The most romantic name in Rajasthan, is Chittaur.
Chittaur is more than a ruined citadel; it is a symbol of all that was
brave, true and noble in the glorious Rajput tradition. Chittaur was attacked
three times, and on each occasion, the ritual of 'Jauhar', which involved
throwing oneself into raging fire or a well, as the case may be, to be
spared humiliation at the hands of the enemy, was performed. The first
instance was in 1303, when Allauddin Khilji, Sultan of Delhi, coveted the
famous Rajput beauty, Rani Padmini. Padmini led the Jauhar, rather than
submit to dishonour. The second instance, was in 1533, when the Sultan
of Gujarat attacked Bikramjeet of Chittaur. Rani Karnavati led the Jauhar,
in which many women and children were killed.
Sightseeing
The Fort
Believed to be constructed by later Mauryan rulers in 7th century A.D.,
this fort is located on a 180 m high hill. With a distinct Rajput character,
the fort has many architectural attractions.
Vijay Sthamb (Victory
Tower)
Built by Maharana Kumbha, in commemoration of victory over the Muslim rulers
of Malwa and Gujarat, in 1440 A.D., this 37 m high tower is a structure
of nine towers.
Kirti Sthamb (Tower
of Fame)
This 22 m high tower was built by a wealthy Jain merchant, in the 12th
century A.D., and is dedicated to Adinathji, the first of the Jain Tirthankaras.
The tower is decorated with figures from the Jain pantheon.
Rana Kumbha's Palace
Although in ruins, this palace is of great historical and architectural
interest. It is believed that in one of the underground cellars, Rani Padmini
and other women committed Jauhar. This palace is the biggest monument in
the Fort of Chittaur.
Kalika Mata Temple
A temple of Goddess Kali, it is the symbol of power and valour. Originally
built as a Sun temple in the 8th century, it was converted into the Kalika
Mata temple, in the 14th century A.D.
Government Museum
The magnificent Fateh Prakash Mahal, has been converted into a museum,
which has a rich collection of sculptures.
Access
Air: Udaipur (112 km) is the nearest airport.
Rail: Chittaurgarh is connected with Ajmer, Jaipur, Alwar, Delhi,
Udaipur and Ahmedabad.
Road: Delhi and Mount Abu are, 583 km and 297 km away, respectively.
Accomodation
Standard Hotels:
Hotel Padmini,
RTDC Hotel Panna,
Hotel Jag.
Budget Hotels:
Hotel Shalimar,
Hotel Keshab,
Hotel Satkar,
Hotel Alka
