News
The Prince of Wales visits the Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur, India
3rd November 2003
The Prince of Wales visited an ancient fort in Jodhpur to observe the restoration work to the 12th century Ahhichatragarh Fort, in Nagaur, 85 miles north east of Jodhpur in Northern India.
The Prince sheltered from the scorching desert sun under an umbrella as he surveyed the ancient building.
Flanked by the Maharajah of Jodhpur, Gaj Singh II and his eligible bachelor son, 28-year-old Crown Prince Yuraj Shivraj Singh, His Royal Highness admired the 12th century Fort from its restored roof terrace.
Mahendra Singh, of the Mehrangarh Museum Trust, which has renovated the buildings‘ fountains, said The Prince had been keenly following the progress of the conservation work as Patron of the trust. His Royal Highness has a strong interest in heritage.
Nagavamshi Kings were said to have laid the foundations for the Nagaur Fort, which is one of the oldest and most historic buildings in Rajasthan, by constructing a mud structure in the fourth century.
In 1112 the foundations for the light pink sandstone fortress were put in place.
The Prince heard how the heritage site came under attack several times during its varied history, changing hands between rulers.
The plastered stone building is built in Rajput style, with ornate arches, and fine wall paintings invoking scenes from the township.
Conservation at the site began when the Maharajah persuaded the state government to release the property so that preservation work could begin in the 1970s.
Sustained renovation of the fort has been under way in the past 10 years.
Earlier in the day, The Prince paid a visit to the imposing Mehrangarh Fort which sits on cliffs above the city of Jodhpur.
The impressive fort looks over the city‘s famous blue painted houses which identify the homes of the Brahmin caste.
His Royal Highness met youngsters suffering from polio, who attend the Sucheta Kriplani Shiksha Niketan School.
The girls and boys, who have been left disabled by the disease, greeted the prince by saying: “Good Morning Your Highness.”
The Prince told the pupils: “You speak very good English.”
The children - some of whom have lost limbs because of their illness - demonstrated how they had overcome their difficulties by performing gymnastics for the royal guest.
Ten girls from the centre visited the UK recently to take part in Disability Sports England‘s mini-games - a forerunner of the Paralympics, winning 16 medals.
Normally youngsters with polio would have been overlooked and had little chance of succeeding in education.
His Royal Highness also viewed the Chokelao Garden restoration project and the Rani Sar step well restoration project whilst at the Fort.
The Prince later flew to Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay, for the final part of the tour of the Republic of India before travelling to the Sultanate of Oman.
In the evening, His Royal Highness attended a British-Indian naval event at HMS Kent, in Mumbai.