Kishangarh - History, Timings & Entry Fee

At a distance of 32 km from Ajmer and 106 km from Jaipur, Kishangarh is a historical town and a municipality situated in the Ajmer district of Rajasthan. Popularly called the marble city of India, Kishangarh is one of the top places to visit as part of Ajmer holiday packages.

Kishangarh State was founded by the Jodhpur prince Kishan Singh in 1609 CE. Before the rule of Kishan Singh, Kishangarh was ruled by Maharaja Samokhan Singh who was a distant relative of Kishan Singh's family and grandfather of Naubat Khan. Kishangarh was the capital of the eponymous princely state during the British Raj, which was located in the Rajputana Agency.

Kishangarh is the birthplace of the Kishangarh School of painting, which is known for the beautiful depiction of a courtesan known as Bani Thani. This school was established by Maharaja Sawant Singh. Khoda Ganesh Ji temple, Kishangarh Fort, Phool Mahal Palace, and Gondalav Lake are some of the major attractions of the city. It also has a small temple of nine planets and is the only place in the world with a temple of nine planets.

Kishangarh Fort is a historical fort situated on the banks of Gondalav Lake. It was built in 1649 CE by Maharaja Roop Singh of Ajmer. Blending the architectural styles of Rajput and Mughal designs, this fort has several small palaces and courtyards within the complex which are decorated with frescoes, murals, and paintings. The fort has a huge double-storeyed audience hall with latticed windows on the second floor which were exclusively made for the queens to view the proceedings below.

Another structure that offers a magnetic appeal to the fort is the Phool Mahal or the Flower Palace. The palace is a living example of the splendor of the Rathore Rajputs. The walls of the beautiful palace are adorned with striking frescoes and gorgeous murals. This enchanting Phool Mahal is now converted into a heritage hotel.