India · Theme guide
Forts & Palaces in India
Forts and palaces built by the Rajput, Mughal, Maratha and Deccan kingdoms. Most charge separate rates for Indian and foreign visitors and many add a camera fee — both are listed on each guide.
Quick answer
The best forts and palaces in India are Amber Fort, Mehrangarh Fort, Jaisalmer Fort, Agra Fort and the City Palace Udaipur. Rajasthan has the most (13 of 41). Visit between October and March, and arrive at opening time.
Updated · Compiled by Traveliac, AI-assisted · Ranked on our published criteria
1Amber Fort & Palace · Jaipur
2Mehrangarh Fort · Jodhpur
3Jaisalmer Fort
4Agra Fort
5City Palace Udaipur41
forts and palaces
13
states & territories
7
UNESCO sites
5
free to enter
Oct–Mar
best months
Top 10 forts and palaces in India
Ranked by our editors on the same criteria as every Traveliac guide: what you see for your time and money, how well it’s kept, and how easy it is to visit.
- 1Amber Fort & PalaceFort · Jaipur, Rajasthan · UNESCOHilltop Rajput fort with the mirrored Sheesh Mahal₹100 Indian3 hrs
- 2Mehrangarh FortFort · Jodhpur, RajasthanSandstone fort above Jodhpur’s blue city₹200 Indian3 hrs
- 3Jaisalmer FortFort · Jaisalmer, Rajasthan · UNESCOA living sandstone fort in the Thar desert₹50 Indian3 hrs
- 4Agra FortFort · Agra, Uttar Pradesh · UNESCOMughal red-sandstone fort with Taj Mahal views₹50 Indian2.5 hrs
- 5City Palace UdaipurPalace · Udaipur, RajasthanPalace terraces over Lake Pichola₹300 Indian2.5 hrs
- 6
Red FortFort · New Delhi, Delhi · UNESCOShah Jahan’s Mughal citadel in Old Delhi₹35 Indian2.5 hrs - 7
Mysore PalacePalace · Mysuru, KarnatakaIndo-Saracenic palace of the Wadiyar kings₹150 Indian2 hrs - 8
Fatehpur SikriTemple · Agra, Uttar Pradesh · UNESCOAkbar’s abandoned red-sandstone capital₹40 Indian2.5 hrs - 9
City Palace JaipurPalace · Jaipur, RajasthanRoyal residence with the painted Peacock Gate₹400 Indian2 hrs - 10
Hawa MahalPalace · Jaipur, RajasthanThe five-storey Palace of Winds₹50 Indian1 hr
All 41 forts and palaces by state
Showing all 41 forts and palaces.
Rajasthan13 places
- RajasthanUNESCO
Amber Fort & Palace
Fort · Jaipur
₹100 Indian3 hrs
- Rajasthan
Mehrangarh Fort
Fort · Jodhpur
₹200 Indian3 hrs
- RajasthanUNESCO
Jaisalmer Fort
Fort · Jaisalmer
₹50 Indian3 hrs
- Rajasthan
City Palace Udaipur
Palace · Udaipur
₹300 Indian2.5 hrs
- Rajasthan
City Palace Jaipur
Palace · Jaipur
₹400 Indian2 hrs
- Rajasthan
Hawa Mahal
Palace · Jaipur
₹50 Indian1 hr
RajasthanJag Mandir
Temple · Udaipur
₹200 Indian1 hr
RajasthanUmaid Bhawan Palace
Palace · Jodhpur
₹100 Indian1.5 hrs
RajasthanNahargarh Fort
Fort · Jaipur
₹50 Indian2.5 hrs
RajasthanSajjangarh (Monsoon Palace)
Palace · Udaipur
₹100 Indian1.5 hrs
RajasthanJaigarh Fort (Jaivana Cannon)
Fort · Jaipur
₹35 Indian2 hrs
RajasthanFree entryJal Mahal (Water Palace)
Palace · Jaipur
Free45 min
RajasthanSisodia Rani Ka Bagh & Palace
Palace · Jaipur
₹50 Indian1 hr
Karnataka6 places
- Karnataka
Mysore Palace
Palace · Mysuru
₹150 Indian2 hrs
KarnatakaBangalore Palace
Palace · Bengaluru
₹230 Indian1.5 hrs
KarnatakaJaganmohan Palace & Art Gallery
Palace · Mysuru
₹20 Indian1 hr
KarnatakaFree entryUNESCORoyal Enclosure & Mahanavami Dibba
Heritage · Hampi
Free1.5 hrs
![Tippu Sultan Summer palace, the place where Tippu Sultan used to stay[not for longer duration], and discuss the official matters. Location: Bangalore, India](/wm/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/13/Tippu_Sultan%27s_Summer_palace.jpg/1280px-Tippu_Sultan%27s_Summer_palace.jpg)
KarnatakaTipu Sultan's Summer Palace
Palace · Bengaluru
₹25 Indian1 hr
KarnatakaUNESCOLotus Mahal
Palace · Hampi
₹40 Indian30 min
Other statesUttar Pradesh, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Goa, Ladakh, Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh · 22 places
- Uttar PradeshUNESCO
Agra Fort
Fort · Agra
₹50 Indian2.5 hrs
- DelhiUNESCO
Red Fort
Fort · New Delhi
₹35 Indian2.5 hrs
- Uttar PradeshUNESCO
Fatehpur Sikri
Temple · Agra
₹40 Indian2.5 hrs
Madhya PradeshGwalior Fort
Fort · Gwalior
₹75 Indian3 hrs
![Hathi Pol Gate, Man Mandir Palace, [Gwalior]](/wm/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/da/Hathi_Pol_Gate%2C_Man_Mandir_Palace%2C_-Gwalior-.jpg/1280px-Hathi_Pol_Gate%2C_Man_Mandir_Palace%2C_-Gwalior-.jpg)
Madhya PradeshMan Mandir Palace
Temple · Gwalior
₹75 Indian1 hr
Tamil NaduThirumalai Nayakkar Palace
Palace · Madurai
₹50 Indian1.5 hrs
TelanganaChowmahalla Palace
Palace · Hyderabad
₹100 Indian2 hrs
GoaFree entryFort Aguada
Fort · Panaji
Free1.5 hrs
Tamil NaduFort St. George
Fort · Chennai
₹15 Indian1.5 hrs
LadakhLeh Palace
Palace · Leh
₹50 Indian1 hr
MaharashtraDaulatabad Fort
Fort · Aurangabad
₹25 Indian2.5 hrs
KeralaKrishnapuram Palace
Palace · Alappuzha
₹20 Indian1 hr
GoaFree entryChapora Fort
Fort · Panaji
Free1 hr
PunjabGobindgarh Fort
Fort · Amritsar
₹180 Indian2.5 hrs
TelanganaGolconda Fort
Fort · Hyderabad
₹25 Indian2.5 hrs
TelanganaFalaknuma Palace
Palace · Hyderabad
₹2,000 Indian1.5 hrs
Madhya PradeshJai Vilas Palace & Museum
Palace · Gwalior
₹550 Indian2 hrs
GoaReis Magos Fort
Fort · Panaji
₹25 Indian1.5 hrs
LadakhShey Palace & Monastery
Monastery · Leh
₹30 Indian1 hr
Himachal PradeshKangra Fort
Fort · Dharamshala
₹25 Indian2 hrs
Uttar PradeshRamnagar Fort
Fort · Varanasi
₹20 Indian1.5 hrs
MaharashtraFree entryBandra Fort
Fort · Mumbai
Free45 min
Forts & Palaces compared
| Place | State | Type | Indian fee | Time needed | UNESCO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amber Fort & Palace | Rajasthan | Fort | ₹100 Indian | 3 hrs | Yes |
| Mehrangarh Fort | Rajasthan | Fort | ₹200 Indian | 3 hrs | No |
| Jaisalmer Fort | Rajasthan | Fort | ₹50 Indian | 3 hrs | Yes |
| Agra Fort | Uttar Pradesh | Fort | ₹50 Indian | 2.5 hrs | Yes |
| City Palace Udaipur | Rajasthan | Palace | ₹300 Indian | 2.5 hrs | No |
| Red Fort | Delhi | Fort | ₹35 Indian | 2.5 hrs | Yes |
| Mysore Palace | Karnataka | Palace | ₹150 Indian | 2 hrs | No |
| Fatehpur Sikri | Uttar Pradesh | Temple | ₹40 Indian | 2.5 hrs | Yes |
| City Palace Jaipur | Rajasthan | Palace | ₹400 Indian | 2 hrs | No |
| Hawa Mahal | Rajasthan | Palace | ₹50 Indian | 1 hr | No |
| Bangalore Palace | Karnataka | Palace | ₹230 Indian | 1.5 hrs | No |
| Gwalior Fort | Madhya Pradesh | Fort | ₹75 Indian | 3 hrs | No |
| Jaganmohan Palace & Art Gallery | Karnataka | Palace | ₹20 Indian | 1 hr | No |
| Man Mandir Palace | Madhya Pradesh | Temple | ₹75 Indian | 1 hr | No |
| Thirumalai Nayakkar Palace | Tamil Nadu | Palace | ₹50 Indian | 1.5 hrs | No |
| Chowmahalla Palace | Telangana | Palace | ₹100 Indian | 2 hrs | No |
| Fort Aguada | Goa | Fort | Free | 1.5 hrs | No |
| Fort St. George | Tamil Nadu | Fort | ₹15 Indian | 1.5 hrs | No |
| Jag Mandir | Rajasthan | Temple | ₹200 Indian | 1 hr | No |
| Leh Palace | Ladakh | Palace | ₹50 Indian | 1 hr | No |
| Royal Enclosure & Mahanavami Dibba | Karnataka | Heritage | Free | 1.5 hrs | Yes |
| Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace | Karnataka | Palace | ₹25 Indian | 1 hr | No |
| Umaid Bhawan Palace | Rajasthan | Palace | ₹100 Indian | 1.5 hrs | No |
| Daulatabad Fort | Maharashtra | Fort | ₹25 Indian | 2.5 hrs | No |
| Krishnapuram Palace | Kerala | Palace | ₹20 Indian | 1 hr | No |
| Lotus Mahal | Karnataka | Palace | ₹40 Indian | 30 min | Yes |
| Chapora Fort | Goa | Fort | Free | 1 hr | No |
| Gobindgarh Fort | Punjab | Fort | ₹180 Indian | 2.5 hrs | No |
| Golconda Fort | Telangana | Fort | ₹25 Indian | 2.5 hrs | No |
| Nahargarh Fort | Rajasthan | Fort | ₹50 Indian | 2.5 hrs | No |
| Sajjangarh (Monsoon Palace) | Rajasthan | Palace | ₹100 Indian | 1.5 hrs | No |
| Falaknuma Palace | Telangana | Palace | ₹2,000 Indian | 1.5 hrs | No |
| Jai Vilas Palace & Museum | Madhya Pradesh | Palace | ₹550 Indian | 2 hrs | No |
| Jaigarh Fort (Jaivana Cannon) | Rajasthan | Fort | ₹35 Indian | 2 hrs | No |
| Reis Magos Fort | Goa | Fort | ₹25 Indian | 1.5 hrs | No |
| Shey Palace & Monastery | Ladakh | Monastery | ₹30 Indian | 1 hr | No |
| Kangra Fort | Himachal Pradesh | Fort | ₹25 Indian | 2 hrs | No |
| Jal Mahal (Water Palace) | Rajasthan | Palace | Free | 45 min | No |
| Ramnagar Fort | Uttar Pradesh | Fort | ₹20 Indian | 1.5 hrs | No |
| Bandra Fort | Maharashtra | Fort | Free | 45 min | No |
| Sisodia Rani Ka Bagh & Palace | Rajasthan | Palace | ₹50 Indian | 1 hr | No |
Fees are the Indian-visitor ticket; foreign-visitor and camera fees are on each place’s guide.
Rajput, Mughal, southern and coastal: how they differ
Rajput
Hill forts with palaces inside
Built on ridges for defence, with ornate palaces, mirror halls and stepwells behind the walls.
Mughal
Red sandstone and marble
Riverside citadels with gardens, audience halls and inlay work.
Southern kingdoms
Royal ruins and later palaces
Hampi’s Vijayanagara royal enclosure and Mysuru’s Indo-Saracenic palaces.
Coastal & colonial
Sea forts
Low laterite forts guarding harbours, many built by the Portuguese.
Map of forts & palaces in India
Numbers match the ranking; the top 10 are orange. Tap a pin for its guide. 3 places have no map position yet.
Tips for visiting forts and palaces in India
Two prices, plus a camera fee
Indian and foreign visitors pay different rates, and many forts charge extra for cameras. Each guide lists both.
Arrive at opening time
You’ll beat both the tour buses and the midday heat, and hilltop forts like Amber and Mehrangarh are cooler early.
Go between October and March
Rajasthan and the plains regularly pass 40°C from April to June.
Wear good shoes
Ramps, stone steps and uneven floors are the norm; allow extra time at the big hill forts.
Forts & Palaces FAQs
Which forts and palaces in India are free to visit?
On our list, Fort Aguada in Panaji, Royal Enclosure in Hampi, Chapora Fort in Panaji, Jal Mahal in Jaipur and Bandra Fort in Mumbai have no entry fee.
What is the best fort to visit in Rajasthan?
Mehrangarh in Jodhpur and Amber Fort in Jaipur are the two most complete. Mehrangarh has the better museum; Amber has the finer palace interiors, including the Sheesh Mahal. Jaisalmer Fort is the one people still live inside.
Which forts and palaces in India are UNESCO World Heritage Sites?
Amber Fort, Jaisalmer Fort, Agra Fort, the Red Fort, Fatehpur Sikri, the Royal Enclosure and Lotus Mahal are part of UNESCO World Heritage properties.
Do foreign visitors pay more at Indian forts and palaces?
Often, yes. Amber Fort, for example, costs ₹100 for Indian visitors and ₹550 for foreign visitors. 33 of the 41 places on this list charge foreigners more; each guide lists both prices.
What is the best time of year to visit forts and palaces in India?
October to March suits most of them. Each guide gives the best months for that place.
Which day are forts and palaces closed?
4 of the 41 places here close on Mondays. Check the closed day on each guide before you go.
How much time do you need at Amber Fort?
Allow about 3 hours. Arrive at opening time for the smallest crowds.
Compiled with AI assistance from official sources and public records; see How we write these guides. Last updated . How we rank and check places · All themes