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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. But the noble queen
preferred death to dishonor and committed 'Jauhar'.
Chittaur was never inhabited again but it always
asserted the heroic spirit of Rajput warriors.
How to get there
Rail
Chittorgarh is connected on the metre guage with Ajmer,
Delhi, Jaipur, Ratlam, Udaipur. However the convenient
railhead is Udaipur.
Road
Regular bus service from Agra 557 km, Ajmer 182 km,
Delhi 578 km, Jaipur 320 km, Jodhpur, Mount Abu 390 km
and Udaipur 115 km to Chittaurgarh.
In and around
The Fort
The indomitable pride of Chittaur, the fort is a massive
structure with many gateways built by the later Maurya
rulers in the 7th century AD. Perched on a height of 180
m high hill, it sprawls over 700 acres.
Vijay Stambha
The imposing 37m high structure with nine storeys,
covered with exquisite sculptures of Hindu deities and
depicting episodes from the two great epics - Ramayana
and Mahabharata.
Kirti Stambha (Tower of Fame)
The 22m high tower built by a wealthy Jain merchant in
the 12th century AD.
Rana-Kumbha Palace
The ruined edifice of great historical and architectural
interest, being the most massive monument in the fort of
Chittaur. The palace is believed to have underground
cellars where Rani Padmini and other women commited
Jauhar.
Padmini Palace
Built beside a pool the palace is a magnificent one. It
was here that Rana Ratan Singh showed a glimpse of queen
Padmini to Alauddin Khilji.
Meera Temple
The temple where Meerabai worshipped Lord Krishna is
built in north Indian style on a raised plinth with a
conical roof and beautiful inner sanctum. An open
colonnade around the sanctum has four small pavilions in
each corner.
Nagari
20 km - One of the oldest towns of Rajasthan of great
importance during the Mauryan period, is situated on the
banks of river Bairach. The Hindu and Buddhist remains
from the Mauryan and Gupta period are found here |
