Rajput Architecture

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.

Rajasthan

MONUMENT NAME	TYPE	LOCATION	ARCHITECTURE STYLE	BUILT BY	YEAR
Ambika Mata Temple	Temple	Jagat	Rajput		10th Century
Amer Fort	Fort/Palace	Amer, Jaipur	Rajput & Mughal		1592
Bhangarh Fort	Fort	Alwar	Rajput		1573
Bundi Palace	Palace	Bundi	Rajput		17th century
Chaurasi Khamba Temple	Temple	Bundi	Rajput & Hindu		17th century
Chhatris of Gaitore	Cenotaphs	Jaipur	Rajput		18th century
Chittorgarh Fort	Fort	Chittorgarh	Rajput		7th century+
City Palace Jaipur	Palace	Jaipur	Rajput & Mughal		1727
City Palace Udaipur	Palace	Udaipur	Rajput & Mughal		1553
Deeg Palace	Palace	Bharatpur	Rajput & Mughal		18th century
Dilwara Jain Temples	Temple Complex	Mount Abu	Solanki/Maru-Gurjara		11th–13th Century
Eklingji Temple	Temple	Udaipur	Rajput & Hindu		14th century
Fateh Prakash Palace	Palace	Udaipur	Rajput		1885
Fatehgarh Fort	Fort	Chittorgarh	Rajput		15th century
Gagron Fort	Fort	Jhalawar	Rajput		12th century
Garh Palace	Palace	Bundi	Rajput		17th century
Hawa Mahal	Palace	Jaipur	Rajput		1799
Jag Mandir	Palace/Island	Lake Pichola, Udaipur	Rajput		1620
Jagdish Temple	Temple	Udaipur	Rajput & Hindu		1651
Jaisalmer Fort	Fort	Jaisalmer	Rajput		1156
Jawahar Chowk	Square/Palace	Bundi	Rajput		18th century
Jawahar Singh Palace	Palace	Bundi	Rajput		17th century
Jodhpur Stepwell	Stepwell	Jodhpur	Rajput		15th century
Junagarh Fort	Fort	Bikaner	Rajput		1593
Kiradu Temples	Temple Complex	Barmer	Solanki/Maru-Gurjara		11th Century
Laxmi Niwas Palace	Palace	Bikaner	Rajput & European		20th century
Lohagarh Fort	Fort	Bharatpur	Rajput		1732
Mandore Fort	Fort	Mandore, Jodhpur	Rajput		9th century+
Mandore Gardens	Garden/Monuments	Mandore, Jodhpur	Rajput		9th century+
Mirla Stepwell	Stepwell	Jodhpur	Rajput		16th century
Moti Mahal (Jaipur)	Palace	Jaipur	Rajput		18th century
Moti Mahal (Udaipur)	Palace	Udaipur	Rajput		17th century
Nahargarh Fort	Fort	Jaipur	Rajput		1734
Neemrana Fort Palace	Fort/Palace	Neemrana, Alwar	Rajput		15th century
Ramgarh Lake Palace	Palace	Near Jaipur	Rajput		18th century
Ranakpur Jain Temple	Temple	Ranakpur, Pali	Rajput & Jain		15th century
Sajjangarh Palace	Palace	Udaipur	Rajput & European		1851
Samode Palace	Palace	Samode, Jaipur	Rajput		16th century
Taragarh Fort	Fort	Ajmer	Rajput		14th century
Taragarh Palace	Palace	Bundi	Rajput		16th century
Umaid Bhawan Palace	Palace	Jodhpur	Rajput & Art Deco		1943
Vijay Stambh	Victory Tower	Chittorgarh	Rajput		1448

Gujarat

MONUMENT NAME	TYPE	LOCATION	ARCHITECTURE STYLE	BUILT BY	YEAR
Happy Villa Palace	Palace	Gandhinagar	Rajput Architecture		19th Century
Modhera Sun Temple	Temple	Modhera	Maru-Gurjara Arch.		11th Century
Rani ki Vav	Stepwell	Patan	Maru-Gurjara		11th Century
Rudra Mahalaya Temple	Temple	Siddhpur	Maru-Gurjara		10th–12th Century
Taranga Jain Temple	Temple	Taranga Hills	Maru-Gurjara		12th Century

Madhya Pradesh

MONUMENT NAME	TYPE	LOCATION	ARCHITECTURE STYLE	BUILT BY	YEAR
Bandhavgarh Fort	Fort	Umaria	Rajput Architecture		10th Century
Baderi Fort	Fort	Umaria	Rajput Architecture		19th Century
Bardi Palace	Palace	Singrauli	Rajput Architecture		12th Century
Chaturbhuj Temple	Temple	Orccha	Maru-Gurjara Arch		17th Century
Fort of Orccha	Fort	Orccha	Rajput Architecture		15th Century
Gwalior Fort	Fort	Gwalior	Rajput Architecture		7th Century
Gurjari Mahal	Palace	Gwalior	Rajput Architecture		15th Century
Jhansi Fort	Fort	Jhansi	Rajput Architecture		17th Century
Jharia Palace	Palace	Jharia	Rajput Architecture		16th Century
Kothi Fort	Fort	Kothi	Rajput Architecture		19th Century
Lakshmi Narayan Temple	Temple	Orccha	Timurid-Rajput Arch.		17th Century
Man Mandir Palace	Palace	Gwalior	Rajput Architecture		15th Century
Orccha Fort	Fort	Orccha	Rajput Architecture		15th Century
Phool Bagh, Fort Orccha	Garden	Orccha	Rajput Architecture		15th Century
Sailana Palace	Palace	Ratlam	Rajput Architecture		18th Century
Singorgarh Fort	Fort	Damoh	Rajput Architecture		(Not Provided)
Sohawal Fort	Fort	Sohawal	Rajput Architecture		16th Century
Teli Ka Mandir	Temple	Gwalior	Rajput Architecture		9th Century
The Govindgarh Palace	Palace	Govindgarh	Rajput Architecture		19th Century
The Raja Mahal, Fort Orccha	Palace	Orccha	Rajput Architecture		16th Century
The Rai Praveen Mahal	Palace	Orccha	Timurid Architecture		16th Century
The Rewah Fort	Fort	Rewah	Rajput Architecture		16th Century
The Sheesh Mahal, Fort Orccha	Palace	Orccha	Rajput Architecture		16th Century
Venkat Bhavan	Palace	Rewah	Rajput Architecture		20th Century

Uttar Pradesh

Name	Type	Location (District)	Architecture Style	Built / Patronized By	Year / Period
Bhatpura Fort	Fort	Fatehpur	Rajput military architecture	Local Rajput clan	Medieval period
Dalmau Fort	Fort	Rae Bareli	Fortified hilltop structure	Bachgoti Rajputs	11th–12th century est.
Deogarh Fort & Temples	Fort + Temples	Lalitpur	Nagara + Fort style	Chandela / Bundela Rajputs	8th–11th century
Etawah Fort	Fort	Etawah	Rajput fort style	Sengar Rajputs	Early medieval period
Jhansi Fort	Fort	Jhansi	Bundeli-Mughal fusion style	Raja Bir Singh Deo (Bundela)	1606 CE
Kalinjar Fort	Fort + Temples	Banda	Rock-cut + Rajput fort style	Chandela Rajputs	9th–10th century
Kashi Vishwanath (Old)	Temple	Varanasi	Nagara style	Various Rajput patrons	Rebuilt multiple times
Khereshwar Mahadev Temple	Temple	Agra (Kheragarh)	Simple Nagara	Local Rajput rulers	Unknown, medieval period
Kundar Fort	Fort	Lalitpur	Bundeli Rajput style	Bundela Rajputs	17th century
Mahoba Fort	Fort	Mahoba	Chandela Rajput architecture	Chandela Rajputs	9th–12th century
Naimisharanya Temples	Temples	Sitapur	Nagara + Vernacular	Rajput chieftains	Supported over centuries
Orchha Palace (UP part)	Fort / Palace	Near Jhansi (border)	Bundeli-Rajput palace style	Bundela Rajputs	16th–17th century
Ram Janmabhoomi (Historic)	Temple Site	Ayodhya	Traditional temple style	Rajput patrons (historic era)	Pre-Islamic to medieval
Rath Fort	Fort	Hamirpur	Traditional Rajput fort	Rathore Rajputs	Medieval period
Rampur Karkhana Temples	Temples	Deoria	Local temple style	Chauhan Rajputs	Unknown
Shankargarh Fort	Fort	Prayagraj (Allahabad)	Fortified structure	Bais Rajputs	18th century

Delhi

Name	Type	Location	Architecture Style	Built / Patronized By	Year / Period
Agrasen ki Baoli	Stepwell	Central Delhi	Rajput stepwell architecture	Agrawal (legendary Kshatriya)	Rebuilt in 14th century
Ashokan Pillar (Delhi Ridge)	Monument	Delhi Ridge	Mauryan + reused structure	Re-erected under Tomaras	~11th century
Lal Kot (Qila Rai Pithora)	Fort	Mehrauli	Rajput military architecture	Anangpal Tomar / Prithviraj Chauhan	8th–12th century
Mandir Wali Masjid (Quwwat-ul-Islam reused parts)	Temple remains	Mehrauli	Nagara (Hindu temple fragments)	Tomar and Chauhan era structures	10th–12th century
Rai Pithora’s Wall	Fortification	Mehrauli area	Stone masonry wall fort	Prithviraj Chauhan	12th century
Surajkund	Reservoir + Site	Near Delhi (Faridabad border)	Rajput water architecture	King Surajpal Tomar (Tomar Rajput)	10th century
Yogmaya Temple	Temple	Mehrauli	Nagara style (reconstructed)	Rebuilt by Rajput kings	Ancient site, restored c. 12th–18th century

Jammu & Kashmir

Name	Type	Location	Architecture Style	Built / Patronized By	Year / Period
Amar Mahal Palace	Palace	Jammu	Indo-European with Dogra style	Raja Amar Singh (Dogra)	Late 19th century (c. 1890s)
Bahu Fort & Mahakali Temple	Fort + Temple	Jammu	Rajput fort with temple	Raja Bahulochan (Dogra Rajput)	Originally ~8th century, rebuilt in later periods
Jasrota Fort	Fort	Kathua	Hill fort style	Jasrotia Rajputs (Dogra clan)	17th century
Mubarak Mandi Palace	Palace Complex	Jammu	Rajasthani + European blend	Dogra rulers of Jammu	1824–20th century
Purmandal Temples	Temple Complex	Samba district	Nagara + local styles	Dogra rulers	Ancient site, renovated under Dogras
Raghunath Temple	Temple	Jammu	North Indian shikhara style	Maharaja Gulab Singh (Dogra)	1835–1860
Ramgarh Fort	Fort	Samba	Dogra-Rajput military style	Local Dogra Rajput rulers	19th century
Sheesh Mahal (Ramnagar)	Palace	Ramnagar, Udhampur	Rajasthani style frescoes	Raja Ram Singh (Dogra)	19th century
Shiv Temple, Billawar	Temple	Kathua	Simple hill temple style	Dogra patrons (Billawaria clan)	Medieval, renovated later
Udhampur Fort	Fort	Udhampur	Dogra military architecture	Raja Udham Singh (Dogra)	18th–19th century

Himachal Pradesh

MONUMENT NAME	TYPE	LOCATION	ARCHITECTURE STYLE	BUILT BY	YEAR
Kangra Fort	Fort	Kangra	Rajput		(Not Provided)
Arki Fort	Fort	Arki	Rajput		(Not Provided)
Kutlehar Fort	Fort	Kutlehar	Rajput		(Not Provided)

Bihar

Name	Type	Location	Architecture Style	Built / Patronized By	Year / Period
Barabar Caves (refurbished shrine)	Cave shrine	Jehanabad district	Mauryan + medieval additions	Later restored by local Rajput chiefs	Originally 3rd c. BCE, additions later
Buxar Fort	Fort	Buxar	River fort style	Ujjainiya Rajputs	Medieval (reconstructed)
Chainpur Palace & Fort	Fort + Palace	Kaimur district	Rajput + local hill style	Gahlot Rajputs (Chainpur Estate)	17th–18th century
Chhotka Rajpur Fort	Fort	Buxar district	Fortified estate	Ujjainiya Rajputs	18th century
Dumraon Palace	Palace	Buxar	Rajput haveli style	Dumraon Raj family (Ujjainiya)	18th–19th century
Harinagar Fort	Fort	West Champaran	Estate fort style	Rajput zamindars	18th century
Jagatpur Fort	Fort	Buxar	Mud + stone fort style	Ujjainiya Rajputs	Medieval to early modern
Maharajganj Fort	Fort	Siwan district	Local Rajput style	Rajput zamindars	Early modern period
Ramgarh Fort (Kaimur)	Fort	Kaimur district	Fortified hill style	Gahlot Rajputs	17th century
Rohtasgarh Fort	Fort	Rohtas district	Hindu military + Afghan blend	Sher Shah used it, earlier ruled by Rajputs	7th century (later captured)
Sasaram Temples (ruins)	Temple remains	Sasaram	Nagara + folk elements	Local Rajput patrons	Pre-Sur dynasty period
Sikta Estate Palace	Palace	West Champaran	Indo-Rajput style	Rajput zamindars	19th century
Telhati Temples (Ruins)	Temples	Bhojpur	Nagara style	Ujjainiya Rajputs	16th–17th century
Vikramshila Temple Ruins (protected)	Temple	Bhagalpur	Pala + later additions	Rajput feudatories	9th–12th century, later use by locals

Haryana

Name	Type	Location (District)	Architecture Style	Built / Patronized By	Year / Period
Asigarh Fort (Hansi Fort)	Fort	Hisar	Rajput fort architecture	Tomar Rajputs	11th century
Bhawani Amba Temple	Temple	Ambala	Nagara style temple	Chauhan Rajputs	12th century (restored later)
Chandigarh Fort Ruins (near Kansal)	Fort	Panchkula (border area)	Local Rajput style	Local Rajput chieftains	Medieval period
Chhawani Mata Temple	Temple	Rewari	Hill temple style	Local Rajput patrons	18th century
Fort of Bawal	Fort	Rewari	Estate fort style	Bargujar Rajputs	18th century
Garhi Sampla Fort	Fort	Rohtak	Village fortification	Rajput landlords (Sampla area)	18th–19th century
Gokalgarh Fort	Fort	Rewari	Rajput-style haveli fort	Gaur Rajputs	18th century
Jhajjar Fort (ruins)	Fort	Jhajjar	Mud-brick fortification	Local Rajput rulers	17th–18th century
Kosli Fort	Fort	Kosli, Rewari	Rajput architecture	Kosaliya Rajputs	18th century
Mahendragarh Fort	Fort	Mahendragarh	Hill fort style	Possibly built on Rajput base, expanded later	Medieval–early modern
Pehowa Temples (ruins)	Temple Complex	Kurukshetra	Nagara + vernacular	Rajput clans supported pilgrim centers	10th–12th century
Rania Fort	Fort	Sirsa	Estate fort style	Rajput zamindars	17th–18th century
Rewari Shyam Temple	Temple	Rewari	Simple Nagara style	Local Rajput devotees	Early modern
Taoru Fort	Fort	Nuh (Mewat region)	Fortified estate architecture	Bargujar Rajputs (historically)	Medieval–early modern

Uttarakhand

Name	Type	Location (District)	Architecture Style	Built / Patronized By	Year / Period
Baleshwar Temple	Temple	Champawat (Kumaon)	Nagara style with Kumaoni touch	Chand Rajputs (Raja Lakshmi Chand)	13th century
Chandrabadni Temple	Temple	Tehri Garhwal	Hill temple with shikhara	Panwar Rajputs (Garhwal rulers)	Ancient, restored c. 17th century
Chandika Devi Temple	Temple	Almora	Local hill + Rajput elements	Chand rulers	17th century
Chandpur Fort (ruins)	Fort	Pauri Garhwal	Hill fort style	Panwar Rajputs (Garhwal)	Medieval period
Gwaldam Fort	Fort	Chamoli-Bageshwar border	Small hill stronghold	Chand dynasty (Kumaon)	16th century
Jageshwar Temples	Temple Complex	Almora	Nagara + Katyuri style	Katyuri Rajputs, later Chand	8th–13th century
Kasar Devi Temple	Temple	Almora	Local folk + Rajput style	Chand Rajputs	11th–12th century
Katarmal Sun Temple	Temple	Almora	Nagara with local stonework	Katyuri Rajputs (Raja Katarmalla)	9th century
Lakha Mandal Temple	Temple Complex	Dehradun (Yamuna valley)	North Indian + folk style	Panwar Rajputs (Garhwal)	8th–10th century, supported later
Lohaghat Fort	Fort	Champawat	Small hill fort	Chand rulers	13th–14th century
Nagnath Temple	Temple	Champawat	Kumaoni stone temple	Chand Rajputs	12th–13th century
Pithoragarh Fort	Fort	Pithoragarh	Hill fort with Rajput plan	Chand Rajputs (Raja Prithvi Pal)	14th–15th century
Ranikhet Palace (ruins)	Palace/Fort	Almora	Royal residence ruins	Chand rulers	18th century
Tarkeshwar Mahadev Temple	Temple	Lansdowne (Pauri Garhwal)	Hill shrine	Panwar Rajputs	Ancient site, revived later
Thal Fort	Fort	Pithoragarh	Hill fort	Chand Rajputs	Medieval period

Odhisha

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