Kesroli : The Forgotten Fortress

A sky filled with glistening stars with the moon standing by ensuring you are awed and astounded by its magnitude and splendor. That feeling, that moment which transcends you from that star ‘gazingness’ to another parallel dimension, even for that fraction of a millisecond is what makes Kesroli, a note-worthy sojourn on any traveler’s Rajasthan odyssey.

Situated in the princely district of Alwar, resides a fortress located on the hills of Kesroli deceivingly like a pit-stop, slyly protecting century old clandestineness while embracing immense character of its own. This 14th century marvel was once a prized adornment of the said ‘Yadhuvanshi Rajputs’. Standing tall, this fortress has not only seen numerous century turns but also the rise and fall of regimes and rulers alike. And even with so much past, there is extremely limited information about its heritage almost like a well-kept secret. 

This not-so-easily locatable palace provides serene respite from the run-of-the-mill Rajput forts spread across the length & breadth of this Maharaja state. The building has its due turrets and steeples, structured out of the rare Hornstone yet it appreciably dismisses the massiveness and magnitude of the regular Indian fort. This subtle regality provides Kesroli its unmistakable appeal and warmth.

And surprisingly the locals too haven’t taken the royalness to their heads and still remain as agrarian and hard working as they might have been a few centuries back. The people continue being simple, helpful and busy in their humdrum lives as they might have been generations back minus the cell phones, coca-cola and cable television ofcourse.

But more than anything else what makes Kesroli uniquely incredible it is that you feel part of royalty even as you sit on an open patio drinking lemon tea with friends and talk about the latest season of ‘How I Met Your Mother’; not pretentious, not goofy, just uniquely majestic in your own special way.