Audio Tour of fort Mehrangarh in Jodhpur, Rajastan

beach

Mehrangarh – Citadel of the Sun - is one of the most imposing fortresses complex built by the Rathore clans of Rajastan.

Located at the heart of Jodhpur, this single fort can tell you unequivocally what Rajastan royalty was like in those days. Though an ordinary citizen by status, this fort is still managed by the present king of the Rajput clan.

The fort is now beautifully converted into a living museum with a brilliantly composed audio tour.

For those who are not familiar with audio tours: This is basically an automated narration of what you see by using a walkman/ MP3 player like gadget. This works more like a regular guide but at the click of a button. The gadget consists of a cell phone like instrument with number keys, Play, Pause keys and a volume control knob. A headphone is attached to the instrument. You can hang the instrument around the neck using the attached string. Put-on the headphone, enter number 1 and press the Play button. You would here the first track. Enter the number 2 and press Play, you can listen to the second recording and so on. The number you need to press is displayed at the corresponding area/exhibit you would come across in the site/museum

Your audio tour starts at the very entrance of the fort. You can reach here from the city either by road (taxi, autorickshaw, bus etc) or by walk through the narrow streets of the bustling bazaar followed by a short (not too short!) trail ramp paved with stone. In the morning I walked all the way from Jodhpur railway station to the fort and it took about 1 hour plus and half liter of drinking water!

Enter the main gate, the ticket counter is up at the right-hand side. You can chose and pay for all what you require here (entry ticket, Audio tour, still camera fee, Video camera fee). Manual guides too stand here. Usually a man stands outside the counter approaches and explains you about these. The cost is Rs150. Once you buy the tickets (printout with a copy), Approach the counter just opposite to collect your Audio tour gadget, a catalog and a brief ‘training’ on how to use it.

At this point you need to tell your preferred language for the audio tour. Currently they offer the audio tour on

Hindi
English
German
French
Spanish
Italian
Japanese
And Chinese

Also you need to pledge something as a security guarantee. They would show you a board, which has a list of acceptable items. Passport, Credit card, Driving license,…and a couple of things more is what I could remember. Or there is this option of depositing Rs2000. A receipt will be issued the item they’ve collected. What ever you deposit is stored in a special pouch. And by the time you finish the tour and return the gadgets with the receipt, your security pledge is returned. The end of the tour is no the same at the beginning spot. But by the time you reach the end spot your deposited item would be waiting for you.

Along with the gadgets you’ll be given a small catalog of the tour index. That is the titles for each of the items narrated along with a nice location map of the fort showing the locations of the visitors lounge, café, toilets, shop etc.

There are 33 ‘stops’ where you have to stay and listen to the narrations. Also 9 additional audio tracks containing informative stuffs on the associated subjects like the Rathore clan system, Caste System, The Maharaja today, the memoirs of Maharani and princesses, etc. These are not associated with any particular location and hence you can sit and listen leisurely at the lounge, café etc.

With audio or not you need at least 3 hours to savor the fort and its ambiance. I’ve visited this place during the off-season; the fort was practically empty of visitors. And that adds one more dimension to the mystique of the atmosphere.

Your first spot arrives immediately after the counter from where you’ve collected the gadgets. The counter staff points you to the location.

The locations where you have to use your audio are marked with the symbol of a headphone and the corresponding track number you have to play.

You are in for a fantastic introduction, a brilliant narration with sounds and songs and battle cries of the Rajastan playing in the background. The narrator then explains you to the next course. Because immediately after this, there is a lift service to take you to the top section of the fort. If you use the lift, you would be missing some of the interesting spots (I think about 4 or 5). Never take the lift, if you are not very weak. It’s not a big deal to walk the ramp. It’s ramp with sufficient place to relax and all. Also the lift doesn’t take you to the top that you need not have to climb any further in the fort. Walk this way! You would not regret with the rewards of the sights on the way.

Somewhere in the midway of the tour, you would reach an open courtyard where you can buy some cool drinks, beer, water etc. Adjacent to it is the Audio tour visitor’s lounge. Wow, a cozy place with plush sofas etc for resting. Buy a beer or something and take a few minutes refreshing rest here. The walls are decorated with interesting photographs. Also the long arched balcony at the rear exit of the door gives some splendid views. A washroom too is attached to the lounge.

Initially I though, the Audio tour would be too dry and characterless as compared to the manual guide. I was proved wrong the moment I started listening to it first time. It sort of dramatise the whole scene by taking you back in time. Also you have a chance to listen from the horse mouth; that is the king himself explains about many facets of the royalty. So is the audio section about the living princesses and this lives in the palace.

You can move at your own pace. There is no time limit. The only disadvantage is, unlike with a manual guide; you can’t ask any questions or clarification about an interesting thing you’ve seen.

Go for it. Audio Tour rocks in the fortress of Mehrangarh!

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ddutta

Excellant & very informative (as usual ) reporting . Thanx for sharing beach.

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"If you smile at me I will understand, because that is something everyone everywhere does in the same language"

TerryM

What about a soundseening tours (mp3) from places, love to hear from people in diff. places maybe we can put all the tours on a site. ??? love to hear the feedback

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beach

The Audio Tour signboard showing the track number to be used.

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edwardseco

Very nice report and will stick it in my memory. Had a good conference in Jodhpur, all expenses paid..