Chittourgarh

Chittourgarh is known as the Town of the Brave and Chivalrous. The massive fort situated on a hilltop is evidence of its glories and tragedies. A mute witness to some of the bloodiest battles in history, Chittourgarh Fort saw three great turbulent eras of war and Johar (self-immolation by royal women and children to save themselves from the dishonor at the hands of the enemy soldiers) known as Sakas. The tales of valor, intrigues and loyalty are the main theme of the folk songs of the local musicians at Chittourgarh known as bards.

It is difficult to estimate the antiquity of Chittaurgarh because of lack of historical records. However, there is one legend associated with the place that dates back to Mahabharata. It is believed that a sage living here knew the secrets of immortality. Bhima, the second Pandava, requested the sage to make him his disciple and grant him with the rare knowledge. However, Bhima had an impatient nature. Hence, he could not complete the rites and attain his goal, which made him very angry. He stomped his foot on ground with such force that a reservoir called Bhim Lat was created.

Historically, Chittaurgarh was under Mauryas or Muri Rajputs at first. Around mid-8th century, Bappa Rawal got Chittaur as a part of the dowry when he was married to the last Solanki princess. Bappa Rawal went on to lay the foundations of the mighty Sisodia clan and his descendants ruled the princely state called Mewar. The kingdom of Mewar stretched from Gujarat to Ajmer, and Chittaurgarh was the capital of the Mewar rulers until 1568. By this time, Emperor Akbar was expanding his empire and Maharana Udai Singh realized that he has to shift his capital to a more secure place and founded the city of Udaipur.

Chittourgarh is full of stories of heroism and sacrifice. The very aura in the city speaks volumes about medieval notions of Rajput pride, gallantry, romance and spirit. Standing 180 m above the plains below on a hill with steep slopes, Chittorgarh Fort was attacked thrice by an army much stronger than the might of the kingdom. In 1303, the legendary beauty of Queen Padmini fuelled lust and desire in the Pathan King Ala-ud-din Khilji who besieged the fort and raged a bloody war to capture her. However, all the royal ladies committed Johar, along with Padmini, to avoid the dishonor.

The sacrificial fire was again lit in 1535, when Bahadur Shah - the Sultan of Gujarat- besieged the fort. Rani Karnwati led the women folk to the fire as about 32000 men wore saffron robes of martyrdom and plunged into the battle, even when they knew the outcome. The third Johar again took place only 33 years later, when Emperor Akbar completely destroyed the Fort. Mughal Emperor Jehangir restored the fort to the Rajput in 1616 and a new township sprang on the foothills of the fort. The city of Chittaurgarh is now accessible by both road and railway network.

Suggested Tour Packages

Palace on Wheels Rajasthan Cultural Tour

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