List of all Important and famous Forts in India PDF for General Knowledge of Competitive Exams. Includes location, build by, year and brief notes for quick revision.
List of Important and Famous Forts
| Name | Place | Built by | Year | Notes |
| Neemrana Fort | Alwar, Rajasthan | Prithviraj Chauhan | 16th Century | Neemrana is an ancient historical town in Alwar district of Rajasthan. It is the site of a 16th-century hill-fort occupied by Chauhans till 1947. The erstwhile ruling family is considered to be of the direct lineage of Prithviraj Chauhan. |
| Lohagarh Fort | Bharatpur, Rajasthan | Maharaja Suraj Mal | 18th Century | Lohagarh Fort (or Iron Fort) is situated at Bharatpur in Rajasthan. It was constructed by Bharatpur Jat rulers. Maharaja Suraj Mal built the Lohagarh Fort, one of the strongest ever built in Indian history. |
| Junagarh Fort | Bikaner, Rajasthan | Maharaja Rai Singh | 1588 | -Described as a paradox between Medieval Military & Meticulous interiors. -Fort has number of palaces & Temples made of sandstone and marbles. |
| Chittorgarh Fort | Chittorgarh, Rajasthan | Maharana Kumbha | 15th Century | This fort was once self-Sufficient in water with 84 water bodies however, remaining are only 21. |
| Amber Fort | Amber, Jaipur, Rajasthan | Raja Man Singh | 10th Century 1599 | -Known as “Gateway of Rajasthan” – originally built by the Meenas -The Fort is believed to be unconquered. |
| City Palace | Jaipur, Rajasthan | Sawai Jai Singh II. | 18th Century | Amalgamation of various styles of architecture, namely the Mughal, Rajputana and European Styles. |
| Jaigarh Fort | Jaipur, Rajasthan | Jai Singh II | 1726 | Jaigarh Fort is situated on the promontory called the Cheel ka Teela (Hill of Eagles) of the Aravalli range; it overlooks the Amer Fort and the Maota Lake, near Amer in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. The fort was built by Jai Singh II in 1726 to protect the Amer Fort and its palace complex and was named after him. |
| Nahargarh Fort | Jaipur, Rajasthan | Sawai Jai Singh II | 1734 | Nahargarh Fort stands on the edge of the Aravalli Hills, in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Along with Amer Fort and Jaigarh Fort, Nahargarh once formed a strong defense ring for the city. |
| Jaisalmer Fort | Jaisalmer, Rajasthan | Rawal Jaisal | 12th Century | -One of the largest desert forts in the world in fact a large population of the city resides in the fort. -Fort is built without using water, therefore, is a marvel of architecture. |
| Ranthambore Fort | Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan | Chauhan | 13th century | Ranthambore Fort lies within the Ranthambore National Park, near the city of Sawai Madhopur. The fort was held by the Chahamanas (Chauhans) until the 13th century, when the Delhi Sultanate captured it. In 2013, at the 37th session of the World Heritage Committee, Ranthambore Fort, along with 5 other Forts of Rajasthan, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the group Hill Forts of Rajasthan. |
| Mehrangarh Fort | Jodhpur, Rajasthan | Rao Jodha | 15th Century | -Known as “The Sun Fort” – “Not a work of men but giants” – Rudyard Kipling |
| Kumbhalgarh Fort | Rajsamand, Rajasthan | Rana Kumbha | 15th Century | Kumbhalgarh (literally “Kumbhal fort”) is a Mewar fortress on the westerly range of Aravalli Hills, in the Rajsamand district near Udaipur of Rajasthan. It is a World Heritage Site included in Hill Forts of Rajasthan. Built during the course of the 15th century by Rana Kumbha. |
| Malhargad/Sonori Fort | Sonori, Pune, Maharashtra | Marathas | 1775 | Malhargarh is a hill fort in western India, near Saswad, 30 kilometers from Pune. It is also known as Sonori Fort due to its location in Sonori village. The fort was named for Lord Malhari and was the last fort built by the Marathas in about 1775. |
| Sinhagad Fort | Pune, Maharashtra | Shivaji | 14th Century | Sinhagad is a hill fortress located at around 35 km southwest of the city of Pune. Some of the information available at this fort suggests that the fort could have been built 2000 years ago. The caves and the carvings in the Kaundinyeshwar temple stand as proofs for the same. Previously known as Kondhana, the fort had been the site of many battles, most notably the Battle of Sinhagad in 1670. |
| PurandarFort | Pune, Maharashtra | Yadava Dynasty | 11th Century | Purandar Fort is known as the birthplace of Chatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the son of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The fort is repeatedly mentioned in the rising of Shivaji against the Adil Shahi Bijapur Sultanate and the Mughals. The fort of Purandhar stands at 4,472 ft (1,387 m) above the sea level in the Western Ghats, 50 km to the southeast of Pune. |
| Rajgad Fort | Pune, Maharashtra | Chhatrapati Shivaji | 1674 | Rajgad is a hill fort situated in the Pune district of Maharashtra. Formerly known as Murumdev, the fort was the capital of the Maratha Empire under the rule of Shivaji for almost 26 years, after which the capital was moved to the Raigad Fort. Treasures discovered from an adjacent fort called Torna were used to completely build and fortify the Rajgad Fort. |
| Shaniwar Wada | Pune, Maharashtra | Bajirao Peshwa | 1732 | Shaniwarwada is a historical fortification in the city of Pune in Maharashtra. Built in 1732, it was the seat of the Peshwas of the Maratha Empire until 1818, when the Peshwas lost control to the British East India Company after the Third Anglo-Maratha War. |
| Shivneri Fort | Pune, Maharashtra | the Yadavas | 17th Century | Shivneri Fort is a 17th-century military fortification located near Junnar in Pune district in Maharashtra. It is the birthplace of Shivaji, the founder of Maratha Empire. Shivneri is known to be a place of Buddhist dominion from the 1st century AD. Its caves, rock-cut architecture and water system indicate the presence of habitation since 1st century AD. |
| Torna Fort | Pune, Maharashtra | Shiva Panth | 13th Century | Torna Fort, also known as Prachandagad, is a large fort located in Pune district, of Maharashtra. It is historically significant because it was the first fort captured by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in 1646, at the age of 16, forming the nucleus of the Maratha empire. |
| Murud-Janjira | Raigad, Maharashtra | Itbarrao Koli & Malik Ambar | 15th Century | Murud-Janjira is the local name of a famous fort and tourist place situated on an island just off the coastal city of Murud, in the Raigad district of Maharashtra. Murud-Janjira Fort is situated on an oval-shaped rock off the Arabian Sea coast near the port city of Murud. Janjira is considered one of the strongest marine forts in India. |
| Pratapgad fort | Satara, Maharashtra | Ch. Shivaji Maharaj | 1656 | Pratapgad literally ‘Valour Fort’ is a large fort located in Satara district, in Maharashtra. |
| Sindhudurg Fort | Sindhudurg, Maharashtra | Shivaji | 1664 | Sindhudurg Fort is a historical fort that occupies an island in the Arabian Sea, just off the coast of Maharashtra. The fort was built by Shivaji. The fortress lies on the shore of Malvan town of Sindhudurg District in the Konkan region of Maharashtra. It is a protected monument. |
| Vijaydurg Fort | Vijaydurg, Maharashtra | Raja Bhoja II | 12th Century | Vijaydurg (sometimes written as Viziadurg), the oldest fort on the Sindhudurg coast, was constructed during the regime of Raja Bhoja II of the Shilahar dynasty (construction period 1193-1205) and restructured by Shivaji. |
| Panhala Fort | Kolhapur, Maharashtra | Bhoja II, Adil Shah | 1178 | -Architecture of the fort is Bijapur style with a peacock motif of Bahamani Style. |
| Daulatabad Fort | Aurangabad, Maharashtra | Muhammad Bin Tughluq | 14th Century | -The Fort was built to confuse attackers with its narrow and curvy path. -Major attraction of the place is a Maze built to baffle attackers. |
| Bekal Fort | Bekal, Kerala | Shivappa Nayaka | 12th Century | Bekal Fort was built by Shivappa Nayaka of Keladi in 1650 AD, at Bekal. It is the largest fort in Kerala, spreading over 40 acres. |
| Palakkad Fort | Palakkad, Kerala | Hyder Ali | 1766 | Palakkad Fort is an old fort situated in the heart of Palakkad town of Kerala. It was recaptured and rebuilt grandly by Sultan Hyder Ali in 1766 ACE and remains one of the best-preserved forts in Kerala. |
| Bidar Fort | Bidder, Karnataka | Ahmed Shah Wali Bahmani | 1427 | Bidar Fort is a fort situated in the Bidder, Karnataka, India. Sultan Alla-Ud Din Bahman of the Bahmanid Dynasty shifted his capital from Gulbarga to Bidar in 1427 and built his fort along with a number of Islamic monuments. There are over 30 monuments inside Bidar fort. |
| Chitradurga Fort | Chitradurga, Karnataka | Chalukyas | 11th and 13th Centuries | Chitradurga Fort or as the British called it Chitaldoorg, is a fortification that straddles several hills and a peak overlooking a flat valley in the Chitradurga District, Karnataka, India. The fort was built in stages between the 11th and 13th centuries by the dynastic rulers of the region including the Chalukyas and Hoysalas, later the Nayakas of Chitradurga of the Vijayanagar Empire. |
| Sriranga Patnam Fort | Sriranga Patnam, Karnataka | Timmanna Nayaka | 1454 | -Also called “Tipu Sultan’s Palace” -Inside the Fort there are many military, religious and civic Structures. |
| Red Fort | Delhi | Shah Jahan | 1648 | -Lies on the bank of river Yamuna. -Powerful symbol of India’s sovereignty. -India’s PM addresses the nation & hosts flag on Independence Day & Republic Day here. |
| Uparkot Fort | Junagadh, Gujarat | Chandragupta Maurya | 319 BC | Uparkot is a fort located in east side of Junagadh, Gujarat. A fort and town was established at the foothills of Girnar hill during reign of the Maurya Empire and continued to be used during Gupta period. |
| Bhujia Fort | Bhuj, Kutch, Gujarat | Rao Godji I | (1715–1718) | Bhujia Fort, also spelled as Bhujiya Fort, is a fort located in the outskirts of the town of Bhuj in the district of Kutch, Gujarat, India. The fort is built atop Bhujia Hill overlooking the town. The fort was constructed for the defense of the city by Jadeja Chiefs. The construction of Bhujia fort was started by Rao Godji I (1715–1718) ruler of Kingdom of Kutch. The completion was done during the rule of his son, Deshalji I (1718–1741). |
| Kangara Fort | Kangra, Himachal Pradesh | Bhuma Chand | 4300 B.C | -Situated on the Confluence of Banganga &Manjhi River. -Largest Fort in Himachal & Oldest in India. |
| Leh Palace | Leh, Ladakh | Sengge Namgyal | 19th Century | Leh Palace is a former royal palace overlooking the town of Leh, Ladakh. It was constructed circa 1600 by Sengge Namgyal. The palace was abandoned when Dogra forces took control of Ladakh in the mid-19th century and forced the royal family to move to Stok Palace. |
| Orchha Fort | Orchha, Madhya Pradesh | Rudra Pratap Singh | 16th Century | The Orchha Fort complex, which houses a large number of ancient monuments consisting of the fort, palaces, temple, and other edifices, is located in the Orchha town, Madhya Pradesh. The fort and other structures within it were built by the Bundela Rajputs starting from the early 16th century by King Rudra Pratap Singh of the Orchha State and others who followed him. |
| Gwalior Fort | Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh | Rana Man Singh Tomar | 15th Century | -Ruled by 110 rules. -Ceramic glaze tiles, beautiful motifs & intricate lattice work all contribute in making it a very appealing structure |
| Jhansi Fort | Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh | Raja Bir Singh Ju Deo | 17th Century | Jhansi Fort or Jhansi ka Kila is a fortress situated on a large hilltop called Bangira, in Uttar Pradesh. It served as a stronghold of the Chandela Kings in Balwant Nagar from the 11th through the 17th century. The Jhansi fort is located in the middle of Jhansi city. |
| Warangal Fort | Warangal, Telangana | Kakateya King Ganapati Deva | 13th Century | Warangal Fort is located in Warangal District, Telangana. It was the capital city of Kakatiyas and Musunuri Nayakas. It appears to have existed since at least the 12th century when it was the capital of the Kakatiya dynasty. |
| Golconda Fort | Hyderabad, Telangana | Kakatiya Kings | 12th & 16th Century | -Got its name form “Shepherd’s Hill” -One can experience an excellent sense of engineering due to the acoustic effects produced when clapping hands can heard even a kilometre away. |
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