Gagron fort deserves better

Have you heard of the Gagron fort in Rajasthan? It’s quite likely that you haven’t .....

Likewise, I was not much aware of this fort until I listed down all the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India for myself. I wanted to check how many I had visited till then, and this one to me seems to be a surprise inclusion! 

I have been living in Indore, M.P. since last 25+ years. So, it was indeed a big surprise that I never heard anyone talking about this.

I have been to Rajasthan many a times in the past but never got opportunity to visit Gagron Hill Fort. There is basically no buzz about this heritage destination.

Finally when I got an opportunity to visit Jhalawar earlier this week, I took some time form my busy schedule & visited this place. To my surprise there were no tourists at the UNESCO World Heritage Site. I inquired from the police persons guarding the fort as to where can I find guards who can explain to me about the history of the hill fort .... They replied, “What guides will do when there are no tourists,” retorts a guard manning the entry gate to the hill fort.

While Jhalawar's modern infrastructure boasts impressive roads, highways, and overbridges, its priceless historical treasures remain unchanged or, sadly, in disrepair."

As you navigate the winding, rocky approach road, now marred by unauthorized structures, the hill fort's grandeur gives way to neglect and decay. A lone guard casually intercepts your vehicle at the entrance before granting effortless passage. Within the fort's historic walls, where Rana Sanga once vanquished Mohammad Khilji among other battles, wild grass overgrows the stones, and dry leaves blanket the pathways.

A Dargah situated on the periphery, nestled within a village, is surrounded by rampant and unchecked illegal construction. According to an INTACH official, although the Dargah itself lies outside the protected monument area, the construction along the pathway to the fort and atop its fortification walls is unauthorized, as the gram panchayat hasn't issued land pattas.

India is dotted with historical treasures, with monuments big and small around every corner. Unfortunately, despite its World Heritage status, this hill fort is not receiving the government's due attention for restoration. With proper preservation, it could regain its former glory and become a prized gem in Rajasthan's rich tourism landscape.