Chittorgarh (also Chittor, Chittaur, or Chittaurgarh) is presently a municipal town and district head quarter and a former capital of the Sisodia clans of Rajputs of Mewar. It lies on the Berach River; a tributary of the Banas. The historical importance of the place is existence of Fortress Chittorgarh, the largest fortress in India at an average elevation of 394 M (1292 ft).

Fiercely independent, the fort of Chittor was under siege thrice and each time they fought bravely and thrice Jauhar was committed by the ladies and children, first lead by Rani Padmini, and later by Rani Karnavati. Jauhar (Johar) and Saka is the honorary self immolation of men and women of the Khatri, Arora, Rajput and Jatt clans in order to avoid capture and dishonour at the hands of their enemies. The practice was observed by Hindu and Sikh women in Mughal times. Such painful method (burning) was preferred over other painless and easy ways like poisoning or hanging, was because muslim invaders buried the dead women instead of crementating them.

History:
Chittorgarh is the example of Chattari Rajput (Indian warrior caste) pride, romance and spirit for people of Chittor always chose death before surrendering against anyone. Chittor was built by the Maurya dynasty in the 7th century AD and named Chitrakut after Chitrangada Mori, a Rajput chieftain as inscribed on ancient Mewari coins. The fortress is unique in size and shape. It is surrounded by a circular wall which has seven huge gates before one can enter inside the main fort area. According to some historians, the Mori dynasty was in possession of the fort when  Bappa Rawal the founder of the kingdom of Mewar seized Chittorgarh (Chittor fort) and made it his capital in 734 AD. While other historians say Bappa Rawal received it as a part of the dowry after marriage with the last Solanki princess. His descendants ruled Mewar, which stretched from Gujarat to Ajmer, until the 16th Century. By tradition, it remained the Mewar capital for 834 years. With only brief interruptions, the fort has always remained in possession of the Sisodias of the Guhilot (or Gehlot/Guhila) clan of Rajputs, who descended from Bappa Rawal.

In 1303 AD, Ala ud din Khilji, Sultan of Delhi, gathered his forces to invade Chittorgarh. The Chittorgarh fort was till then considered impregnable and grand, atop a natural hill. But his immediate reason for invading the fort was his obsessive desire to capture Rani Padmini, the unrivalled beautiful queen of Rana Ratan Singh and to take her into his harem. The Rana, out of politeness, allowed the Khilji to view Padmini through a set of mirrors and reflection from the water surface. But this viewing of Padmini further fired Khilji’s desire to possess her. After the viewing, as a gesture of courtesy, when the Rana accompanied the Sultan to the outer gate, he was treacherously captured. Khilji conveyed to the queen that the Rana would be released only if she agrees to join his harem. She appeared to have agreed to go to his camp with a condition to go in a Royal style with an entourage, in strict secrecy. Instead of her going, she sent 700 well armed soldiers disguised in litters and they rescued the Rana and took him to the fort. But Khilji chased them to the fort where a fierce battle ensued at the outer gate of the fort in which the Rajput soldiers were overpowered and the Rana was killed. Khilji won the battle on August 26, 1303. Soon thereafter, instead of surrendering to the Sultan, the royal Rajput ladies lead by Rani Padmini preferred to die through the Rajput’s ultimate tragic rite of Jauhar (self immolation on a pyre). He entrusted the fort to his son Khizr Khan to rule and renamed the fort as 'Khizrabad'. He returned to Delhi after the fierce battle at the fort.

It was recaptured in 1326 by the young Hammir Singh, a scion of the same Gehlot clan. Chittor once again regained its past glory.

Rana Kumbha (1433–68) was a versatile man a brilliant, poet and musician. He built Mewar up to a position of assailable military strength building a chain of thirty forts that girdled the kingdom But, perhaps more important was a patron of the arts to rival Lorenzo de Medici, and he made Chittorgarh a dazzling cultural center whose fame spread right across Hindustan. He built 32 forts (84 fortresses formed the defense of Mewar) including one in his own name, called Kumbalgarh. But his end came in 1468 AD at the hands of his own son Rana Udaysimha (Uday Singh I) who assassinated him to gain the throne of Mewar. This patricide act was not appreciated by the people of Mewar and consequently his brother Rana Raimal assumed the reins of power in 1473.

By the 16th century, Mewar had become the leading Rajput state. Rana Sanga of Mewar led the combined Rajput forces against the Mughal emperor Babur in 1527, but was defeated at the Battle of Khanua. Later in 1535 Bahadur Shah, the Sultan of Gujarat besieged the fort causing immense carnage.

In September, 1567, the emperor Akbar left for Chittor, and on October 20, 1567, camped in the vast plains outside the fort. In the mean time, Rana Jai Singh, on the advice of his council of advisors, decided to go away from Chittor to the hills of Udaipur. Jaimal and Patta, two brave army chieftains of Mewar were left behind to defend the fort along with 8,000 Rajput warriors under their command. Akbar laid siege to the fortress. The Rajput army fought valiantly and Akbar himself had narrowly escaped death. In this grave situation, Akbar had prayed for divine help for achieving victory and vowed to visit the shrine of the sufi saint Khwaja at Ajmer. The battle continued till February 23, 1568. On that day Jaimal was seriously wounded but he continued to fight with support from Patta. Jayamal ordered Jauhar to be performed when many beautiful princesses of Mewar and noble matrons committed self immolation at the funeral pyre led by Rani Karnawati. Next day the gates of the fort were opened and Rajput soldiers rushed out bravely to fight the enemies. Jaiamal and Patta who fought bravely were at last killed in action. One figure estimates that 30,000 soldiers were killed in action. Akbar, on entering the fort, ordered a general carnage. Akbar immediately repaired himself to Ajmer to perform his religious vow.

The famous hero of Rajput history is Maharana Pratap, son of Rana Udai Singh II who is regarded as a personification of the values Rajputs cherish and die for. He took an oath to spend his life living in the jungles and fighting until he could realize his dream of reconquering Chittorgarh from Akbar (and thus reclaiming the glory of Mewar). It was the dream greatly cherished by Maharana Pratap, and he spent all his life to achieve this goal. He underwent hardships and a life of eating breads made of grass while fighting his lifelong battle. Maharana Pratap is the greatest hero in the eyes of the Rajputs of Mewar. In the absolute dark era of Rajput history, Maharana Pratap alone stood firmly for his honour and dignity, never compromising his honour for safety. With the reputation of a brave man with great character even among his enemies, he died free in 1597.
In 1616, Jehangir returned Chittor fort to the Rajputs.

The capital was moved west to Udaipur, in the foothills of the Aravalli Range, where Rana Udai Singh II (the young heir apparent) had established a residence in 1559. Udaipur remained the capital of Mewar until it acceded unto the Union of India in 1947, and Chittorgarh gradually lost its political importance.

Meera Bai

Chittorgarh is also famous for its association with two very widely known historical figures of India. The first is, Meera Bai the most famous female Hindu spiritual poetess whose compositions are still popular throughout North India. Her poems follow the Bhakti tradition and she is considered to be most passionate worshipper of lord Krishna. Folklore says that her love for Krishna was epitomized by her final disappearance in the temple of Krishna in Dwarka. She is believed to have entered the sanctum of the temple in a state of singing ecstasy after which the sanctum doors are believed to have closed on their own and when later opened, the sari of Meera Bai was seen enwrapped around the idol of Lord Krishna, symbolizing the culmination of her union with her Lord.

The fort and the city of Chittorgarh also host the biggest Rajput festival "Jauhar Mela". It takes place annually on the anniversary of one of the jauhars, not the one by Padmini which is most famous. This festival is to commemorate the bravery of Rajput ancestors and all three Jauhars which happened at Chittorgarh. A huge number of Rajputs which include the descendants of most of the princely families do a procession to celebrate the Jauhar. The fort at Chittorgarh also contains the ancient and beautiful temple to Goddess Kali called the Kalika Mata Temple.

Transport:

The Golden Quadrilateral highway system passes through Chittorgarh, connecting it to much of the rest of India. The Chittorgarh is situated at National Highway No. 76 & 79, both the Highways are crossing at Chittorgarh It is well connected with Jaipur, Jodhpur, Indore Junction MG, Indore Junction BG, Indore Mhow, Ujjain, Ratlam, Nagda Junction, Ajmer and Fatehabad by many metre gauge trains. The town still lacks connectivity to Ahemdabad, Bhopal, Gwalior, Ajmer, Jabalpur and Nagpur, so in order to catch trains for further cities one has to reach either Kota,  Nagda  or  Ratlam.

Places of tourist interest:

Chittorgarh Fort

Kalika Mata Temple

Kalika Mata Temple was originally built in the 8th century for Sun God and was later converted to a temple for mother Goddess, Kali in the 14th century.

Vijay Stambh

Vijay Stambha, is a huge nine storey tower which was built by Maharana Kumbha to commemorate his victory over the Muslim rulers of Malwa and Gujarat in 1440. The tower is 122 ft (37 m) high and stands on a 10 ft (3.0 m) high base. There are sculptures and carvings on the exterior walls of the tower. The tower is visible from any section of the town below. And for reaching tower top one have to climb 157 steps; one can take great view of the surroundings. The inside walls of the tower are carved with images of Gods, weapons, etc.

Kirti Stambh

Kirti Stambh is tower is dedicated to Adinatha, the first of the Jain Tirthankar. It was built by a merchant and is decorated with figures form the Jain pantheon.

Rana Kumbha's Palace

Rana Kumbha's Palace is near the Vijay Stambh. This is the birthplace of Maharana Udai Singh the founder of Udaipur. His life was saved by the heroic act of the maid Panna Dhai, who replaced her son in place of the prince & consequently her son was killed by Banbir. She carried the prince away to safety in a fruit basket. Rani Meera Bai also lived in this palace. This is the place where Rani Padmini committed Jauhar with the other ladies in one of the underground cellars.

Rani Padmini's Palace

Rani Padmini's Palace is from which Ala ud din Khilji (was allowed to watch a reflection of the Rani by replacing the mirror in such an angle that even if Khilji turned back he could not see the room. Khilji had been warned by the Rani's husband that if he turned back they would cut his neck. But the fate of the King was different.

Hotels in Chittorgarh

The tourists may contact the hotels directly at the address indicated above, where the contact details have been provided by the hotels in the above table. Alternatively, please contact your travel agent (from the list under "Travel Services" in the main menu) who deals with the concerned hotel or you may contact ArrayTours for booking. For details, please log on to www.arraytours.com or  e-mail your queries to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or  phone +91 33 24416978, +91 9433253111.