Arki is a town located at a distance of 40 km from the capital city of Shimla in the state of Himachal Pradesh in India. This small town is famous for the Arki Fort which is one of the major tourist attractions situated near Shimla. A large number of tourists visit the fort to experience its rich historical set up as well as paintings and drawings created on the wall of the Fort.
The Arki Fort was built between the years 1800-1805 by Rana Prithvi Singh, a successor of Rana Sabha Chand. The Fort depicts a combination of the Mughal and Rajput style of architecture. The overall design and structure of the Fort is highly influenced by the Rajasthani culture. The exquisite frescos and friezes in the Pahari School of miniature paintings along with balanced theme based use of colors and patterns are worth seeing.
The Fort presently is a private property owned by the inheritors of the former ruler Raja Rajendra Singh. However, a part of the fort is transformed into a heritage hotel. The hotel rooms are well maintained and reflect the rich splendor of the monument. Visitors from here can immerse themselves in the heart warming natural beauty as this site offers a majestic view of the Himalayan ranges and renowned hill stations of Kasauli, Subathu and Shimla.