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In
1533 A.D., during the rule of Bikramjeet, came the second attack
from Bahadur Shah, the Sultan of Gujarat. Once
 again
Jauhar was led by Rani Karanavati, a Bundi princess. Her infant
son, Udai Singh was smuggled out of Chittaur to Bundi who
survived to inherit the throne of the citadel.
He learnt from his traumatic childhood that discretion is
preferred to valour. So in, 1567 A.D. when the Mughal Emperor
invaded Chittaur, Udai Singh fled to establish a new Capital,
Udaipur-a beautiful lake city, leaving behind Chittaur to be
defended by two 16 year old heroes, Jaimal of Bednore and Patta
of Kelwa.
These young men displayed true Rajput chivalry and died after
‘Jauhar’ was performed. Immediately thereafter Akbar razed the
fort to a rubble. Chittaur was never inhabited again but it
always asserted the heroic spirit of Rajput warriors.
Chittorgarh is one of the most fiercely contested seats of power
in India.About 72 miles (115 km) east of Udaipur, stands Chittor.
With its formidable fortifications,Bappa Rawal, the legendary
founder of the Sisodia dynasty, received Chittor in the middle
of the eighth century, as part of the last Solanki princess's
dowry. It crowns a seven-mile- long hill, covering 700 acres
(280 hectares), with its fortifications, temples, towers and
palaces.
From the eighth to the 16th century, Bappa Rawal's descendants
ruled over an important kingdom called Mewar stretching from
Gujarat to Ajmer. But during these eight centuries the seemingly
impregnable Chittor was surrounded, overrun, and sacked three
times.
Sacks of Chittor: In 1303 Allauddin khilji, Sultan of Delhi,
intrigued by tales of the matchless beauty of Padmini, Rani of
Chittor, of her wit and charm, decided to verify this himself.
His armies surrounded Chittor, and the sultan sent a message to
Rana Rattan Singh, Padmini's husband, to say that he would spare
the city if he could meet its famous queen. The compromise
finally reached was that the sultan could look upon Padmini's
reflection if he came unarmed into the fort. Accordingly, the
sultan went up the hill and glimpsed a reflection of the
beautiful Padmini standing by a lotus pool. He thanked his host
who courteously escorted Allauddin down to the outer gate-where
the sultan's men waited in ambush to take the rana hostage.
Places to Visit at Chittorhgarh
The Fort
The indomitable pride of Chittaur, the fort is a massive
structure with many gateways built by the later Maurya rulers in
 7th
century A.D. Perched on a height of 180 m. high hill, it sprawls
over 700 acres. The tablets and chattris within are impressive
reminders of the Rajput heroism.The main gates are Padal Pol,
Bhairon Pol Hanuman pol and Ram Pol. The fort has many
magnificent monuments-alll fine examples of the Rajput
architecture. The ancient ruins of the fort are worth spending
few moments in solitude.
Vijay Stambh (Victory Tower)
The imposing 37 metre high structure with nine storeys, covered
with exquisite sculputres of Hindu deities and depicting
episodes from the two great epics-Ramayana and Mahabharatha.
Kirti Stambh (Tower of Fame)
The 22 metres
high tower by a wealthy jain merchant in the 12th century A.D.
The tower is dedicated to Adinathji,the first of the Jain
Tirthankaras and is decorated with figures of the Jain pantheon.
How To Get To Chittorhgarh
By Air:
Udaipur is the nearest airport. Daily flight form Delhi, Mumbai,
Jaipur and Lucknow are available to Udaipur.
By Rail:
Chittaurgarh has rail links with Ahmedabad, Chittaurgarh,
Udaipur, Jaipur, Kota, Alwar and Delhi.
By Road:
Rajasthan Roadways run very comfortable deluxe & air conditioned
buses from Jaipur to Chittaurgarh. It is also connected by road
to Delhi, Mount Abu, Chittaurgarh, Bundi and Udaipur. |
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 Rajasthan is one of the 26 states that, along, with
seven union territories forms the republic of India. Rajasthan
is one of the 26 states that, along, with seven union
territories forms the republic of India. Located in the
north-west, it shares its borders with Punjab, Hariyana, Uttar
Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and and Gujarat, The Complete Rajasthan
-- Take a desert- burning sand in the long summers, large tracts
of dune-decked plains, with scarce water and even scarcer
vegetation and create a habitation with the mind's eye, if you
can. And the come to Rajasthan to see if you imagination can
begin to match where reality takes over.
History
Archaeological and historical evidence shows a continuous human
habitation of the area dating back 100,000 years. Between the
7th and the 11th century AD, several dynasties arose, with
Rajput strength reaching its peak at the beginning of the 16th
century. Emperor Akbar brought the Rajput states into the Mughal
Empire; by early 19th century, they allied with the Marathas.
Later, the British established supremacy in the region.
Rajasthan soon emerged as a centre of Indian nationalism. When
the new constitution went into effect in 1950, Rajput princes
surrendered their powers to the Indian Union.`
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