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INDIA
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History |
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Sightseeing |
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MAP |
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Holiday |
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Tour |
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Hotel |
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Chittaurgarh History
Alauddin Khilji was the first to sack Chittaur in 1303
A.D. overpowered by a passionate desire to possess the
regal beauty, queen Padmini. Legend has it, that he
saw her face in the reflection of a mirror and was
struck by her mesmerising beauty. But the noble queen
preferred death to dishonour and committed ‘Jauhar’.
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.
Reaching Chittaurgarh
By Air
Udaipur is the nearest airport. Daily flight form
Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur and Lucknow are available to
Udaipur
By Bus
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 Udaipuri.
By Train
Chittaurgarh has rail links with Ahmedabad,
Chittaurgarh, Udaipur, Jaipur, Kota, Alwar and Delhi.
Getting around
Both unmetered taxi and tonga can be hired from either
the railway station or the bus station. Bicycle can
also be rented to visit the fort.
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CHITTAURAGH FORT |
Set on a high plateau, the fort sprawls supremely over
the countryside. It was here that the Sisodias went to
war against the Mughals at the famous battle of
Haldighati. All of the Chittaurh's attractions are
located within the fort. A zigzag ascent of over1 km
leads through seven gateways to the main gate on the
western side, the Rampol (pol means 'gate').
On the climb, you pass two chhatries (cenotaphs)
between the second and third gates. They mark the spots
where Jaimal and Kalla, heroes of the 1568 siege, fell
during the struggle against Akbar. The main gate on the
eastern side of the fort is the Surajpol. Within the
actual fort itself, a circular road runs around the
ruins and there is also a deer park situated in the
southern end.
There are good views over the town, countryside and huge
cement factory from the western end of the fort; there
is even a small village located here.
Today, the fort of Chittaurh is virtually a deserted
ruin, but impressive remainders of its grandeurs still
stand. The main sites in the fort can all be seen in
half a day but, if one likes the atmosphere of ancient
sites, then it is definitely worth spending longer as
this is a very mellow place.
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VIJAY STAMBH |
The tower was erected between 1458 and 1468 and 37m in
nine storeys. It is possible to climb to the top of the
tower through the narrow 157 steps. Hindu sculptures
adorn outside the tower. The dome was damaged by
lightning and repaired during the 19th century.
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KIRTI STAMBH |
The 22m high 12th century tower was built by a Jain
merchant and was dedicate to Adinath, the first Jain
Tirthankar(one of the 24 great Jain teachers), and
is decorated with figures of various tirthankars. A
narrow stairway goes through seven storey of the tower
to the top. The tower stands beside a small Jain temple.
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MEERA BAI TEMPLE. |
This temple was built during the reign of Maharana
Kumbha and later given to Mira Bai when she needed a
place to worship Lord Krishna, the main subject of her
poems. It is a good example of Rajput architecture,
designed in North Indian style on a raised plinth, with
a conical roof over the inner sanctum. The dome is
carved in a circle of five human bodies with one head
that symbolises belief that the people of the four
castes (Varnas), as well as the fifth caste Harijans,
can all realise God. Within the sanctum are paintings of
Lord Krishna and of Mira Bai in devotion (bhakti) to the
god. The open colonnade around the sanctum has four
small pavilions. A small chhatri stands in the temple's
forecourt, said to have been built in memory of Mira's
saintly guru, Rai Das (Swami Ravidas) of Varanasi, a
Harijan. The saint's footprints are marked on the floor
of this small shrine.
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PADMINI PALACE |
Padmini's palace, built beside the lotus pool with its
pavilion in which Padmini sat reflected in Ala-ud-din's
mirror. The bronze gates in this pavilion were carried
off by Akbar and can now be seen in the fort of Agra.
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KALIKA MATA |
Across form Padmini place is the Kalika Mata Temple, an
8th-century temple originally dedicated to Surya or the
Sun God but later converted to a temple to the goddess
Kali. The temple architecture is of the early Paramara (Pratihara)
period. It was built upon a large raised plinth, and
features beautiful carvings and sculptures on the
exterior and the Mandap (pillared hall), also on the
pillars, ceiling and gates of the shrine. Unfortunately,
today it has lost its spire and also reveals vestiges of
considerable repairs, but its beauty remains an
inspiration, but not for Sultan Ala-ud-din Khilji. After
the first sack of Chittor in 1303, he and his Muslims
destroyed the temple.
Once a year a fair takes place here in which thousands
of visitors from distant places participate. Of similar
style are the ruins of a small temple and a colonnade
near the Mahasati, the fort's royal cremation ground.
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DEOGARH MAHAL |
Deogarh is close to the Mewar/Marwar border about 38 km.
northeast of Udaipur; an estate of the Sangawat
branch of the Coondawat clan, descendants of
Choonda's son, Kandhal who had four sons. His first son
was Siha, and his second was Sanga. Sanga's progeny came
to be known as Sangawats, first class nobles of the
State (of the 1st 16 Umraos) whose jagir was Deogarh.
Built in 1670 on the architectural plans of the Sompura
architects, Deogarh palace has over two hundred rooms at
five different levels. The overall symmetry remains
undisturbed despite a plethora of balconies, windows
pillars and staircases. One can enjoy the beautiful
murals and mirrors work in the castle. Only few rooms
are open to guests, regional cuisine is served in the
opulent dining hall.
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