By :Jog Shree PawarSourced from –Mehrangarh Fort Jodhpur (Rajasthan )

Forts of India

Shanivar wada fort –Pune

Red fort –New Delhi

Gwalior fort –Gwalior

P’s of Marketing of a Fort Museum

Mehrangarh Fort Museum ,Jodhpur

•Mehrangarh fort is located in Jodhpur, Rajasthan.•Mehrangarh ( 'Mihir' (Sanskrit) -sun or Sun-deity; 'garh' (Sanskrit)-fort; i.e. 'Sun-fort') , 'Mihirgarh' has changed to 'Mehrangarh .•Rathore dynasty are the decedents of Suryavansha .•It is one of the largest fort in India.•Built in 1459 by Rao Jodha.•Jodhpur is the capital of Marwar state.•This fort is 400 ft above from the city.•Rudyard Kipling called it as “A palace that might have been built by Titans and colored by the morning sun .”•This fort is the biggst example of Rajputana Architecture.

Sheesh Mahal –palace of Mirrors

Moti mahal-pearl palace

Phool Mahal –Flower Palace

Introduction :Mehrangarh fort museum

•The museum was started in 1972 by the 36th Maharaja of Jodhpur H.H.Maharaja Gaj singh ji 2nd .•This museum is run by a private trust which is founded by His Highness which is known as “Mehrangarh Museum trust ”.•Today Mehrangarh Museum has a unique importance as a repository of the artistic and cultural history of the large area of the central Rajasthan, Marwar-Jodhpur, ruled by the Rathore dynasty.•Apart from the Museum, the Trust is at the forefront of conservation and restoration, a generous patron of the arts and music and a lively centre of academic study. Mehrangarh Museum Trust is recipient of UNESCO ASIA-PACIFIC Award in the field of Architectural Conservation, Cultural Heritage and adaptive reuse.

•The Mehrangarh fort museum is also known as living fort ,the entire fort has been divided into different galleries which are known as:

•Elephant Howdah Gallery -This gallery displays fine examples of elephant seats from the Royal Collection, which is regarded as the finest in the country.

•Palanquins Gallery -This gallery displays one of the richest collections of palanquins for kings and queens in Rajasthan .

•Daulat Khana Gallery -is a three storey building which is also known as “Wealth Store” ,the meaning indicates the treasures .

•Painting Gallery - displays the largest collection of miniature paintings from Marwar School of Painting.

•Textile-it includes largest collection of precious garments ,carpets ,rich embroidery brocades and etc.

•Sileh Khana or Armor Gallery-the rich collection of arms and armour which depicts the power ,valor and heroism of Marwar heroes (Ran Banka Rathores) and their  Helmets, armor, swords, archery equipment, daggers and other arms of more than 500years glory of Marwar

•Wood Craft Gallery-The museum’s wood craft gallery displays various wooden objects finely carved, with ivory work and gold polished.

•Cradels (Jhanki Mahal)-Several beautiful cradles, including an electric powered one made for the present Maharaja, make up a rare and unique collection.

•Turbans (Rajput Safas)-The turban has long been an integral part of the costumes of Rajasthan but is, inevitably, under pressure from modern life and style and is slowly going out of fashion. The Turban Gallery in the Mehrangarh Museum seeks to preserve, document and display the many different types of turbans once prevalent in Rajasthan ; every community, region and, indeed, festival has its own head-gear and this diversity, the colors of the desert, is wonderfully brought out in this welcome addition to the museum.

Elephant Howdah GalleryPalanquines Gallery

Daulat Khana

Paintings Gallery

Textiles Gallery

Sileh Khana

Electric cradle at cradle gallery

Turban Gallery

Miniature from Marwar School of Painting

Mehrangarh Museum shop, www.mehrangarhmuseumshop.com/museum-shop

•The Mehrangarh museum shop has been awareded by the title of “ best museum shop” in 2007 by the time megzine.

•Profits from the Museum Shop support ongoing conservation and restoration of Mehrangarh Fort and the nearby Ahichhatragarh Fort at Nagaur.

•It offers a wide variety of products like T-Shirts, caps, tote bags, books, postcards, music, jewelry, textiles, perfumes, textiles, and much more.

•The products of the museum are available of two types :

•Shop by theme:•Garden and cosmos ,Royal Jodhpur, forts and museum, polo, treasures and special .•Shop by products:•Paper/books ,souvenirs/home, women/man ,T-shirts and caps ,children and Ornaments.•It is the only accredited Indian member of the international Museum Store Association (MSA) and in 2007 was honored by Time magazine by selection in their Best of Asia listing.

Tote bags Folio set of 4 note cardsPrincess T-shirt

Royal Jodhpur mugs

Royal Jodhpur Cuff links

Jodhpur Polo Tshirt

Patchwork Elephant Notepad

Jewelery

Events at Mehrangarh

•Rajasthan International folk Festival- more than 250 Musicians and performing artists from across Rajasthan and around the world to celebrate their musical heritage and create new sounds through innovative collaborations, for five days in October each year.

•The World Sufi Spirit Festival- of Jodhpur and Nagore is unique in India it welcomes the most beautiful of sacred traditions from the Orient, the East and Africa, while showing off the wealth of Rajasthan’s traditional heritage, a heritage at the crossroads of Indian, Afghan, Mangole , Arab and Persian civilizations, between Hinduism and Sufi Islam in the month of February .

•Jodhpur Flamenco and Gypsy Festivals –Every year in the month of April in Jodhpur , the festival’s main objective is to promote the link between the Rajasthani folk musicians and the legendary Flamenco and gypsy artists that live around the world. JFG Festival will provide a meeting place for these musicians and dancers, and create a platform for their creative energy which can be shared with the world .

Newspaper cuttings covering RIFF,JFG and WSS festivals

Fashion shows at Mehrangarh Fort

“ Don’t miss it Reviewed 22 September 2015 NEW

very clean and well maintained property, good collection of antiques. Amazing fort, a must visit place

“Must visit in Jodhpur” Reviewed 22 September 2015 NEW

I was amazed at the magnamity of the fort. It's beautiful, enormous and offers so many stories. I suggest to hire a guide and take the lift to make the visit to the place interesting and less tiring. The audio guides are also available in different languages. Also there is a small market kind of place inside the palace that...

"Shall I tell you the best thing about Jodhpur? It's the zipwires that send you like Batman around the moats and the crenellations. It's stunning" - Boris Johnson, Mayor of London

" The personal and friendly touch is excellent. The staff are exceedingly friendly and the attention to safety is just right "James ( New Delhi, India)

Reviews from other social sites

Mehrangarh :As a shooting locations

As twilight descends on the historic fort of Jodhpur, the rugged impregnable walls and the delicate palaces come alive with a walk with the museum curator. Join Mehrangarh Museum curator as he takes you on a tour of the collection and shares his expertise and insights. Listen to the tales of sacrifice, of extraordinary events of adventure and sheer joy of discussing a painting or talking about the fort architecture.TIMING: 18:00 HRS – 19:00 HRS or 19:00 HRS – 20:00 HRS

•Flying Fox at Jodhpur, since 2010

Admissions TimingsSunday–Saturday: 9:00 hrs.–17:00 hrs.  The ticket sales close at 17:00 hrs. And on account of Jodhpur Foundation Day on 12th May entry for all guests is free .

Ticket Prices International Guests Mehrangarh Museum: Rs 400 including Audio tour . Domestic GuestMehrangarh Museum: Rs 60

Website www.Mehrangarh.org Facebook PageMehrangarh Fort Twitter Mehrangarh Fort

Support Mehrangarh Museum Trust

Generous contributions, professional efforts and support from friends will lead to the restoration and preservation of one of the world’s most beautiful fort.

International Membership Fee – USD 1000Indian Membership Fee – Rs. 25, 000Special Privileges for the Friends of Mehrangarh•A Friend of Mehrangarh Badge will provide free entry to the museums of Mehrangarh Museum Trust in Jodhpur and Nagaur Fort.

Invitation to All our Museum Activities

Information and Preferential terms for the Annual Royal Tented Camp at Mehrangarh during Jodhpur RIFF and Nagaur Cattle Fair and World Sufi Spirit Festival in Nagaur

The Museum Annual Report will keep you abreast with our activities and the progress of conservation work at the FortSpecial Discounts on all publications of the Mehrangarh Museum Trust.

Conclusion

•Other Forts and palace museum may start providing such activities so that the visitors can start coming there frequently .•Museums of Forts and Palace museums must inform visitors about their present and future projects through there website and social media group.•Such organizations must organize workshops, conferences and other educational program to educate society .