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Chittaurgarh
Population
: 79,000
Main
Languages
: Rajasthani, Hindi.
Telephone
area code
: 01472
Best
time to visit
: October to March
The pride and
glory of Rajasthan, Chittaur echoes with the tales of romance
and valour unique to Rajput tradition. The fortified settlement
has been ravaged thrice and each time the outcome was “Jauhar”
– when women and children immolated themselves on a huge funeral
pyre while men donned in saffron robes of martyrdom rode out
of the fort towards certain death.
Ala-ud-din
Khilji was the first to attack Chittaur in 1303 A.D. overpowered
by a passionate desire to possess the regal beauty, queen
Padmini. Legend has it, that he saw her face in the reflection
of a mirror and was struck by her mesmerising beauty. But
the queen preferred death to dishonor and committed Jauhar.
In
1533 A.D. it was attacked by Bahadur Shah, the Sultan of Gujarat.
Once again Jauhar was led by Rani Karnavati, a Bundi princess
whose infact son was smuggled out of Chittor to Bundi who
survived to inherit the throne of the citadel. He learnt from
his traumatic childhood that discretion is preferred to valour.
So, in 1567 A.D. when Mughals invaded Chittor, he fled to
establish a new capital, Udaipur, leaving Chittaur to be defended
by tow 16 year old heroes, Jaimal of Bednore and Patta of
Kelwa. These young men displayed true Rajput chivalry and
died after “Jauhar” was performed. Immediately thereafter
Akbar razed the fort to a rubble.
Chittaur
was never inhabited again but it always asserted the heroic
spirt of Rajput warriors.
Places of Interest
The
fort,
is a massive structure with many gateways built by later Maurya
rulers in 7th century A.D. Perched at a height
of 180 m high hill, it sprawls over 700 acres. The main gates
are Padam Pol, Hanuman Pol and Ram Fort. The fort has many
magnificent monuments – all fine examples of the Rajput architecture
and most notable ones are :
The
Vijay Stambh, a 37m high structure with nine storeys, covered with
sculptures of Hindu deities and depicting episodes from Mahabharata
and Ramayana. It was built by in 1440 A.D. by Maharana Kumbha
to commemorate his victory over Muslim rulers of Malwa and
Gujarat.
Rana
Kumbha’s Palace,
is the most massive monument of Chittaur. The palace is said
to have underground cellars where Rani Padmini and other women
committed Jauhar.
Padmini’s
Palace, is
built besides a pool. It was here that Rana Ratan Singh showed
a glimpse of the queen to Ala-ud-din Khilji. The bronze gates
of this pavilion were carried off by Akbar and can now be
seen in the fort at Agra.
Tower
of Fame or the Kirti Stambha,
was built around 12th century and is 22m high.
Built by a Jain merchant, it is dedicated to Adinath, the
first Jain tirthankara.
HOW
TO REACH
By
Air
Nearest
airport is Udaipur (112 kms).
By
Train
Raiway
station is at a distance of 6 kms from the fort.
By Road
112 kms from Udaipur, 182 kms from Ajmer & 152 kms from
Bundi.
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