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CHITTORGARH

Home to biggest fort of Asia

The land of bravery, royalty, impeccable love for one’s country, strict policies and lavish livings is this the ‘city of Chittorgarh’, the capital of Mehwar at the time of King’s rule in the nation.

Situated in the state of Rajasthan in its southern division Chittorgarh is now a small town holding a few families and never - ending tales of the rulers and queens that had made the folks of the state proud to call themselves from that royal region where there once resided the living definitions of bravery and disciplinary.

Chittorgarh is the habitat of the biggest fort in the country and Asia for which it is widely defined. It is said that the fort wallsare a smaller version of The Great Wall of China. Its huge walls erected in past give the same kind of regard as of the one in China.

This the same land where people have seen great souls like Rani Padmini, Rana Sanga, Maharana Pratap, Mira Bai, Rana Kumbha, Bappa Rawal and more nourishing themselves with the soil of this royal town.



ABOUT THE HISTORY OF CHANDIGARH


Historical depictions conclude that the Maurayans built the Chittorgarh fort in the 7th century A D. there are various proves that the Mori dynasty was possessing the fort. It is then when the brave Bappa Rawal who was later considered as the founder of the great kingdom of Mewar seized the city of Chittorgarh and annexed the Chittor fort and announced it as its capital in the middle time of 7th century that is in 734 AD. There are also some stories that say, the fort was presented to Bappa Rawal in the form of the dowry when he married the last Solanki princess.

It was Alauddin Khilji in 1303 A.D. who first attacked the royal fort, he was wooed by the beauty of Rani Padmini, the wife of Rawal Ratan Singh whom he had not even seen ones but only heard.

Rani Padmini preferred to die but was not ready to be shamed and dishonoured and hence she opted for Jauhar (jauhar is a mass suicide by jumping into burning fire) along with 1100 more women of the township that included little girls and all the men wore saffron turbans and lead the war against the Delhi ruler.

Alauddin Khilji, king of Delhi who was the leader of the giant army behind him, he captured the fort of Chittorgarh in the year 1303 A.D. old people then were given the huge responsibility of raising the children. A young Hammir Singh was a person from the same Gehlot clan he was a brave man and he recaptured the throne of Chittorgarh in the year 1326 A.D. The dynasty was taken care by him and was later named as the Sisodia Rajputs. The name of the dynasty was kept on the town where he was born.

By the time it was 16th century, the region of Mewar had become the leading Rajput state among all. The great king Rana Sanga of the state, Mewarwas leading the combined Rajput forces against the emperor of Mughal dynasty, Babur in the year 1527 A.D., but he was defeated at the Battle of Khanua. Later in the year 1535 A.D., Bahadur Shah, the Sultan (king) of Gujarat besieged the fort and caused immense destruction.

As per the legends, it is said that just like the case of Padmini’s jauhar another Jauhar had taken place in the fort of Chittorgarh when 32000 men took the oath to fight until death in the war. It is then when Rani Karnawati led the women to the Jauhar ceremony to save their pride from the men. It is considered as the ultimate sacrifice for freedom. The third time Jauhar was performed when Akbar the great annexed the throne of Chittorgarh.

Chittorgarh city is also famous for its association with very famous historical figures of the country India. The first being, Mira Bai was the most popular female Hindu spiritual poet whose songs are still popular among the people of North India. Her lovely poems follow the Bhakti (Spiritual) tradition and she is also known as the mostintense worshipper of lord Krishna.

The second most known historically remarkable ruler of Mewar was Maharana Pratap. He was famous for fighting his battle with Akbar the great and the war is widely recognised as the war of Haldighati. Maharana Pratap was such a great man and loved his land so much that even Akbar shed some drops of tears at the demise of Rana Pratap.

Later, at the time of British rule in India. Chittorgarh came under the control of the British and then it became the history, which one cannot ever forget.




MOST POPULAR TOUR PACKAGES OF CHITTORGARH




ABOUT THE CITY AND ITS TOURISM
“GARH TU CHITTORGARH, BAKI SAB GARHAIYA”
The above-mentioned lines are a local saying about the fort of Chittorgarh, which means if there is a Fort that has to be recognized- then it is Chittorgarh fort and all the others are just fortresses. Chittorgarh fort is one of the best among the few attractions in the city. People from around the world flock down to the city for witnessing the biggest fort in Asia. It is noted that the fort is in the area of 700 Acres and has a circumference of about 13 kilometres. This just leaves us stunned to figure out the beauty of this dazzling fort.

Chittorgarh is a city of ornamented beauty. It is a place in Rajasthan, which had never bent its head in front of anyone and has mostly been unbeaten, invincible and uncaptured. The royal men and the lavish women of the fort lived in the days of glory; however still, they are the eminent concern of conversation even after their demise centuries ago. People or the lovely tourists who are visiting Rajasthan never tend to miss on this massive fort and is always keen about the, know-how.

ACCESSIBILITY TO CHITAORGARH





  • By Air


    One can reach Chittorgarh by the means of Air by getting down at the Udaipur international Airport and one can then easily take a taxi or a private car to the city of Chittorgarh to enjoy the giant fort. Another close Airport for international guests is the International Airport of Jaipur from where one can reach out to the desired city.

  • By Road


    The roads to Chittorgarh are smooth and wide hence one can make their way to the lovely city by the means of roadways. It is widely connected with various cities like Jaipur, Ajmer, Udaipur, Indore, Delhi and more. You can even board various buses that make their way to the city from various other towns at cheap rates and comfortable seats.
    « JAIPUR TO CHITTORGARH: 325 KILOMETRES
    « AJMER TO CHITTORGARH: 185 KILOMETRES
    « DELHI TO CHITTORGARH: 583 KILOMETRES
    « INDORE TO CHITTORGARH: 325 KILOMETRES
    « UDAIPUR TO CHITTORGARH: 117 KILOMETRES

  • By Train


    The railway station of Chittorgarh is located in the centre of the city and is one of the best transportation facilities to reach the town. It is widely connected to varied cities like Kota, Delhi, Udaipur, Jaipur, Ajmer and many more for easy and hassle free travel to the royal town. You can also opt for The Palace on Wheels luxury train and enjoy the whole tour of Rajasthan that would also include the station of Chittorgarh.

BEST TIME TO VISIT CHITTORGARH





Winters are the best time to visit the city of Chittorgarh, when the weather stays pleasant and a bit chilly. Monsoon is also a good time to visit the city of Chittorgarh. Summer months like June and July should better be avoided, as this city like all the cities of Rajasthan gets very hot in these months.





STAY IN CHITTORGARH

Most people do not take a stay in the city as it is a small city and does not comprise of a lot of hotels and resorts. However, such is not the case that the place is sans hotels, inns and resorts. It has a few of them, but mostly in a budget to semi- luxury categories and not luxury. It will be a great option if you plan a same day trip to Chittorgarh, get back to Udaipur, the Venice of the east, and live in its relaxing, relishing and comfortable hotels.

IDEAL DURATION IN CHITTORGARH

The ideal duration in Chittorgarh is either the same day tour or a weekend tour. As the city only has Chittorgarh palace that is the biggest fort in Asia and would definitely take a whole day visit to know all the corners of the fort and the stories behind them. All the other attractions of the city are also in the fort compound. Hence, 1 day is more than enough to know the royal side of Chittorgarh.


BEST ATTRACTIONS IN CHITTORGARH






  • CHITTORGARH FORT


    Chittorgarh is a fort that has faced all kinds of emotions be it the royalty or the pain of war and losing its men. Even then this fort always came out to be invincible and was always re captured by the Sisodia Rajputs

    Chittorgarh fort is the biggest fort in the continent of Asia designed in more than 700 Acres and has a circumference of about 13 kilometres. It was like a housing colony for then rulers and countrymen. It has various palaces and homes of men of that time within its hemisphere.

    The fort wide most wide history of the brave Rajputs is a must visit location for the guests from different places.

  • VIJAY STAMBH


    The meaning of Vijay Stambh is the ‘tower of victory’. It is well ornamented and shows the royalty of then rulers and their men. It is 37 metres high and has a circumference of about 14.5 metres. The 9 storied towers with 157 steps are gorgeously decorated with different sculptures of Hindu god’s and goddesses.

    Also, the flow of great rivers like Ganga, Yamuna and Sravasti is been depicted in the huge tower. Vijay Stambh is also studded with faces and sculptures of celestial features. The tower is as old as 1400 century and still stands tall showing the amazing architecture practiced in the ancient times.

  • MEERA TEMPLE


    Meera Bai was a poet in the 16th century who is considered one of the biggest worshippers of the Hindu Lord Krishna. She used to write and sing songs for the lord whom she acclaimed to be deeply in love with. Meera temple is made in the memory of the poetess at the place in Chittorgarh where she used to perform her daily prayers and spiritual singings. The temple was constructed with the decoration of carvings that include the sculptures of Lord Krishna and other deities. This temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna himself and is visited by various pilgrims daily.

  • KALIKA MATA TEMPLE


    Kalika Mata Temple is a temple in the village of Chittorgarh and is a must visit attraction in the town for the pilgrims. It is dedicated to the goddess of Bhadrakali. The temple looks like a place and is made with sand coloured marbles and is sculptures carved on its wall that attracts the people from around the world to look at this holy place in the city of Chittorgarh. The temple is rooted in the small town since 8th century A.D.

  • GAUMUKH KUND


    It is an olden day water reservoir that is used for swimming these days and it also enhances the beauty of the fort in Chittorgarh. The name of the Kund suggests Gaumukh, meaning the face of a Cow (the animal is considered holy in the Hindu books) and Kund means Reservoir. Hence, the Kund looks like a face of a cow and is visited by all men and women who are sightseeing the royal city of Chittorgarh.