Location
: Chittaurgarh
Built in : 7th century
Highlights : Vijay Stambh. Resevoir
Perfect Time to Visit : October to March
Chittaurgarh Fort, initially called Chitrakot, is a living testimony of the
heroic deeds of the valorous Rajput nobles and sacrifices of the beautiful
queens. 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. It is a fine example of Rajput style of
architecture and dominates the modern township of Chittor. The immense
stretch of the walls and the ruined palaces relate the saga of innumerable
sieges and heroism. The fort is approached through massive pols of gates.
Its impressive location and colorful history is the main source of
attraction in Chittor town.
The fort is a living example of the bravery of the Rajputs, its main
highlight is the Kirti Stambh, which is a seven-storied structure with a
cramped stairway of 54 steps. It is 30 feet at the base and narrows down to
15 feet at the top and is adorned with Jain sculptures on the outside. It is
dedicated to the first Jain tirthankara or spiritual teacher, Adinath, and
has an impressive 5 feet high statue of the saint. Vijay Stambh or the
victory tower is the most imposing structure within the Chittaurgarh Fort.
The tower alone stands at a height of 122 feet and is 30 feet wide at the
base. There are 157 steps and the stairs are circular. The tower was built
to commemorate Rana Kumbha's victory over Mahmud Khilji of Malwa. The entire
structure is covered with sculptures of Hindu deities and episodes from the
two great Hindu epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, with names given
under each piece of sculpture.
The Sammidheshwara Temple is near this tower. Gaumukh reservoir and the
palace of Queen Padmini are important spots to the south of the Rana Kumbha
Palace. Gaumukh is close to the opening of the cave where Rani Padmini and
the other women are believed to have performed jauhar. Other spots worth
visiting are the Bhimtal Tank, Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, Meera Temple,
Kumbha Shyam Temple, and Kalika Mata Temple
How to Reach
Air :Closest airport is Udaipur (112 km )
Rail : It has link to cities like Ahmedabad, Ajmer, Udaipur, Jaipur,
Kota, and Delhi.
Road : The city is well connected with buses. For local transport,
one can use auto-rickshaws and taxis.
