Where is the Chittorgarh Fort?
The Chittorgarh Fort is located at a distance of 330 km southwest of Jaipur
in the state of Rajasthan in northwestern India. Chittaur was once the
Sisodia capital of Mewar from the early 13th century until the Mughal
emperor Akbar's conquest in the year 1567.
How will you gain access?
Maharana Pratap Airport, Udaipur is the closest airport from Chittaur.
There are daily flights connecting to Delhi, Mumbai, Jodhpur and Jaipur.
Chittaur station has fabulous links with Jaipur, Udaipur and Delhi by the
Chetak Express. By road, the city is connected to Delhi, Jaipur, Ajmer and
Udaipur. The NH 8 connects Jaipur and Delhi to NH 79 at Ajmer. From Ajmer,
Chittaur is a 3¾-hour drive. Chittaurgarh is a 2½-hour drive from
Udaipur.
What are the timings and the entry charges?
The visiting hours of the Chittaurgarh Fort is from 10-00 hours to 16-30
hours. Entry fee for Indians is Rs 5, while for foreigners it is Rs 100
each.
What does the past say?
It was Mori Rajput ruler Chitrangad who began the construction of the fort
between the 5th and the 8th centuries. Covering an large area of 700 acres,
the Chittaurgarh Fort has stood witness to a number of battles. The battles
were so incredible that they now seem to be myths rather than legends. The
fort was taken by the Gehlot founder Bappa Rawal in 734. It remained
occupied for the next eight centuries by a succession of the Rajputs and the
Gujratis. The fort once housed 70,000 people, seeming more of a colony that
a monument.
What goes behind the architecture?
The Chittorgarh Fort is one of the fantastic examples of the Rajput style
of architecture. The gigantic structure of the fort has seven enormous
gateways namely the Padan Pol,
the Bhairon Pol, the Hanuman Pol, the Ganesha Pol, the Jorla Pol,
the Lakshman Pol and the Ram Pol. The main attractions within the fort are
the 'Kirti Stambh, (Tower of Fame) and the 'Vijay Stambh' (Tower of
Victory). Apart from these, there are a number of temples, reservoirs and
palaces dating between the 9th and 17th centuries.
» The Kirti Stambh
The Kirti Stambh is a seven-storey structure, measuring 30 feet at the base
and 15 feet at the top. The tower dates back around the 12th century AD. The
tower stands in dedication to Adinath, the first Jain Teerthankar. There is
even a five-foot-high statue of the saint here.
» Vijay Stambh
The Vijay Stambh, the most spectacular sight within the fort, can even be
seen from the town. Standing on a pedestal of 47 square feet, the huge tower
is a magnificent piece of architecture. The tower reaches up to a height of
122 feet, with its base being 30 feet wide. The entire structure of the
tower bears sculptures of the Hindu deities and depicts various scenes from
the Hindu epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata.
The Sammidheshwara Temple, the Gaumukh reservoir, the Bhimtal Tank,
the Meera Temple, the Kumbha Shyam Temple, the Kalika Mata Temple and the
Palace of Queen Padmini are the other popular attractions within the
precinct.
