Lohagarh Fort (Iron fort) is situated at Bharatpur in Rajasthan, India. Lohagarh fort was built in the early 18th century by the Jat ruler, Maharaja Suraj Mal. The Lohagarh fort was surrounded and protected by deep moats. Though Lohagarh fort lacks the flamboyance of other forts of the region but its strength and magnificence is matchless. Some fascinating monuments in the fort are Kishori Mahal, Mahal Khas, Moti Mahal and Kothi Khas.
Suraj Mal built the Jawahar Burj and Fateh Burj inside the fort to commemorate his victories over the Mughals and the British. There is an Ashtadhatu (eight-metal) gateway, having paintings of huge elephants. Because of all these above mentioned qualities and features the Lohagarh fort was able to thwart many British attacks. The British laid siege to the Lohagarh fort four times but had to raise the siege on all occasions.
The fort is surrounded by two massive earthen ramparts, each encircled by a mot, the mud walls were so thick that all missiles were absorbed and the inner fort remained intact. The moats were 150 feet wide in part and up to 50 feet deep. The moat was previously filled with water to ward off the enemy attacks.
The sandy ramparts were strengthened by sandy battlements, thus the enemy guns proved of no avail. The entrance to the fort from the north over an ancient brick and stone bridge with pointed arches and through the Assaldati Gate. On either side of the gate are fading murals of elephants. Lohagarh Fort in Rajasthan India was surrounded and protected by deep moats, and there is a legend associated with the moats, stating that the fort would fall only when a crocodile swallowed up all the water of the moats.
It is believed that the gate of Lohagarh Fort Bharatpur originally belonged to the fort of Chittorgarh, but was carried away by Sultan Alauddin Khilji of Delhi. Towards the end of the 17th century, the gate was brought back by the victorious Jat armies from Delhi to Bharatpur. It is very different from the other forts in Rajasthan state, there is no flamboyance associated to fort but it generates an aura of strength and magnificence.
The fort is surrounded with moat which was previously filled with water to ward off the enemy attacks. The sandy ramparts were strengthened by sandy battlements, thus the enemy guns proved of no avail. Some interesting monuments in the fort are Kishori Mahal, Mahal Khas and Kothi Khas. Moti Mahal and towers like Jawahar Burj and Fateh Burj were erected to commemorate the victory over the Mughals and the British army . The Gateway has paintings of huge elephants.