Which of the following fort of Rajasthan is not a Giri Fort ?

Correct — option (1), Gagron Fort.

Indian texts on statecraft sort forts by what protects them. The Sukraniti, in B. K. Sarkar's translation (1914), defines the water-fort (jaladurga) as one 'surrounded by great sheets of water', and the hill-fort (giridurga) as one on high ground, supplied with plenty of water.

Gagron's defence is its rivers. The Imperial Gazetteer of India (1908) places the fort at the junction of the Ahu and Kali Sind, and UNESCO's Hill Forts of Rajasthan listing calls Gagron 'an exemplar of a river-protected fort'.

The other three are described by their hills. The Imperial Gazetteer says Jalore's fort stands 'On a hill to the south', commanding the town. The Chittaurgarh District Gazetteer (1977) says its fort crowns a hill about 152 metres above the plain.

The Barmer District Gazetteer (1962) places Siwana's fort on a hill reached by a circuitous ascent of nearly five miles.

Gagron is not a pure water fort either. Rajasthan Tourism calls it 'a fine example of a hill and water fort', and UNESCO notes its strategic location in a pass in the hills.

But of these four it is the only one the sources define by its rivers, so the fort that is not a giri durg is option (1), Gagron Fort.

The idea to remember: giri durg = hill fort (Jalore, Chittorgarh, Siwana); Gagron = river-protected fort at the Ahu–Kali Sindh junction.

Why the others are wrong

• (2)
  Jalore Fort — Jalore is a hill fort. The Imperial Gazetteer (1908) says the fort, built by the Paramara Rajputs, stands on a hill south of the town, reached by a steep ascent of about three miles.

  The Barmer gazetteer records that Allauddin's campaigns in Rajputana ended with the subjugation of Jalore, where Kanhar Deva was defeated. Jalore Fort answers a question on the hill fort where Allauddin defeated Kanhar Deva.

• (3)
  Chittorgarh Fort — Chittorgarh is a hill fort. The Chittaurgarh District Gazetteer (1977) says the fort crowns a hill about 152 metres above the plain, is about 5 km long and covers about 279 hectares.

  The same gazetteer calls it the capital of the Sisodias until its sack in 1568, and notes its three great sakas. Chittorgarh Fort answers a question on the Sisodia capital of the three sakas.

• (4)
  Siwana Fort — Siwana is a hill fort. The Barmer gazetteer places the fort on a hill to the west of Siwana, approached by a circuitous ascent of nearly five miles.

  It quotes the Tarikh-i-Alai describing Satal Deo on the summit of the hill-fort when Allauddin attacked in 1308. Siwana Fort answers a question on the fort Allauddin took from Satal Deo.

Classical texts list kinds of fort by their protection. Manu (VII.70, Bühler's translation) names forts protected by a desert, built of earth, protected by water or trees, formed by armed men, and the hill-fort, and (VII.71) tells the king to make every effort to secure a hill-fort.

The Sukraniti's list, as Sarkar translates it, includes forts defended by ditches, by walls, by forest, by desert, by water and by hills, and forts defended by troops or by allies.

Labels can overlap. UNESCO lists Gagron among six hill forts, and Rajasthan Tourism calls it a hill and water fort; both single out its rivers.

Key facts

• Sukraniti (Sarkar, 1914): the jaladurga is a fort 'surrounded by great sheets of water'; the hill-fort stands on high ground with plenty of water.
• Imperial Gazetteer of India (1908): Gagron fort stands at the junction of the Ahu and Kali Sind rivers.
• UNESCO calls Gagron 'an exemplar of a river-protected fort' within the serial property Hill Forts of Rajasthan, inscribed in 2013.
• Chittaurgarh District Gazetteer (1977): the fort crowns a hill about 152 metres high and covers about 279 hectares.
• Barmer District Gazetteer (1962): Siwana fort stands on a hill to the west of the town, reached by a circuitous ascent of nearly five miles.

Common traps

• Taking UNESCO's title as a verdict: Gagron is inscribed among the Hill Forts of Rajasthan, yet UNESCO itself calls it a river-protected fort.
• Treating Jalore and Siwana as desert forts because they lie in western Rajasthan: the Imperial and Barmer gazetteers describe both forts on hills.
• Mixing Allauddin's two Marwar sieges: the Barmer gazetteer places Satal Deo at Siwana (1308) and Kanhar Deva at Jalore.

UnlockIAS will link similar questions from RAS Pre 2021 and 2018 here once those papers are published on this site.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  Which of the following forts is NOT part of UNESCO's serial World Heritage property 'Hill Forts of Rajasthan'?

  • (a)Gagron
  • (b)Kumbhalgarh
  • (c)Siwana
  • (d)Jaisalmer
  Answer(3) — UNESCO's six forts are Chittorgarh, Kumbhalgarh, Ranthambore, Gagron, Amber and Jaisalmer, so Siwana is the one not included. Options (1), (2) and (4) are all in the listing.
• practice — not a real PYQ

  In the Sukraniti, as translated by B. K. Sarkar, what defines a jaladurga?

  • (a)It stands on high ground with plenty of water
  • (b)It is surrounded by great sheets of water
  • (c)It is encircled by thorns and clusters of trees
  • (d)It is defended by troops skilled in military tactics
  Answer(2) — Sarkar's translation defines the jaladurga or water-fort as one surrounded by great sheets of water. Option (1) describes the hill-fort, option (3) the forest-fort, and option (4) the troop-fort.