Chittaurgarh exhibits the pride and glory of Rajasthan in the form of its various forts and monuments. It is a ruined citadel where the royal past lives in the imposing forts, graceful palaces and spectacular chhatris. The entire city echoes with the tales of romance and valor unique to the Rajput tradition.The Chittaurgarh Fort :
The Chittaurgarh Fort is a living testimony to the bravery of the great Rajput rulers who laid down their life fighting a superior enemy instead of leading a life of submission. The fort is located on a hill that dominates the modern township of Chittor. It is a fine example of the Rajput style of architecture.
The fort of Chittor is believed to have been the capital of the Gahlot and Sisodia kings who ruled Mewar from the eighth to the sixteenth century AD.
The fort is named after Chittrangad Mauraya. The Sisodia ruler Ajay Pal (AD 1174-1177) improved the fort wall built by the Gahlot king in the ninth century AD The fort has witnessed three ferocious sieges and each time her defenders, demonstrating true Rajputana pride, fought valiantly against the enemies. The magnificent fort rises 150 m above the surrounding region and runs to an approximate length of 3 km covering an area of 60 acres and peripheral length of 13 km.
Legends
Legend has it that it was because of the beautiful Padmini that Chittaurgarh was sacked the first time. When Sultan Ala-ud-din Khilji, the ruler of Delhi, heard of Padmini’s beauty, he requested Rana Rattan Singh (her husband) for a glimpse of the queen. However, the Sultan was permitted to see only the reflection of the queen from a water tank that overlooked the palace. Ala-ud-din is said to have been so carried away by Padmini’s beauty that he attacked Chittor in order to possess her. This led to the first bitter and bloody siege of the Chittaurgarh fort and the subsequent mass suicide.
How to Reach
Chittaurgarh does not have an airport. It has rail links to cities like Ahmedabad, Ajmer, Udaipur, Jaipur, Kota, and Delhi. There are also regular buses for Ajmer, Bundi, Kota, and Udaipur from Chittaurgarh. For local transport, one can use auto-rickshaws and taxis.