Khimsar Fort
The Moated Desert Fort of the Rathores
Overview
Khimsar Fort is a moated Rajput fort on the edge of the Thar Desert in Khimsar, Nagaur district, Rajasthan. It was founded in 1523 by Rao Karamsi, a son of Rao Jodha of Jodhpur, and grew over generations from a battle fort into a fortified residence, with a later wing added for the royal women. It has remained with the same family throughout and now operates as a heritage hotel; the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb is said to have stayed here. Because it is a private, lived-in fort, access is for guests and diners rather than by monument ticket. MyTripMyTravel arranges a stay or a meal within the walls.
Khimsar Fort is unusual among Rajasthan's forts in that it has never left the family that built it. Founded in the early sixteenth century on the fringe of the Thar, it began as a defensive stronghold, gained a residential wing and a separate zenana for the royal women over the generations, and today survives as a moated fort still held by the descendants of its founders.
That founder was Rao Karamsi, a son of Rao Jodha of Jodhpur, the Rathore chief who gave his name to that city; Khimsar has stayed a Rathore seat ever since. Local history holds that the emperor Aurangzeb halted here, and the fort's mix of battlements, courtyards and desert-edge setting still carries that layered past.
Because it is a private fort now run as a heritage hotel, MTMT arranges access the honest way, as an overnight stay or a booked meal within the walls, often combined with the sand dunes and Rathore heritage of the surrounding Nagaur country.
At a glance
Khimsar Fort in brief
What to see
Highlights
The moat and battlements
The defensive outer walls and moat that mark it as a battle fort, not merely a palace.
The zenana wing
The separate quarters added for the royal women, layering residence onto stronghold.
Rathore lineage
An unbroken family line back to Rao Karamsi and, through him, to the founders of Jodhpur.
Desert-edge setting
The Thar sands and dunes that begin close to the fort walls.
Courtyards and terraces
The interior courts and rooftop terraces that open the fort to the desert light.
Visitor information
Our tips
This is a lived-in private fort, not a ticketed monument, plan a stay or a booked meal to go inside.
Visit in the cooler months; the desert edge is punishing in high summer.
Ask about the dunes and desert drives nearby, often arranged through the fort.
Set aside time for the terraces at dusk, when the light softens over the Thar.
Good to know
Khimsar Fort, your questions
Can I visit Khimsar Fort without staying there?
It is a private heritage hotel, so day access is generally through a booked meal rather than a monument ticket; an overnight stay gives the fullest access.
Who built it and when?
Rao Karamsi, a son of Rao Jodha of Jodhpur, founded it in 1523, and his descendants hold it still.
Did a Mughal emperor stay here?
By local tradition, the emperor Aurangzeb is said to have stayed at Khimsar during his time in the region.
Is it in the desert?
Yes. It sits on the edge of the Thar in Nagaur district, with sand dunes close by.
How should I arrange a visit?
MTMT books a stay or a meal within the walls, usually alongside the dunes and Rathore heritage of the surrounding area.
Visit with us
See Khimsar Fort, properly.
A private, chauffeured visit with a licensed expert guide, timed for the best light and the smallest crowds. We fold Khimsar Fort into a wider Khimsar and Rajasthan itinerary, built entirely around you.
- Skip the queue where possible, at the right hour
- Licensed local guide who brings the story to life
- Private car and chauffeur, door to door
Plan your trip
Plan a visit to Khimsar Fort
Free, no obligation quote. Your details stay private.