Chittorgarh Fort is one of the most romantic forts in Rajasthan. It is again considered as one of the most formidable forts in India. An unconquered pride of Chittor, the Chittorgarh Fort is known for the heroism of Rajputana dynasty their courage, sacrifice and bravery. The Fort of Chittorgarh is a treasure trove of history that gives an insight view of the life of the Great Rajput rulers. The fort is located on a hill that dominates the modern township of Chittor. It is a fine example of the Rajput style of architecture.

Legend has it that it was because of the beautiful Padmini that Chittaurgarh was sacked the first time. When Sultan Ala-ud-din Khilji, the ruler of Delhi, heard of Padmini’s beauty, he requested Rana Rattan Singh (her husband) for a glimpse of the queen. However, the Sultan was permitted to see only the reflection of the queen from a water tank that overlooked the palace. Ala-ud-din is said to have been so carried away by Padmini’s beauty that he attacked Chittor in order to possess her. This led to the first bitter and bloody siege of the Chittaurgarh fort and the subsequent mass suicide.

Believed to be built by Mauryan rulers in 7th century, Chittorgarh Fort is situated 175 km east of Udaipur and is named after Chitrangad Maurya. The fort stands on a 180 m high hill with the total area of 700 acres, the only fort in the region with seven gates namely Padan Pol, Bhairon Pol, Hanuman Pol, Ganesh Pol, Jorla Pol, Lakshman Pol, and Rampol to the main gate.

There are many palaces, temples and reservoir located on the turf of Chittorgarh Fort but the main tourist attractions are two towers such as the 'Kirti Stambh' or Tower of Fame and the 'Vijay Stambh' or Tower of Victory. All these monuments and structures epitomizes the romance and bravery of the Rajput tradition.

The Kirti Stambh 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 dated approximately around the 12th century AD. It is dedicated to the first Jain tirthankara or spiritual teacher, Adinath, and has an impressive five-feet-high statue of the saint.

However, the most imposing structure within the Chittaurgarh Fort is the Vijay Stambh. This tower can even be seen from the town, which is located below the fort. This exemplary piece of architecture stands on a pedestal of 47 square feet and 10 feet high, while 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. It is believed that the tower took 10 years to be completed. The tower was built around the 15th century AD, by Rana Kumbha, one of the most powerful Mewar kings. The tower was built to commemorate his 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 below 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. According to legend, Ala-ud-din Khilji, the Sultan of Delhi, was allowed to see the reflection of Queen Padmini in this palace. A big water reservoir with water gushing out of a rock shaped in the form of cow’s mouth called ‘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 dating back to the 8th century.

Rail:- Chittaurgarh does not have an airport. It has rail links to cities like Ahmedabad, Ajmer, Udaipur, Jaipur, Kota, and Delhi.

October to February