Jaigarh Fort Mysteries: The treasure curse that led to fall of Gandhi family

Jaigarh Fort is an excellent design roosted on the highest point of the ‘Cheel ka Teela‘ slopes in the Pink City of Jaipur. This radiant structure was dispatched by Sawai Jai Singh II in the year 1726 to ensure Amer Fort.  Supported on the highest point of the precipice it is a palatial design limited by verdant plant life and monstrous escarpments. This radiant stronghold is associated with Amer Fort through underground entries and is broadly known as the “Post of Victory” as it rarely prevailed. The fortress presently houses the world’s biggest cannon on haggles a grand perspective on Jaipur city. 

Everything you need to know about Jaigarh fort and its nearby areas

Conceptualized and planned by a capable planner called Vidhyadhar, the Jaigarh post is supposed to be the most grounded of the relative multitude of three fortifications and never confronted any significant obstruction and test-terminated the world’s biggest cannon just a single time.  The stronghold mirrors the city’s prosperous past and is named after the ruler who got it constructed, Sawai Jai Singh II. Worked with a unique motivation behind ensuring Amer Fort, the royal residence inside the complex of Jaigarh post is compositionally like the Amer Fort.  Other than its intricate design, the fortification is likewise known for its immense fortune that was accepted to be covered under it. It is said that the fortune when found during the 1970s, was seized by the public authority of Rajasthan. 

History

The Jaigarh Fort is a lavish construction implicit in the mid-eighteenth century. Amer, the city wherein the Jaigarh and the Amer fortification are found, was controlled by the Kachawahas from the mid-tenth century.  During the Mughal line, the Jaigarh Fort turned into their domain’s fundamental gun foundry and was likewise utilized as a capacity fortification to store ammo and other metal needed for war. 

During the progressive conflicts that broke out in the Mughal tradition in 1658, the cannon station at the Jaigarh stronghold was secured until the defender, Dara Shikoh, was crushed and executed by his sibling, Aurangzeb.  Afterward, the fortress was given over to Jai Singh II and he is known to have shaped the incomparable ‘Jaivana Cannon’, alongside utilizing the gadgets and the foundries inside the stronghold. 

Fascinating Facts

Jaigarh Fort was one of the principal cannon foundries during Emperor Shah Jahan’s standard as there were numerous rich iron metal mines in the area.  Did you realize that two previous leaders of Jaigarh Fort, Major General Man Singh II, and Sawai Bhawani Singh additionally served in the Indian Army post Independence? 

• The fundamental fascination of the fortress is the Jaivana Cannon, probably the biggest gun at that point, gauging 50 tons and having a 20.19 feet barrel and 11-inch measurement.  As the canno lays on four wheels rather than two, it very well may be turned in 360 degrees, hence making it conceivable to fire in every one of the four bearings.
• Since, there could have been no harsh relations with the Mughals without even a moment’s pause was harmony, the gun was discharged just a single time.  However a solid and lovely fortress, it was never home to any rulers yet was essentially utilized for assembling ordnances.
• Worked of red sandstone, this is a strengthened stronghold and still keeps up with its greatness and pride.
• It is the lookout that is the best spot in the fortress to be as it gives a dumbfounding perspective on the mind-blowing environs.

There are two sanctuaries inside the post premises – Kal Bhairav Temple was inherent the twelfth century while the Ram Harihar Temple is a tenth-century development; an unquestionable requirement to visit.  Jaigarh Fort was in information in 1977 when the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was said to have dispatched an expedition to the stronghold premises. However the inquiry by a military unit proceeded for a very long time, but they didn’t discover anything. Terrible news for others yet uplifting news for the post as it was left undisturbed. 

Gayatri Devi and Indira Gandhi’s relationship

Between 1975 and 1977, when former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi proclaimed an emergency in India, the fort gained notoriety. There were several changes during this period, including raids on Gayatri Devi’s Jaipur properties during which she was imprisoned on unfounded charges. As excavations were conducted to get its riches, the Jaigarh Fort at that time became the talk of the community. After about five months, the excavations were deemed pointless. However, there have been several hypotheses and advances that have arisen as a result of the period.

The search took three months, and larger-scale preparations were undertaken by locating treasure maps and dispatching an army for the same purpose. The Delhi-Jaipur Highway had been stopped for three days to allow for the transit of large army vehicles, and some investigations even suggested that the trucks ended up in the Delhi cantonment. According to this idea, 230 kg of silver and gold were acquired and signed by members of the royal family. When senior army commanders arrived in Jaigarh for inspection and many helicopters landed in Jaipur, suspicions increased.

When former Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto requested Pakistan’s portion of the treasure at the time of the excavations, the excavations gained even more notoriety. Indira Gandhi, who responded to him after hours, refuted any such assertion and informed him that no riches had been acquired.

The Treasure Is Found After The Curse Theory

There was mythology associated with the treasure that spoke of Jessoreshwari Kali’s jewels being among it. According to the story, Man Singh I discovered the Kali Temple while visiting Bengal. The story went on to say that he had moved the priest and the goddess from the temple to Amber. The curse further said that whoever looted it would be cursed and would therefore perish. It claims that a lot of individuals have pointed to it as the cause of the deaths of Indira Gandhi and Sanjay Gandhi.

A princess thrown behind the bars

After considering the Royal family’s holdings, instructions were given to the IT department to raid Gayatri Devi’s properties. The raid initially began at the Moti Doongri Palace, where the officers took part of the cash and gold they had discovered there, built a case against Gayatri Devi, and imprisoned her in Tihar as a result. She wasn’t the only one to act in this way; the Indian National Congress’s opponents were numerous. Given that Gayatri Devi had won three elections against Indian National Congress representatives, the relationship between Gayatri Devi and Indira Gandhi was not the best.

A Princess Remembers, Gayatri Devi’s autobiography, also mentions the horrifying experiences she experienced while being held in the Tihar prison with third-class offenders. She had also vehemently opposed the actual operation. She had never experienced such a temperature or remained in one spot for so long, so she mostly informed her close friends and family about the terrible experience. When the claims were found to be untrue, she was freed from jail on parole but with conditions until 1977.

h forts. Indira Gandhi jailed Gayatri Devi during the emergency and lodged her in Tihar Jail.

On June 10, 1976, a year after the imposition of the emergency across the country in 1975, teams of the Indian Army, Rajasthan Police, and Income Tax raided Jaigarh Fort in Jaipur. The entire fort was excavated and destroyed. Despite the curfew-like atmosphere, news spread in Jaipur that on the orders of Indira’s son Sanjay, the army and police were searching for treasure of Amer. The question arose that if the treasury is in Amber then why raid Jaigarh? The answer was found that these two forts are connected through a tunnel.

Why was the emergency period chosen?

Few reasons:

1. The owners of the forts were in Jail.
2. The Media was completely gagged.
3. In normal times, it would not have been possible to siphon off such wealth.
4. Judiciary was subjugated.

How did this news about Jaigarh fort become public?

On, August 11, 1976, then Prime Minister of Pakistan Zulfikar Ali Bhutto wrote a letter to Indira Gandhi, claiming a 50% share in Amer’s treasury citing some laws and agreements made during the British period. Indian Govt denied Bhutto’s claims. But Indira Gandhi herself admitted officially that 230kgs of silver was found in the excavation. Due to some unknown reason, the letter got leaked and became public.

Let’s analyze a few facts and connect the dots.

Looking at the below facts, it looks like Indira Gandhi and her son Sanjay found and ran away with the treasure.

1. If a spy agency like ISI is making the claim, there must be some truth to it. ISI then was far better than Indian RAW.
2. Many eyewitnesses report that the highway from Jaipur to New Delhi was closed to the public during the 2 days when the treasure hunt was happening. Only military trucks were plying.
3. It is also rumored that 2 planes lay in waiting at New Delhi airport and they flew away thereafter.
4. Indira Gandhi herself admitted officially that 230kgs of silver was found in the excavation. It is hence clear that excavation did occur and “some” treasure was found.
5. Why did this excavation occur during the Emergency?
6. despite all setbacks the Gandhis are still in power to date and that cannot happen without a heavy financial backbone.

Engineering of Jaigarh fort

Jaigarh Fort is a forcing and wonderful design spreading across a tremendous reach. Secured by thick dividers of red sandstone, the fortress houses the absolute most dazzling models including Lalit Mandir, Vilas Mandir, Laxmi Vilas, and Aram Mandir. Two different sanctuaries, Ram Harihar worked in the tenth century and Kal Bhairav sanctuary worked in the twelfth century add to the interest of the stronghold. In any case, the primary feature of the spot is the world’s most prominent cannon on wheels known as the ‘Jaivana Cannon’ and a tremendous castle complex. Other than that, one can observe a very much tended nursery alongside an arsenal and an exhibition hall.

The red sandstone dividers of the Jaigarh Fort are spread over a length of 3 kilometers and are about a kilometer wide, making the foundation a secure one. A very much tended square nursery sits inside the limits of the post and dikes are built to give admittance to the upper levels of the design. Courts and corridors are gently decorated with screened windows while a focal watch tower disregards the whole encompassing scene. The passage to the Aram Mandir is through the Awani Darwaza which is a sublime triple–angled passageway. Aram Mandir gives an impeccable perspective on the Sagar Lake found close by.

Final words

The forts of Rajasthan, which have endured over many years, are a wonderful example of the state’s regal heritage and unique air. The forts have been the scene of significant combat, fascinating mythology, and mystery. One of these was the Jaigarh Fort, which has drawn several lustful eyes due to its regal riches. Jai Singh II constructed the fort with thick Redstone walls on the top of the Aravali mountains in 1726, giving it a medieval feel. The impressive cannon foundry that the fort has turned it into a hub for the manufacture of artillery as well as a museum and armory.

Also See:

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