Chittorgarh

On the way from Jaipur to Udaipur, a stop off at Chittorgarh will not disappoint.

Chittorgarh, the town of the brave, known for its massive fort atop a hill, which can be singled out for its glorious past. The fort has a chequered history, it has witnessed some of the bloodiest battles in history, three great sakas and some of the most heroic deeds of valour, which are still sung by the local musicians.

The antiquity of Chittorgarh is difficult to trace, but it's believed that Bhim the legendary figure of the Mahabharata, visited this place to learn the secrets of immortality and became the disciple of a sage, but his impatience to perform all the rites deprived him of his goal, and out of sheer anger he stamped on the ground creating a water reservoir, this reservoir is called as BhimLat.

Later on, it came under Mauryas or Muri Rajputs, there are different opinions as to when it came under the Mewar ruler, but it remained the capital of Mewar till 1568, when it was shifted to Udaipur. It's believed that Bappa Rawal the legendary founder of Sisodia clan, received Chittorgarh in the middle of 8th century, as a part of the dowry after marriage with lst Solanki princess, after that his descendants ruled Mewar which stretched from Gujrat to Ajmer, up to the 16th century.

The fort, a standing sentinel to the courage and valour of Chittorgarh, it stands tall over a 180 meter high hillock covering a massive area of 700 acres. The fort is believed to have been built by the Maurya rulers in 7th century A.D. The fort is a treasure house of history and historical monuments, the approach to the fort is very difficult. the one mile steep serpentine thoroughfare is exhaustive and the fort is reached through huge seven pols or gates, which are in fact the strong points having a watch tower and massive iron spiked doors. it was ravaged thrice, and each time phoenix-like it rose again. Allaudin Khilji was the first who invaded Chittorgarh in 1303, legend and history corroborate that this was because of his passionate desire to abduct Rani Padmini. .But she preferred death to dishonour, and committed Jauhar along with the other ladies of the court.

Chittorgarh was plundered again in 1535 by Sultan Bahadur Shah of Gujrat and finally by the Moghul Emperor Akbar, in 1567, in and attempt to subdue Maharana Udai Singh.
The fort is approached through massive pols or gates.

Near Bhairon Pol, is a cenotaph or "Chattri" in honour of the chivalrous Jaimal and his cousin Kala, who laid down their lives whilst defending Chittorgarh against the Mughals. Jaimal who was carried seriously wounded, but was not ready to die in his bed, thus he was carried into battle on the shoulders of his cousin Kala, both of them died while showing exemplary courage.

At Rampol is a memorial to Phatta, who was only 16 years old and had just been married, his father has already died defending Chittorgarh , and was sent into the battle by his mother, to free her son from any affection towards home she herself picked up a sword along with his bride and jumped into the battle field both of them died in front of Phatta. Next day the women folk of the palace ended their lives by committing Johar. Phatta leading the safron robed men from the front thundered down like lightening from the mighty fortress to die fighting. The other major gates are Pada Pol and Hanuman Pol, with a distinct Rajput style of architecture.