Chittorgarh, the fort (garh) at Chittor, is the greatest in Rajasthan, and is well worth reshuffl ing an itinerary to explore. It rises from the plains like a huge rock island, nearly 6km long and surrounded on all sides by 150m plus cliffs. Wandering around the plateau on top is like being on an island in the sky, or a gigantic boat, dotted with a collection of sublimely beautiful stone buildings. Chittorgarh’s history epitomises Rajput romanticism, chivalry and tragedy, and it holds a special place in the hearts of many Rajputs. Three times Chittorgarh was under attack from a more powerful enemy; each time, its people chose death before dishonour, performing jauhar. The men donned saffron martyrs’ robes and rode out from the fort to certain death, while the women and children immolated themselves on huge funeral pyres. The first of Chittor’s three great disasters occurred in 1303 when the Delhi sultan Alaud-din Khilji besieged the fort – according to legend, in order to capture the beautiful Padmini, the wife of the Mewar king Ratan Singh. When defeat was inevitable, the men rode out to die and the Rajput noblewomen, including Padmini, committed jauhar. Mewar recaptured the fort in 1326 and under Rana Kumbha (1433-68), a poet and musician as well as a military leader, Chittorgarh reached its cultural peak and Mewar attained its territorial zenith. A siege by Bahadur Shah, the sultan of Gujarat, in 1535, precipitated the second great jauhar, in which, it’s thought, 13,000 Rajput women and 32,000 Rajput warriors died. The final sacking of Chittor came just 33 years later, in 1568, when the Mughal emperor Akbar took the fort. Once again, the odds were overwhelming, and again the women performed jauhar, while 8000 orange-robed warriors rode out to certain death. On this occasion, Rana Udai Singh II fled to Udaipur, where he established a new capital for Mewar. In 1616, Jehangir returned Chittor to the Rajputs. There was no attempt at resettlement, though it was restored in 1905.
EXPLORING THE FORT A typical vehicular exploration of the fort takes two to three hours. Guides charging around ₹350 for up to four hours are available for either walking or autorickshaw tours, usually at the ticket office. Make sure you get a government guide (they carry a guide licence)
List of other places to visit :
Rana Kumbha Palace
Meera & Kumbha Shyam Temples
Tower of Victory
Gaumukh Reservoir
Padmini’s Palace
Surajpol & Tower of Fame
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