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The Fort is what Chittaur is famous for. It is located on a hilltop 6
 kms away from the railway station. The
histoy of the Fort is a history of the valiant traditions of Rajasthan. The city was ravaged three times and on all occasions the citizens resorted to the ultimate Rajput tradition of Jauhar, as honour was valued much more than death. The men rode out to war to face death and, knowing that defeat was imminent, the women and children created a huge funeral pyre and immolated themselves.
The Pathan King of Delhi, Alauddin Khiji was the first to ransack the city in 1303 AD overpowered by a passionate desire for the beautiful queen Padmini. But he was never destined to possess her as she immolated herself along with the other women of the city.
Two centuries later, in 1535, Bahadur Shah won a savage victory and the tradition of Jauhar was repeated. In 1568, the Emperor Akbar tried to take the city, again resulting in the same outcome. |
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The Fort: A climb of a kilometre brings one up to this spectacular fort that was built by Maurya rulers in the 7th century AD. From its perch 180 metres high on a hill, it provides a magnificent view of the surroundings. The Fort has many gates, the main one being Ram Pol. The long walk around the Fort covers 7 kilometres and includes many sights, some of which are listed below. Two Chhatris, or memorials, are also visible while walking up. These were constructed to immortalise two valiant heroes of the battle against Akbar.
Jaya Stambh (Tower of Victory): The tower was constructed by Maharaja Rana Kumbha to mark a victorious battle in 1440 AD over the Muslim rulers of Malwa and Gujarat. The nine-storey structure is 37 metres high and it is possible to climb some of the way up by the narrow stairs. It is decorated with sculptures dedicated to Hindu deities, some of which represent scenes from the Hindu epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata.
Kirti Stambh (Tower of Fame): This tower is smaller but was built earlier in the 12th century AD by a Jain merchant who dedicated it to Adinath, the first of the Jain Tirthankaras. It is a Digambara (or sky clad) monument as it has naked figures of various Jain tirthankars.
Rana Kumbha's Palace: The ruins of this large monument can be seen in the Fort. Legend has it that it was from here that Alauddin Khilji first glimpsed, and became obsessed with possessing, queen Padmini. Legend has it that he saw her in a mirror while she was standing in her palace; an unfortunate incident which later culminated in the sacking of Chittaur. A temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is also constructed here.
Padmini's Palace: The palace is built next to a large pool and has a pavilion in the centre, the same pavilion, 'Zanana Mahal', where the queen was standing when Alauddin Khilji caught a glimpse of her. The bronze gates to the palace are missing from here as they were carted away by Emperor Akbar, in the 16th century, and installed at the Agra Fort.
Archeological office and museum: These stand across the main palace and occupy a small portion of the comparatively recent Fateh Prakash Palace.
Also in the Fort compound are the Kumbha Shyam Temple, the Meera Temple and the Kalika Mata Temple.
Bassi Wildlife Sanctuary: This is a small sanctuary 50 km away, that can be visited after obtaining permission from the District Forest Officer at Chittaur.
Bijaipur: A 16th century castle stands at Bijaipur, 40 km from Chittaur. It has been converted into a heritage hotel. Menal: 90 km away, on the Bundi-Chittaur road, is a complex of ancient Shiva temples at Menal. It is a nice place to be during the monsoons as there are numerous waterfalls in an idyllic setting. |
