The Nahargarh Fort was built in 1734.Since Jaipur was his capital, the Nahargarh Fort was strategically important and was built as a means of bolstering the defense of Amer.

The Fort is located on the sheer rugged ridge of Aravali Hills and it forms an impressive northern backdrop of Jaipur. A 9 km road runs up through the hills from Jaipur, and the fort can be reached along a zigzagging 2km path which starts from the north - west of the old city. The fort dominates the skyline by day and forms a breathtaking sight when floodlit at night.

The term "Nahargarh" refers to "the Abode of Tigers", so it is also known as the Tiger Fort. Jai Singh II named it Sudarshangarh (sudarshan chakra: Lord Vishnu’s discus; garh: fort). But there is a strange story behind the change of name of the fort.

When work began on it, strange things used to happen here at night. Every morning the workers would find that the previous day’s entire construction was destroyed. Jai Singh then found out that the land had once belonged to a dead Rathore prince named Nahar Singh and his spirit did not like the sudden disturbances in his spiritual domicile. To appease the soul, a tantrik was called and the spirit agreed to leave the place only if the fort was named after him. Thus for the spirit a small fortress was built at Purana Ghat where the spirit could reside, and then the fort was renamed Nahargarh. Later a shrine was also added where the warrior could be worshipped.

Nahargarh was used as the treasure of the Jaipur kingdom and even the highest state officials would only be allowed to approach the fort blindfolded.

In the 1880s Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh transformed Nahargarh into a monsoon retreat. Inside the fort a pleasure palace known as Madhavendra Bhavan housing the nine identical apartments of Maharaja Ram Singh's nine wives and at the head a suit for the king himself. The rooms are linked by a maze of corridors and retain some delicate frescoes, as well as toilets and kitchen herths. It was used by members of the royal family for excursion in summers and is now even a favored picnic spot.

The Fort provides an eye catching view of the Man Sagar Lake and the suburbs. It served as a rest retreat for royal guests and dignitaries who were invited to join the maharaja for duck shoots.

There is a Nahargarh Biological Park located in the vicinity of the fort. This green stretch is a complete treat for tourists. The Biological Park is spread over 7.2-sq-kms of the Nahargarh sanctuary (50-sq-kms). Today the park has Tiger, Leopard, Asiatic Lion, Sloth Bear, Caracal, several species of Deer, Gharial, Crocodile and Otter in its wetlands, Pangolin Jackal, Wild Dog, Wolf, Hyena, Jungle Civet and Fishing Cats, Ratel, Common and Desert Fox, Wild Boar, Rhesus Monkey and Langur, and, of course, a host of avian species.

The fort is opened for tourist viewing from 10:00 am till 4.30 pm. For all those traveling to Jaipur in order to experience the city's rich cultural and architectural heritage, a visit to the Nahargarh Fort is a must. Don't forget to get a camera while on a trip to Nahargarh. The splendid fiesta of the city that the fort provides- with lush green gardens at the backdrop and shimmering blue waters of Man Sagar lake- is breathtaking.