Rajput Architecture

From Kshatriya Wiki

Rajput Architecture is a style of architecture associated with the Rajput kingdoms of India. Found primarily in regions such as Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and parts of northern and central India, this architectural tradition includes a wide range of structures such as forts, palaces, temples, stepwells, and cenotaphs.

Rajput architecture is known for its emphasis on defense and grandeur, often reflected in massive hill forts, fortified walls, and elevated locations. At the same time, it features detailed carvings, chhatris (domed pavilions), jharokhas (balconies), and intricate stone work that highlight artistic and religious elements. The style developed independently in different Rajput states, leading to regional variations while retaining common cultural themes.

Rajput were among the most prolific patrons of architecture in Indian history, contributing significantly to the subcontinent's built heritage. A large portion of India's historic forts, temples and palatial complexes were constructed under Rajput dynasties. Several Rajput architectural sites, including Chittorgarh Fort, Khajuraho Group of Temples, and others, have been recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites for their historical and architectural value and popular tourist attractions.. These structures not only reflect regional variations and dynastic identities but also represent one of the most enduring legacies of Indian architecture.

Major Sites and Monuments

Rajasthan

MONUMENT NAME TYPE LOCATION BUILT BY YEAR
Ambika Mata Temple Temple Jagat, Salumber Maharawal Allat 9th Century
Amer Fort Fort/Palace Amer, Jaipur Raja Man Singh Kachhawa 1592
Bhangarh Fort Fort Alwar Raja Bhagwant Das Kachhawa 1573
Bundi Palace Palace Bundi Rao Raja Ratan Singh 1607 A.D. To 1631 A.D.
Chaurasi Khamba Temple Temple Bundi Rao Raja Anirudh Singh 1683 A.D.
Chhatris of Gaitore Cenotaphs Jaipur Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II 1699 A.D. To 1743 A.D.
Chittorgarh Fort Fort Chittorgarh Mori King Chitranga 7th century+
City Palace Jaipur Palace Jaipur Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II 1727
City Palace Udaipur Palace Udaipur Maharana Udai Singh II 1553
Dilwara Jain Temples Temple Complex Mount Abu Vimal Shah under Solanki King Bhima I 11th–13th Century
Eklingji Temple Temple Udaipur Bappa Rawal 8th century
Fateh Prakash Palace Palace Udaipur Maharana Fateh Singh 1885
Gagron Fort Fort Jhalawar King Bijaldev Singh/ Bisal Dev 12th century
Garh Palace Palace Bundi Various Rulers Of Bundi 17th century
Hawa Mahal Palace Jaipur Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh 1799
Jag Mandir Palace/Island Lake Pichola, Udaipur Maharana Jagat Singh I Mid 17th century
Jagdish Temple Temple Udaipur Maharana Jagat Singh I 1651
Jaisalmer Fort Fort Jaisalmer Rawal Jaisal Bhati 1156
Jawahar Chowk Square/Palace Bundi Hada Rulers Of Bundi 18th century
Jawahar Singh Palace Palace Bundi Hada Rulers Of Bundi 17th century
Jodhpur Stepwell Stepwell Jodhpur Maharaja Abhay Singh 1740
Junagarh Fort Fort Bikaner Raja Rai Singh 1589
Kiradu Temples Temple Complex Barmer Vassals Of Chalukya Kings 11th Century
Laxmi Niwas Palace Palace Bikaner Maharaja Ganga Singh 20th century
Mandore Fort Fort Mandore, Jodhpur Maurya Dynasty Kings 9th century+
Mandore Gardens Garden/Monuments Mandore, Jodhpur Maurya Dynasty Kings 9th century+
Mirla Stepwell Stepwell Jodhpur Rathore Kings 16th century
Moti Mahal (Jaipur) Palace Jaipur Maharaja Madho Singh 18th century
Moti Mahal (Udaipur) Palace Udaipur Maharana Karan Singh 17th century
Nahargarh Fort Fort Jaipur Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II 1734
Ramgarh Lake Palace Palace Near Jaipur Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh II 18th century
Ranakpur Jain Temple Temple Ranakpur, Pali Darna Shah under Maharana Kumbha 15th century
Sajjangarh Palace Palace Udaipur Maharana Sajjan Singh 1851
Samode Palace Palace Samode, Jaipur Rawal Sheo Singh 16th century
Taragarh Fort Fort Ajmer King Ajaypal Chauhan 14th century
Taragarh Palace Palace Bundi Rao Raja Bersingh 1354
Umaid Bhawan Palace Palace Jodhpur Maharaja Umaid Singh 1943
Vijay Stambh Victory Tower Chittorgarh Maharana Kumbha 1448

Gujarat

MONUMENT NAME TYPE LOCATION BUILT BY YEAR
Happy Villa Palace Palace Gandhinagar 19th Century
Modhera Sun Temple Temple Modhera 11th Century
Rani ki Vav Stepwell Patan 11th Century
Rudra Mahalaya Temple Temple Siddhpur 10th–12th Century
Taranga Jain Temple Temple Taranga Hills 12th Century

Madhya Pradesh

MONUMENT NAME TYPE LOCATION BUILT BY YEAR
Bandhavgarh Fort Fort Umaria Local Rajput Clan 10th Century
Baderi Fort Fort Umaria Baghel Clan 19th Century
Bardi Palace Fort Singrauli Maharaja Ram Singh Bhram(Chandel) 12th Century
Chaturbhuj Temple Temple Orccha Raja Vir Singh Deo 17th Century
Fort of Orccha Fort Orccha Raja Rudra Pratap Singh 15th Century
Gwalior Fort Fort Gwalior 7th Century
Gurjari Mahal Palace Gwalior 15th Century
Jhansi Fort Fort Jhansi 17th Century
Jharia Palace Palace Jharia 16th Century
Kothi Fort Fort Kothi 19th Century
Lakshmi Narayan Temple Temple Orccha 17th Century
Man Mandir Palace Palace Gwalior 15th Century
Orccha Fort Fort Orccha 15th Century
Phool Bagh, Fort Orccha Garden Orccha 15th Century
Sailana Palace Palace Ratlam 18th Century
Singorgarh Fort Fort Damoh (Not Provided)
Sohawal Fort Fort Sohawal 16th Century
Teli Ka Mandir Temple Gwalior 9th Century
The Govindgarh Palace Palace Govindgarh 19th Century
The Raja Mahal, Fort Orccha Palace Orccha 16th Century
The Rai Praveen Mahal Palace Orccha 16th Century
The Rewah Fort Fort Rewah 16th Century
The Sheesh Mahal, Fort Orccha Palace Orccha 16th Century
Venkat Bhavan Palace Rewah 20th Century

Uttar Pradesh

Name Type Location (District) Built / Patronized By Year / Period
Bhatpura Fort Fort Fatehpur Sikarwar Rajput clan Medieval period
Dalmau Fort Fort Rae Bareli Bachgoti Rajputs 11th–12th century est.
Deogarh Fort & Temples Fort + Temples Lalitpur Pratihara Of Kannauj / Chandela Rajputs 8th–11th century
Etawah Fort Fort Etawah Sengar Rajputs Early medieval period
Jhansi Fort Fort Jhansi Raja Bir Singh Deo (Bundela) 1606 CE
Kalinjar Fort Fort + Temples Banda Chandela Rajputs 9th–10th century
Kashi Vishwanath (Old) Temple Varanasi Maharaja Man Singh And Various Rajput patrons Rebuilt multiple times
Khereshwar Mahadev Temple Temple Agra (Kheragarh) Local Rajput rulers / Chalukya Influence Unknown, medieval period
Kundar Fort Fort Lalitpur Yashovarma Chandel 10th century
Mahoba Fort Fort Mahoba Chandela Rajputs 9th–12th century
Orchha Palace (UP part) Fort / Palace Near Jhansi (border) Bundela Rajputs 16th–17th century
Ram Janmabhoomi (Historic) Temple Site Ayodhya Maintained By Several Rajput Clans Pre-Islamic to medieval
Shankargarh Fort Fort Prayagraj (Allahabad) King Vikramaditya 18th century

Delhi

Name Type Location Built / Patronized By Year / Period
Agrasen ki Baoli Stepwell Central Delhi King Of Agroha Maharaja Agrasen (legendary Kshatriya) Mahabharat Era
Ashokan Pillar (Delhi Ridge) Monument Delhi Ridge Mauryan Emperor Ashoka And Re-erected under Tomaras 3rd century BCE ~ 11th century A.D.
Lal Kot (Qila Rai Pithora) Fort Mehrauli Anangpal Tomar / Prithviraj Chauhan 8th–12th century
Mandir Wali Masjid (Quwwat-ul-Islam reused parts) Temple remains Mehrauli Tomar and Chauhan era structures 10th–12th century
Rai Pithora’s Wall Fortification Mehrauli area Prithviraj Chauhan 12th century
Surajkund Reservoir + Site Near Delhi (Faridabad border) King Surajpal Tomar (Tomar Rajput) 10th century
Yogmaya Temple Temple Mehrauli Rebuilt by Rajput kings Ancient site, restored c. 12th–18th century

Jammu & Kashmir

Name Type Location Built / Patronized By Year / Period
Amar Mahal Palace Palace Jammu Raja Amar Singh (Dogra) Late 19th century (c. 1890s)
Bahu Fort & Mahakali Temple Fort + Temple Jammu Raja Bahulochan ( Later By Dogra Rajputs) Originally ~8th century, rebuilt in later periods
Jasrota Fort Fort Kathua Raja Jas Dev Of Jasrotia Rajput Clan 10th century
Mubarak Mandi Palace Palace Complex Jammu Dogra rulers of Jammu 1824–20th century
Purmandal Temples Temple Complex Samba district Dogra rulers Ancient site, renovated under Dogras
Raghunath Temple Temple Jammu Maharaja Gulab Singh (Dogra) 1835–1860
Ramgarh Fort Fort Samba Raja Suchet Singh Local Dogra Rajput ruler 19th century
Sheesh Mahal (Ramnagar) Palace Ramnagar, Udhampur Raja Ram Singh (Dogra) 19th century
Shiv Temple, Billawar Temple Kathua King Babhruvahana Later Dogra patrons (Billawaria clan) Medieval, renovated later
Udhampur Fort Fort Udhampur Raja Suchet Singh Local Dogra Rajput ruler 18th–19th century

Himachal Pradesh

MONUMENT NAME TYPE LOCATION BUILT BY YEAR
Kangra Fort Fort Kangra Katoch Rajputs 4th century BC
Arki Fort Fort Arki Katoch Rajputs 17th century AD
Kutlehar Fort Fort Kutlehar Sansar Chandra King Of Kangra (Not Provided)

Bihar

Name Type Location Built / Patronized By Year / Period
Barabar Caves (refurbished shrine) Cave shrine Jehanabad district Emperor Ashoka Later restored by local Rajput chiefs Originally 3rd c. BCE, additions later
Buxar Fort Fort Buxar King Rudra Deo 1054
Chhotka Rajpur Fort Fort Buxar district King Rudra Deo 1054
Dumraon Palace Palace Buxar Ujjainiya Parmar 18th–19th century
Harinagar Fort Fort West Champaran Rajput zamindars 18th century
Jagatpur Fort Fort Buxar Ujjainiya Parmar Medieval to early modern
Rohtasgarh Fort Fort Rohtas district Sher Shah used it, earlier ruled by Rajputs 7th century (later captured)
Sasaram Temples (ruins) Temple remains Sasaram Local Rajput patrons maybe Gaur Rajputs Pre-Sur dynasty period
Telhati Temples (Ruins) Temples Bhojpur Ujjainiya Rajputs 16th–17th century
Vikramshila Temple Ruins (protected) Temple Bhagalpur Rajput feudatories ( Palas ) 9th–12th century, later use by locals

Haryana

Name Type Location (District) Built / Patronized By Year / Period
Asigarh Fort (Hansi Fort) Fort Hisar Tomar Rajputs 11th century
Pehowa Temples (ruins) Temple Complex Kurukshetra Tomar Rajputs 10th–12th century

Uttarakhand

Name Type Location (District) Built / Patronized By Year / Period
Baleshwar Temple Temple Champawat (Kumaon) Chand Rajputs (Raja Lakshmi Chand) 13th century
Chandrabadni Temple Temple Tehri Garhwal Panwar Rajputs (Garhwal rulers) Ancient, restored c. 17th century
Chandika Devi Temple Temple Almora Chand Rajputs 17th century
Chandpur Fort (ruins) Fort Pauri Garhwal Panwar Rajputs (Garhwal) Medieval period
Gwaldam Fort Fort Chamoli-Bageshwar border Chand dynasty (Kumaon) 16th century
Jageshwar Temples Temple Complex Almora Katyuri Rajputs, later Chand 8th–13th century
Kasar Devi Temple Temple Almora Chand Rajputs 11th–12th century
Katarmal Sun Temple Temple Almora Katyuri Rajputs (Raja Katarmalla) 9th century
Lakha Mandal Temple Temple Complex Dehradun (Yamuna valley) Panwar Rajputs (Garhwal) 8th–10th century, supported later
Lohaghat Fort Fort Champawat Chand Rajputs 13th–14th century
Nagnath Temple Temple Champawat Chand Rajputs 12th–13th century
Pithoragarh Fort Fort Pithoragarh Chand Rajputs (Raja Prithvi Pal) 14th–15th century
Thal Fort Fort Pithoragarh Chand Rajputs Medieval period

Maharashtra

Name Type Location (District) Built / Patronized By Year / Period
Chandwad Fort & Temples Fort + Temples Nashik Seuna (Yadava) dynasty 801AD
Daulatabad Fort (before Khiljis) Fort Aurangabad Seuna (Yadava) dynasty 1187AD
Dharur Fort Fort Beed Rashtrakutas Medieveal
Mahur Fort & Temple Fort + Temple Nanded Seuna (Yadava) dynasty Ancient site, Rajput era restorations

Karnataka

Name Type Location (District) Built / Patronized By Year / Period
Aland Fort Fort Kalaburagi (Gulbarga) Chauhan Rajputs (feudatories) 16th–17th century
Basavakalyan Fort (Old Kalyani) Fort Bidar Western Chalukyas (early Solankis) 10th–12th century
Bhalki Fort Fort Bidar Chauhan Rajputs (under Nizam) 17th–18th century
Dharur Fort (border region) Fort Kalaburagi (near Telangana border) Rajput jagirdars 17th century
Gulbarga Temples (Ruins) Temples (ruins) Kalaburagi Rajput feudatories under Bahmanis 14th–15th century
Halakunda Fort Fort Yadgir Rajput chiefs under Bijapur 16th century
Kalgi Fort Fort Kalaburagi Chauhan Rajputs 17th century
Kamalapura Temples (Vijayanagara) Temples Bellary Rajput generals under Vijayanagara 15th century
Sannati Temples (Renovated) Temples Kalaburagi Rajput patrons under Chalukya rule 11th–12th century
Sedam Fort Fort Kalaburagi Chauhan Rajput feudatories 17th century
Shorapur Fort Fort Yadgir Rajput Nayaks of Shorapur 18th century

Odhisha

MONUMENT NAME TYPE LOCATION BUILT BY YEAR
Khandpara Palace Palace Khandpara, Odisha Raghunath Singh Baghel 17th Century

Chhattisgarh

Name Type Location (District) Built / Patronized By Year / Period
Chaiturgarh Fort (Lafagarh) Fort Korba Haihaiya Rajputs (Kalachuris) 10th–11th century
Chandrapur Fort Fort Janjgir-Champa Chauhan Rajputs 17th century
Dhamtari Temples (Rajim area) Temple Complex Dhamtari / Gariaband Kalachuri Rajputs 9th–12th century
Janjgir Vishnu Temple (Ruins) Temple (ruined) Janjgir-Champa Kalachuri Rajputs 12th century
Kanker Palace & Fort Fort + Palace Kanker Chauhan Rajputs (Kanker State) 19th century
Khallari Temple (Maa Khallarimata) Temple Mahasamund Rajput landlords Medieval to modern period
Khutaghat Fort Fort Bilaspur Local Rajput jagirdars 18th century
Korba Mahamaya Temple (Devgaon) Temple Korba Kalachuri / Rajput patrons 12th century
Madku Dweep Temples Temple Complex Bilaspur (Seoni area) Kalachuri Rajputs 11th century
Ratanpur Fort Fort Bilaspur Kalachuri Rajputs (Haihaiya) Capital from 11th century
Ratanpur Mahamaya Temple Temple Bilaspur Kalachuri Rajputs 11th–12th century
Raigarh Fort (old) Fort Raigarh Chauhan Rajputs (Raigarh State) 18th century
Sarangarh Fort Fort Sarangarh (Raigarh division) Rajput rulers of Sarangarh 18th–19th century

Jharkhand

Name Type Location (District) Built / Patronized By Year / Period
Bhagwan Birsa Munda Fort (ruins) Fort Ranchi Chero / Nagvanshi rulers 17th–18th century
Bero Sun Temple Temple Ranchi (Bero) Local Rajput rulers 16th–17th century
Chainpur Fort Fort Palamu Chero Rajputs 17th century
Daltonganj Fort (Palamu Forts) Fort Palamu Chero Rajputs (Medini Rai) 17th century
Ichagarh Fort Fort Seraikela-Kharsawan Rajput Zamindars (possibly Chauhan origin) 18th century
Jagannath Temple (Ranchi) Temple Ranchi Nagvanshi Rajputs (Thakur Ani Nath Shahdeo) 1691 CE
Kapilnath Temple Temple Deoghar (near Basukinath) Rajput rulers (possibly Nagvanshi) 17th century
Navratangarh Fort & Palace Fort + Palace Gumla Nagvanshi Rajputs 17th century
Palamu Temples (near Fort) Temple Complex Palamu Chero Rajputs 17th century
Palkot Fort (ruins) Fort Gumla Nagvanshi Rajputs 18th century
Rajmahal Temples (Maluti area) Temple Cluster Dumka (border region) Rajput landholders 17th century
Ratu Palace & Fort Palace + Fort Ranchi Nagvanshi Rajputs 19th century
Tori Fort Fort Latehar Chero Rajput chiefs 17th century

West Bengal

Name Type Location (District) Built / Patronized By Year / Period
Barakar Temples Temple Cluster Paschim Bardhaman (Barakar) Rajput patrons from nearby estates 10th–12th century
Bishnupur Temples (some patrons) Temples Bankura Malla rulers (Kshatriya/possible Rajput claim) 17th century
Chandrakona Fort Fort Paschim Medinipur Chauhan Rajputs (Bagri Raj) 17th century
Garh Panchkot Fort & Temple Fort + Temple Purulia Panchkot Raj (Chauhan Rajputs) 16th–18th century
Jhargram Raj Palace Palace Jhargram Chauhan Rajputs (Jhargram Raj) 18th–20th century
Kenda Fort Fort Purulia Rajput zamindars 18th century
Pakbirra Jain Temples Temples (Jain) Purulia Patronized by Rajput merchants and donors 10th–11th century
Panchet Fort (ruins) Fort Dhanbad-Purulia border Chero Rajputs 16th–17th century
Pathra Temple Complex Temples Paschim Medinipur Local Rajput zamindars 17th–18th century
Rajbari of Baghmundi Palace / Fort Purulia Chauhan Rajputs 18th century
Rajnagar Palace (ruins) Palace / Fort Birbhum Rajnagar Raj (Bhumihar-Rajput) 17th–18th century
Tiluri Temples Temples Purulia Local Rajput patrons 16th–17th century

Nepal

Name Type Location (District) Built / Patronized By Year / Period
Bagh Durbar Palace Kathmandu Amar Singh Thapa family (Gorkhali-Rajput link) 19th century
Bhaktapur Durbar Square Temples Temple Complex Bhaktapur Malla kings (claimed Rajput ties) 13th–18th century
Chandannath Temple Temple Jumla Chand Rajput migrants from Kumaon 14th century
Dullu Palace and Temples Fort + Temples Dailekh Early hill Rajput chiefs 12th–14th century
Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Palace Complex Kathmandu Malla + Shah kings 16th–18th century
Kailashkut Bhawan (ruins) Palace Kathmandu Valley Lichchhavi kings (pre-Rajput, but referenced later) 7th century
Kantipur Temples Temple Complex Kathmandu Malla Kings (dynastic Rajput marriages) 14th–18th century
Khas-Kingdom Forts (remnants) Forts Karnali region Rajput-Khasa blend 11th–14th century
Narayan Temple, Gorkha Temple Gorkha Shah dynasty (Rajput lineage) 17th century
Nuwakot Durbar Palace + Fort Nuwakot Prithvi Narayan Shah (Shah Rajput) 18th century
Taleju Bhawani Temples Temples Kathmandu/Bhaktapur/Patan Malla kings (Kuldevi of Rajputs) 16th century onward
Udayapur Fort Fort Udayapur Rajput zamindars (local chiefs) 18th century

Pakistan

Name Type Location (Province) Built / Patronized By Year / Period
Amarkot Fort (Umerkot Fort) Fort Sindh (Umerkot) Sodha Rajputs 11th century, rebuilt in 18th
Chitorri Tombs Tomb Complex Sindh (Mirpur Khas) Talpur + Rajput-linked dynasties 17th–18th century
Derawar Fort (earlier Rajput) Fort Punjab (Bahawalpur) Bhati Rajputs (Jaisalmer) 9th century (later rebuilt)
Fort Abbas (previously Phulra) Fort (ruins) Punjab (Cholistan Desert) Bhati Rajputs Medieval era
Fort of Nagarparkar Fort Sindh (Tharparkar) Sodha Rajputs 12th–14th century
Jain Temples of Nagarparkar Temple Complex Sindh (Nagarparkar) Supported by Rajput patrons 12th–15th century
Kalhora Tombs (Rajput marriage ties) Tomb Complex Sindh (Khudabad) Kalhora dynasty with Rajput links 18th century
Kot Diji Fort Fort Sindh (Khairpur) Talpur dynasty (Rajput-connected) 18th century
Miran Fort (Rajput origins) Fort Balochistan Rajput clans of western Sindh Ancient, modified later
Multan Temples (destroyed/converted) Temples (ruins) Punjab (Multan) Hindu Rajput rulers (pre-Ghaznavid) 8th–10th century
Ranikot Fort Fort Sindh (Jamshoro) Possibly Talpur/Sodha heritage Rebuilt 17th–18th century
Reti Fort (destroyed) Fort Sindh (Sukkur region) Bhati Rajputs Medieval era
Tharparkar Temples (multiple) Temples Sindh (Tharparkar) Bhati/Sodha Rajput patrons 10th–14th century