Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India

The mighty fort at Jodhpur. Mehrangarh Fort

You might never guess that this ornate, skylit building, with an exterior covered in intricate carvings and artwork, was once a military base. Perched high on a hill above the city of Jodhpur, the colossal Mehrangarh Fort – aka the Citadel of the Sun – was constructed in 1459 by Rajput ruler Rao Jodha.

The fort crowns a rocky hill that rises 400 feet above the surrounding plain, and appears both to command and to meld with the landscape. One of the largest forts in Rajasthan, it contains some of the finest palaces and preserves in its museum many priceless relics of Indian courtly life.