Rajasthan Travel and Tourism

The Chittaurgarh Fort

The indomitable pride of Chittaur, the fort is a missive structure with many gateways built by the later Maurya rulers in 7th century A.D. Perched on a height of 180m high hill, it sprawls over 700 acres. The tablets and chhatris within are impressive reminders of the Rajput heroism. The main gates are Padal Pole, Bhairon Pole, Hanuman Pole and Ram Pole. The fort has many magnificent monuments - all fine examples of the Rajput architecture. The ancient ruins of the fort are worth spending few moments in solitude.

Chittaurgarh

The Epitome Of Romance And Valour

The pride and glory of Rajasthan, Chittaur echoes with the tales of romance and valour unique to the Rajput tradition. A ruined citadel, where the royal past lives in its imposing forts, graceful palaces and spectacular chhatris. This fortified settlement has been ravaged thrice and each time the outcome was Jauhar, when women and children immolated themselves on a huge funeral pyre while men donned in saffron robes of martyrdom rode out of the fort towards a certain death.

Alauddin Khilji was the first to sack Chittaur in J303 A.D., overpowered by a passionate desire to possess the regal beauty, queen Padmini. Legend has it, that he saw her face in the reflection of a mirror and was struck by her mesmerizing beauty. But the noble queen preferred death to dishonor and committed ‘Jauhar’.

In 1533 A.D., during the rule of Bikramjeet, came the second attack from Bhadhur Shah, the Sultan of Gujarat. Once again Jauhar was led by Rani Karnavati, a Bundi princess. Her infant son, Udai Singh was smuggled out of Chittaur to Bundi who survived to inherit the throne of the citadel. He learnt from his traumatic childhood that discretion is preferred to valour. So, in 1567 A.D., when the Mughal Emperor invaded Chittaur, Udai Singh fled to establish a new Capital, Udaipur : a beautiful lake city, leaving behind Chittaur to be defended by two 16 year old heroes, Jaimal of Bednore and Patta of Kelwa. These young men displayed true Rajput chivalry and died after ‘Jauhar ‘ was performed. Immediately thereafter Akbar razed the fort to a rubble. Chittaur was never inhabited again but it always asserted the heroic spirit of Rajput warriors.

General Information

Area : 6.5 sq. km.
Altitude : 408 meters
Climate : Mean Max. Mean Min.
Summer : 43.8 C 23.8 C
Winter : 28.37 C 11.6 C
Rainfall : 60 85 cms.
Best Season : September-March
Clothing : Summer Light Tropical Winter Light Woolen
Languages : English, Hindi, Rajasthani.