The World’s 100 Best Castles & Fortresses · 2026
The Best Castles & Fortresses in India
8 of the 100 castles in The World’s 100 Best Castles & Fortresses 2026 are in India. The highest placed is Gwalior Fort in Gwalior, at number 23 in the world. Rajgad Fort in Gunjavane (number 27) and Raigad Fort in Raigad (number 30) follow.
Maharashtra
Rajgad was the first Maratha capital and Raigad the later one; both stand in the Sahyadri hills. Raigad can be reached by ropeway. Harihar Fort is climbed by a near-vertical rock-cut staircase. Daulatabad Fort is entered through gates and dark passages on the way up.
Rajasthan
Kumbhalgarh Fort in the Aravalli Hills was built by Rana Kumbha and has a long outer wall to walk. Jaisalmer Fort is built of yellow sandstone on Trikuta Hill, and its lanes hold homes, shops, temples and cafés.
Gwalior and Chitradurga
Gwalior Fort covers a sandstone hill above the city with palaces, temples and water tanks. Chitradurga Fort in Karnataka is ringed by seven stone walls among granite boulders.
Castles
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N° 23
Gwalior Fort
Gwalior
Fortress
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N° 27
Rajgad Fort
Gunjavane
Fortress -
N° 30
Raigad Fort
Raigad
Fortress -
N° 62
Daulatabad Fort
Daulatabad
Fortress -
N° 64
Kumbhalgarh Fort
Kumbhalgarh
Fortress -
N° 82
Chitradurga Fort
Chitradurga
Fortress -
N° 85
Jaisalmer Fort
Jaisalmer
Fortress -
N° 87
Harihar Fort
Harshewadi
Fortress