Chittaurgarh

India City: Chittaurgarh
	Population : 79,000 Languages : Hindi. Telephone area code : 01472 Best time to visit : October to March Chittaurgarh is the pride and glory of Rajasthan. Chittaurgarh echoes with the tales of romance and valour unique to Rajput tradition. The 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 certain death. Ala-ud-din Khilji was the first to attack Chittaur in 1303 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 mesmerising beauty. But the queen preferred death to dishonor and committed Jauhar. In 1533 A.D. it was attacked by Bahadur Shah, the Sultan of Gujarat. Once again Jauhar was led by Rani Karnavati, a Bundi princess whose infact son was smuggled out of Chittor 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 Mughals invaded Chittor, he fled to establish a new capital, Udaipur , leaving Chittaur to be defended by tow 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 spirt of Rajput warriors. The fort, is a massive structure with many gateways built by later Maurya rulers in 7^th century A.D. Perched at a height of 180 m high hill, it sprawls over 700 acres. The main gates are Padam Pol, Hanuman Pol and Ram Fort. The fort has many magnificent monuments all fine examples of the Rajput architecture and most notable ones are : The Vijay Stambh, a 37m high structure with nine storeys, covered with sculptures of Hindu deities and depicting episodes from Mahabharata and Ramayana. It was built by in 1440 A.D. by Maharana Kumbha to commemorate his victory over Muslim rulers of Malwa and Gujarat. Rana Kumbha's Palace, is the most massive monument of Chittaur. The palace is said to have underground cellars where Rani Padmini and other women committed Jauhar. Padmini's Palace, is built besides a pool. It was here that Rana Ratan Singh showed a glimpse of the queen to Ala-ud-din Khilji. The bronze gates of this pavilion were carried off by Akbar and can now be seen in the fort at Agra . Tower of Fame or the Kirti Stambha, was built around 12^th century and is 22m high. Built by a Jain merchant, it is dedicated to Adinath, the first Jain tirthankara. How To Reach By Air Nearest airport is Udaipur (112 kms). By Train Raiway station is at a distance of 6 kms from the fort. By Road 112 kms from Udaipur , 182 kms from Ajmer & 152 kms from Bundi .