|
| |
Home DestinationIndiaStatesRajasthanChittorgarh
|
|
Chittorgarh |
Information
|
|
|
Visit us for the hotels booking in
Chittorgarh including five star, four
star, and budget hotels, tour itinerary for Chittorgarh, travel packages for
Chittorgarh, get
the travel information, description of sightseeings and excursions of
Chittorgarh.
|
|
Chittorgarh, the awe-inspiring hill fort built on a massive rock 3 miles long
and 495 feet high, lies 72 miles north-east Udaipur. It was said that this fort
was the key to all of Rajputana, and any conqueror who had ambitions on
Rajputana had to be the finest medieval Hindu fort in existence. But more than
that, it is cloaked in legends of valor, chivalry and glorious death and
occupies a preeminent position in the Rajput psyche.
Chittorgarh was built in the 8th century by Bappa Rawal the first of the great
Sisodia rulers. Between then and 1567 it fell victim to three bloody sieges,
each one ending in glorious defeat and jauhar, the mass self-sacrifice of its
womenfolk in a sacred fire
Destination chittorgarh
RANA KUMBHA'S PALACE
A painting of Rana Kumbha's Palace Past the crenelated, hole fort wall, you come
to the oldest palace of Chittorgarh, Rana Kumbha's palace, with its beautiful
series of cantilevered, canopied balconies and a stepped outer wall. Beneath its
courtyard is an underground passage leading to the chamber where Rani Padmini is
said to have performed jauhar. Opposite this palace lies Kunwar Pade Ka Mahal, a
wonderful example of early Rajput architecture. Just beyond lies the imposing
temple of Vraj-ji, built by Rana Kumbha, and , nearby the temple of Mirabai, the
celebrated 16th century poet saint.
PADMINI'S PALACE
The famous Padmini's Palace Still further south beyond Chonda's Palace, lies the
palace of Rani Padmini. According to legend, she is said to have been a Sri
Lankan princess, so fair and delicate that when she drank water, you could see
it pass through the throat . The original palace was a beautiful water palace, a
forerunner of the later Jag Mandir and Jag Niwas in Udaipur.What you see today,
however is a 19th century recreation that bears little resemblance to the
original. However you are shown a mirror on the wall of an adjacent building and
invited to simulate for yourself how Alauddin Khilji must have gazed on the
reflection of Rani Padmini in the waters behind him. As you turn north again,
and continue along the eastern ramparts, you come to Suraj Pol. Look down on the
plains below from here: this is where Akbar's forces are said to have camped
during their final campaign for Chittorgarh.
VIJAYSTAMBHA
The real architectural masterpiece at Chittorgarh, however is Rana Kumbha's
great Vijaystambha ,built in a Jain revivalist style . It has been restored
subsequently, but if you look at the upper stories, you can see the splendidly
carved original panels, depicting a variety of Hindu gods and goddesses.As you
walk south from the Vijaystambha, you come to the Maha sati, the terrace where
the maharanas were cremated.This was also the site of Chittorgarh's second great
jauhar in 1535 ,Just beyond this lies Gomukh, a large tank, fed by a perennial
spring through a rock carved with the face of a cow.
TOWER OF FAME
Further north lies another fine tower, the seven-story Kirti stambha dating back
to the 12th century and dedicated to the great Jain saint, Adinatha.Still
further north, on the great rock of Chittorgarh, lie the ruins of Rana Ratan
Singh's beautiful palace, set by a small lake it is similar in style to Rana
Kumbha's palace, except that it is perfectly rectangular in shape, a fact that
is somewhat now by the ruins and subsequent alterations.
KALIKA MATA TEMPLE
Toward the south end of the fort lies the Kalika Mata Temple. This temple is
originally dedicated to Surya, the sun god. It dates back to the 8th century
,which makes it the oldest structure in the fort.
Online
Reservation Form.... (
Tours Package, Hotels, Car Rentals )
|
