Khaba Fort-The Lonely Fort of Rajasthan
Historically one of the not well-known sites of Rajasthan, Khaba Fort was one such historical landmark which is strategically perched on top of a rocky hillock near the deserted village of Kuldhara within the Jaisalmer region and is surrounded by the vast barren and arid plains of the Thar Desert. The remains of stone walls, pathways, and abandoned structures combined with vast plains surrounding it provided an ambiance that of abandonment to the Khaba Fort. Unlike the other historical forts in Rajasthan, visitors to this fort are able to witness its true glory in much peace and quiet away from huge crowds.
Along with various stories and local legends in its history it had, there are also numerous features of the ancient architecture coupled with stunning desert landscapes all intertwined with elements of Rajasthan’s forgotten history.
This heritage site also features unique architectural remnants that made the Khaba Fort particularly famous and special to those few who made its acquaintance.
Location of Khaba Fort
The Khaba Fort is located in the district of Jaisalmer of the Indian state of Rajasthan which is also home to the well-known desert city of Jaisalmer itself and a place called Kuldhara. It is about 30 kilometers from Jaisalmer town and for historical tours taking in the surroundings it often makes sense to include Khaba fort within ones heritage tour package of Rajasthan. Providing a wide view of the surrounding desert from its elevated vantage point and also being clearly able to see the Kuldhara, it was obvious that a strong linkage between both. However it is in fact part of the lonely sites and thus remote, therefore, it offers much more natural beauty than any others in Jaisalmer or nearby vicinity.
History of Khaba Fort
The history of the Khaba Fort is largely intertwined with the history of the Paliwal Brahmins, the original residents and cultivators of the nearby land. It is stated that, about centuries ago, Kuldhara village was set up, in which the community, Paliwals lived for generations after generation cultivating the hard desert terrain by developing efficient water harvesting methods and agricultural techniques that allowed them to succeed in that region. While no document or historical records clearly describe or clearly distinguish its building history it is fact that that ancient fort and that specific Paliwal village had some kind of linkage which also leads one to presume that Khaba Fort was most likely established a century ago.
The fort also fell into disuse soon after the residents of Kuldhara moved out of the abandoned city as stated and so this fort that offered much prominence to the community, ended up being partially desolate too.
Numerous legends that surround both sites are told on an everyday basis among the locals and can still be heard if ones pays attention while exploring Kuldhara and the nearby forts.
Linkage to Kuldhara
A close proximity was created between the fort and Kuldhara in a very ancient period although their relationship of ownership is quite complicated. The locals here say, once it had occurred, a mass exodus took place in Kuldhara and many a other surrounding town that was also inhabited by many a families from the Paliwal Community, reason being one day while trying to force many villages onto him, the Diwan of Jodhpur had made some threats. One particularly famous local legend which gives the place its haunting air involves a curse that falls upon the residents and families who try to occupy Kuldhara village.
The locals consider it impossible to cultivate lands of both the places.
Although all this sounds very mystical; this supernatural fact would have never been the cause to these men abandon their homes and property.
Architecture of Khaba Fort
The entire fort is made of stone. While its location is the most apparent, its design reflects the defensive strategy employed during old times in Rajasthan, by fortifying and developing upon the natural advantageous site available to them. However in, this case since Khaba fort stands on an extremely high natural rocky elevation; additional fortifications like walls, parapets etc.
That you would normally notice, it would not only have given the sentries an advantage for a commanding view of the far surroundings in all the cardinal directions; its very design could have also enabled them to stand quite hidden even with the stone ramparts and towers if only due to its location on the rocks.
There are stairways cut into rocks that allows and helps to reach these ruins and that part can sometimes be a little dangerous due to them breaking, so do tread carefully, as these places do not adhere to modern construction. However most importantly, there appears to be much natural landscape blending itself into a stony landscape; stones seem to meld perfectly into the sandy rocky environment around and are one of the strongest defining characteristics of these forts in the vicinity of Jaisalmer.
Thar Desert views
There is some really outstanding view of Thar Desert from within and around the Khaba fort, you can clearly see the endless dunes of Thar desert in the far away horizon. There are remains of Kuldhara clearly visible from the Khaba fort just in front. Photography opportunities within and around the fort can be the most exceptional given all the historic ruins of a deserted settlement coupled with some excellent desert view.
Take extra care to capture the sunsets as it’s just wonderful.
It must be stressed here, that with such outstanding natural landscapes in Rajasthan, every possible fort located on higher grounds near them usually tend to grant visitors with quite outstanding views of that particular desertscape but nothing truly can beat and replace the fort’s and the desert.
Mysterious Atmosphere of the fort
Its remote desolate position combined with stories surrounding the demise of its inhabitants at once give the Khaba fort an other-worldly aura. While the stories of hauntings are rather prevalent among the villagers it still presents an eerie ambience in which the ruins speak their past. Exploring it, especially in off hours as cited above, it definitely induces a mysterious atmosphere, mostly due to the sheer silence surrounding you along with a palpable sense of isolation and despair that surrounds the entire place.
An Offbeat Destination
The Khaba fort stands for traveler who has no intention of visiting famous Rajasthan landmarks. While it lacks the charm of other Rajput forts, those interested in visiting abandoned buildings, arid Rajasthan landscape and lost legends; the Khaba fort proves to be a suitable choice. This site however is not really frequented by most tourist who visit Rajasthan from the world over and that is what really appeals to visitors looking to experience ‘undiscovered’ Rajasthan.
Best time to Visit
The ideal time to visit any historical destination in the arid regions like this area in Jaisalmer district in Rajasthan is during the winter months which prevail from October to March. The minimum temperatures recorded are around 5 to 10 degree Celsius in January while the day temperature during winters can be quite mild at 20-25 degree Celsius. However, it will be best to visit during early mornings or late afternoons to catch the beautiful golden hour on the desert landscape and to shoot those magnificent pictures without over exposure the site, also visit in mid day during summer you’d hardly last 10 minutes with the high temperatures reaching beyond 45 degree Celsius.
Responsible Tourism
The inhabitants believe in the magic of spirits at this fort and thus suggest some rules to follow while visiting the ancient fort for preservation of its structure to avoid it further becoming history. While taking pictures, care needs to be taken that stones are not uprooted nor is the architecture damaged. The litter and other trash found here needs to be discarded properly in designated bins and none thrown around that would endanger the environment or other visitors to the area, so that the magic of these ruins stay preserved.
Why is Khaba Fort important?
Khaba Fort offers quite an attraction to those visiting Rajasthan with a penchant for historical anecdotes, deserted settlements, natural arid landscapes and old age legends. It brings to fore, what the landscape looked like, and how settlements would exist when the local ruler would exercise unreasonable power over them and thereby leave residents no other options other than to move to other settlements which ultimately were abandoned just like Kuldhara. Providing ample opportunity to experience and connect with history, it is one fort that really makes ones wonder, about the ways of living in Rajasthan since those ancient times to those seen in current times. It surely presents a completely different perspective when compared to other forts and places and helps in unraveling the stories of past in the desert.
Final Thoughts
Khaba fort, stands for some forgotten desert chronicles of the past of Rajasthan. Stone walls, empty abandoned buildings, a backdrop to barren desert plains and association with Kuldhara; that is the combination the traveller gets from a visit to the Khaba Fort which only serves to strengthen its allure to visitors in quest for some forgotten tales and remnants of times past which one only has in such remote and lost sites that make one relive history in a surreal, yet an equally poignant manner. It has become the key attraction among visitors exploring some less popular ruins in Rajasthan.