Chittaurgarh

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