

Folk Art of Rajasthan

Next EVS topic — Rajasthan's paintings, handicrafts, and folk arts.

REET Syllabus

The complete REET Level 1 and Level 2 syllabus in one place.

REET 2024 Solved Paper

All REET 2024 questions with explanations.

Official Sources

  1. Hill Forts of Rajasthan — Wikipedia
  2. Hill Forts of Rajasthan — UNESCO World Heritage Centre

Change Log

  • 17 September 2026 — English page published — mirrors the fact-checked Hindi page, independently bilingual-accuracy checked