Chittorgarh Fort History
It is believed that the name Chittorgarh is derived from its builder Chitranga, who was the ruler of a local clan that identified themselves as Mauryas or Moris. Another folktale credits the construction of the fort to Bhima, who struck the ground and helped the Bhimlat Kund to surface. Several small Buddhist stupas dated to 9th century have also been discovered at the edge of Jaimal Patta lake.
The Chittorgarh Fort is a treasure trove of history and a saga of bravery, courage and sacrifice. It was captured three times between the 15th and 16th centuries. In 1303, Allauddin Khilji defeated Rana Ratan Singh, in 1535, Bahadur Shah defeated Bikramjeet Singh and in 1567, Akbar defeated Maharana Udai Singh II. The Rajputs fought with valour and courage, yet they lost every time. Following these defeats in the wars, 'Jauhar' or mass self-immolation was committed by more than 13,000 ladies and children of the soldiers who laid their lives in the battle. It was led by Rani Padmini, wife of Rana Rattan Singh, who was killed in the first battle. The Chittorgarh Fort is a tribute to nationalism and sacrifice.
Story behind the First Invasion: Chittorgarh Fort and Rani Padmini
In the year 1303, Allauddin Khilji, who was the Sultan of Delhi, heard many praises of Rani Padmini of Chittor, who was hailed as the epitome of beauty, grace and wit. Intrigued, he decided to confirm the same for himself and surrounded the Fort with the intent of sparing Rana Rattan Singh only if he could meet the famous queen. Sensing something off, the queen insisted that he should not meet her, rather he could look at her reflection if he came into the Chittorgarh Fort unarmed. Accordingly, the Sultan went up the hill and saw the image of Padmini in the water of a lotus pool, and was escorted by the Maharaja to the outer gate where the insidious Sultan's men waited in silence to pounce upon Rana Rattan Singh. As soon as the Maharaja reached the gates, he was taken hostage by the Sultan.
Chaos overtook Chittor when Rani Padmini came up with a plan. An emissary was sent to the Sultan to inform him that the queen herself was coming to meet him. Soon enough, dozens of palanquins made their way into the camp where the Sultan had held Rana Rattan Singh hostage. But instead of the queen, four well-armed Rajput warriors leapt out of each palanquin and the palanquin bearers drew out swords as well. They managed to rescue their king, but the lives of 7,000 soldiers were lost. Enraged, the Sultan now attacked Chittor with even more force. The Rajput army incurred heavy losses and could not hold out against the Sultan. Seeing that loss was inevitable, the queen, her entourage of women and the wives of generals and soldiers collectively performed Jauhar, accepting death over surrender to the enemy.
Chittorgarh Fort Architecture
The fort is one of the largest in the country, with a circumference of 13 kilometres covering an area of 700 acres. Reaching the bridge is a difficult task owing to the fact that it is situated at an ascent of around 1 kilometre as compared to the plains. The fortification itself is 2 kilometres long and 155 metres wide and is located on a plateau. It is flanked by a wall which runs 13 kilometres along the fort, and the cover of mountains on one side makes it almost impregnable. In order to reach the fort, you will have to pass through seven different gates, namely the Paidal Pol, Bhairon Pol, Hanuman Pol, Ganesh Pol, Jorla Pol, Laxman Pol, and Ram Pol, the final and main gate.
The fort complex has an assortment of structures within its confines. These include 4 palace complexes, 19 main temples, 4 memorials and 20 functional water bodies. In addition to these, the Kumbha Shyam Temple, the Mira Bai Temple, the Adi Varah Temple, the Shringar Chauri Temple, and the Vijay Stambh memorial are present here as well. Since the fort was built in two phases, you can see two different construction styles here - one that is purely Rajputana and the other that has Sisodian influences. Octagonal and hexagonal towers coupled with stone gates leave only a narrow path up to the fort. The fort also has the Rana Kumbha Mahal, Kanwar Pade Ka Mahal and the Palace of the poet Mira Bai. Even later structures include the Ratan Singh Palace and the Fateh Prakash. A detailed description of the most important structures is as follows:-
1. Vijay Stambha: The Vijay Stambha or Jaya Stambha is a tangible structure announcing the triumph of the Rana Kumbha over Mahmud Shah I Khalji, the Sultan of Malwa. Built over a period of 10 years from 1458 - 1468, the Vijay Stambha is 37.2 metres in height and is spread over a 47 square feet area. The nine storeys of the structure can be accessed by the means of circular steps and ends in a dome, a later addition. The Stambha is now illuminated during the evenings and gives a beautiful view of Chittor from the top.
2. Kirti Stambha: Kirti Stambha or the Tower of Fame is a 22-metre-high tower built by a Bagherwal Jain merchant Jijaji Rathod, and is dedicated to Adinath, the first Jain Tirthankara. The tower is embellished with Jain sculptures on the outside, and the inside of the tower is adorned with the figures of various Tirthankaras. A 54 steps stairway leads to the top of the tower and was added in the 15th century.
3. Rana Kumbha Palace: The ruins of the Rana Kumbha's Palace are situated towards the entrance of the Vijaya Stamba, and is the oldest monument in the Chittorgarh Fort. The entry to the palace's courtyard is through the Suraj Pol which welcomes you into a series of beautifully embellished canopied balconies. Meera Bai, the famous poet saint, also lived in this palace. This is also the site where Rani Padmini committed mass self-immolation along with many other women.
4. Padmini's Palace: Padmini's Palace or Rani Padmini's Palace is a three storied structure, and is a 19 - century reconstruction of the original palace. Located towards the southern part of the Chittorgarh Fort, it is a stunning white stone structure. It is here where Allauddin Khilji was permitted a glimpse of Queen Padmini, which convinced him to overthrow Chittorgarh. The bronze gates to this pavilion were removed and transported to Agra by Akbar.
Chittorgarh Fort: Hauntings and Incidents
Needless to say, the site of Chittorgarh Fort is believed to be haunted owing to the many lives that were lost here, especially to Jauhar. People have reported strange sightings, eerie silences and sometimes even the blood-curdling screams here. The Fort becomes even more intimidating during the night when ghouls make their way to their earth - bound companions. If you are looking for a quick rendezvous with the ghosts of the past, you should consider Chittorgarh Fort for sure.
Sound and light show
In a bid to attract even more tourists to this already popular destination, Sound and Light Show is organised here. The legend of Chittor comes to life in mystical forms conjured out of light and sound and is a great way to learn more about the fort. The timings are from 7:00 p.m. onwards and entry fee for adults is INR 50 per head while for and for children it is INR 25 per head.
Best time to visit Chittorgarh Fort
The months of October - March is the best time to visit the fort. Mornings and evening are cooler and less crowded.
How to Reach Chittorgarh Fort
Chittorgarh is located at a distance of 112 km from Udaipur, on an elevated slope near the Ganbheri River in Rajasthan. The most convenient way of reaching the fort is either by taking a bus or hiring a taxi from Udaipur city.
Top Tourist Places in Chittorgarh
Vijay Stambh
Gau Mukh Kund
Maha Sati
Rana Kumbha's palace
Kirti Stambh
Fateh Prakash Palace
All Tourist Places in Chittorgarh
Where to Stay
You can rent a room at Hotel Pratap Palace, Hotel President, Aashiyana Hotel & Restaurant, RNB Chittorgarh or Hotel Jadav & Natraj Dining Hall.
Best Restaurants Nearby
Chokhi Dhani, The Victory Restaurant, Padmini Haveli and Rooftop Restaurant Fort View are great places to have a traditional Rajasthani meal.
Photos of Chittorgarh Fort
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