
The town of Chittorgarh still echoes with the stories of valor,
chivalry and sacrifice of its past heroes. This historic town that
is spread over a 7- mile long hill has been one of the most fiercely
contested seats of power in Indian history. Ravaged thrice, this
town also has been a witness to some of the bloodiest battles ever
recorded.
Alauddin Khilji was the first to attack Chittorgarh in 1303 A.D.
Legend has it that he was captivated by the beauty of the then
queen Padmini and was overcome by an overwhelming desire to possess
her. But the noble queen chose death over dishonor and committed
Jauhar along with other women. Bahadur Shah led a second attack
on Chittorgarh in 1533 A.D. immediately followed by Emperor Akbar
who reduced the town to rubble. But the spirit of bravery and
sacrifice shown by the valiant people of Chittorgarh on each occasion
still reverberates among the ruins. A visit to this town of the
brave would be the experience of a lifetime. The best time to
travel to Chittorgarh is during the winters.
Chittorgarh Fort Perched on a steep hill, the Chittorgarh
Fort is the most famous tourist attraction of Chittorgarh. This
impressive structure is a silent reminder of the glorious past of
Chittorgarh. Covering an impressive area of 700 acres this fort
was built by the Mauryas in the 7th century. Even though most of
it is in ruins, the fort still manages to capture the imagination
of anyone who visits it. The exquisitely carved chattris and the
impressive main gate (Suraj Pol) are classic examples of Rajput
architeture.
The Vijay Stambh or The Victory Tower was built
by Rana Kumbha to mark his victory over Mahmud Khilji, the ruler
of Malwa in 1440. The 37 m high structure with 9 storeys is richly
decorated with sculptures of Hindu deities and is one of the most
interesting places you can visit when you travel to Chittorgarh
Rana Kumbha's Palace This ruined edifice is
the biggest monument inside the Chittorgarh Fort. The palace is
supposed to have underground cellars where Rani Padmini and her
women committed Jauhar to escape dishonor.
How To Get There??
Air : The nearest airport to Chittorgarh is at
Udaipur, which is 112 km away. The airport has frequent flights
to Delhi, Jaipur, Mumbai and Lucknow.
Rail :Regular trains link Chittorgarh to cities
like Delhi, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Udaipur and Jodhpur.
Road :Good networks of roads connect Chittorgarh
to some major cities like Delhi, Jaipur, Ahmedabad and Jodhpur.
Bus and taxi services are easily available to many major locations.