Seeing believes. Experiencing is living. A good life is when you, apart from performing the daily chores of life, take out time to visit places and see what the nature has left for us exclusively to take a peek into the past and analyze how the people used to live in the age where the cities and states were kingdoms and the emperors used to rule. Though we all have read and heard a lot about that period, visiting the places where these kingdoms used to exist and the people used to live is an experience that is above all the excitement that the anecdotes might generate. If you believe that visiting such a historical site would be more fruitful than reading or discussing about the same, then the Chittorgarh Fort of Rajasthan is definitely for you.
Location
Named after the ancient yet charming city of Chittor of Rajasthan, Chittorgarh is one of the most popular forts in India. It is located majestically at a distance of 70 kms from the city of Ajmer.
History
Dating back to the 7th century this fort is popular for being the largest fort in India and was constructed by the great ruler of the Mauryan dynasty, Chitrangada Mori. As per the researches and records this fort had served as the capital of state of Mewar state, incredibly for 834 years. Records show that, three crucial battles were fought here during a span of around 250 years in order gain control for this fort.
Structure
The fort occupies an area of 2.8 kilometer square and is built atop a hill 180 meters high. The Berach River flows next to the fort. A distinguishing characteristic of this fort is that it had 84 water bodies, which were used to store a total of 4 billion litres of water. These water resources proved useful for the armies and used to fulfill the requirements of around 50,000 soldiers at a time. Out of these 84, only 22 are remaining currently. The road that leads towards the fort is in a zig-zag shape, rising through the plains. Before reaching to this road, visitors have to cross a bridge built over the Gambhir River.
The entry to the fort is through seven gates, all depicting the insights of the architects who designed these gates in such a way that they could be used as a defense point. The pointed arches of the gates were reinforced so that they could fend off the attacks by elephants and cannons. At the top of the gates are notched parapets. From this point, it was easy for the archers to shoot the enemies approaching the fort.
A tower named Vijaya Stambha (Tower of Victory) was built by Rana Kumbha as a symbol of his victory against Mahmud Shah I Khilji. It took ten years to build this tower which is 37.2 meters high, covering a base of 4.4 square meters. A dome was added to the tower, which got damaged due to lightning but was later restored. Another tower called Kirti Stambha (Tower of Fame) was built by a merchant named Jijaji Rathod. This tower is dedicated to Adinath, the first Tirthankara. It is 22 meters high and occupies a space of 9.1 meter in base.
One more attraction inside the fort is the Rana Kumbha Palace. This place was constructed using plastered stone. Inside the palace, there is a temple and elephant and horse stables. The palace is adorned with canopied balconies and is the birthplace of Maharana Udai Singh. Fateh Prakash Palace, another place inside the fort, is now home to around 4000 villagers now. Gaumukh (Cow’s Mouth) Reservoir is a water reservoir that originates from a cow’s mouth carved in a cliff.
Padmini’s Palace is a beautiful, three storied palace, restructured to replicate the original in the 19th century and surrounded by a moat. Meerabai Temple, structured in Indo-Aryan architectural style, is believed to be named after Mirabai, who is famous for her devotion towards Lord Krishna. In the same compound, there is another temple named Varaha Temple. There are two other temples inside the fort area. One is the Kalika Mata Temple, which was built to replace the Sun Temple that was previously built on this site and was destroyed in 14th century. Goddess Tulja Bhavani Temple is built at the west side of the fort.
What to Do
Apart from the various sections of the fort described above, you can also see the Jauhar Mela, which is held every year, though the exact timing and date are not known. It is said to be celebrated on the anniversary of Padmini’s Jauhar. Jauhar was a tradition followed during that period in which royal women used to end their life rather than falling into the hands of the enemies.
The entrance fee charged to an Indian citizen is Rs 5/-, while for tourists coming from abroad are charged Rs 100/-.
Eat, Drink, Collect
The famous hotels that serve authentic Rajasthani, Indian, and Mughlai cuisines near the fort area are Pratap Palace, Hotel Meera, Castle Bijaipur, Bassi Fort, and Hotel Padmini. Apart from these outlets, there are several other restaurants and bars across the city where you can relax while sipping and dining.
When in Chittorgarh, you should not forget to visit the main market areas including Sadar Bazaar, Fort Road Market, Station Circle, etc., from where you can buy several handmade toys, leather goods, fabrics, and several other local products.
Being one of the major tourist destinations, there are a lot of hotels that provide accommodation to the visitors. Prices for a room vary from Rs 2000/- to Rs 9000/- per night.
Best Time to Visit
The temperatures at Chittorgarh rises exponentially, so you should invest in purchasing some good quality shades, caps, sunscreen, and other stuff that will help you in beating the heat effectively. This will come in handy even if you are not able to plan your trip during the cooler months between Septembers to March, you will still be able to explore the majestic beauty that this place has to offer.
How to Reach
Reaching Chittorgarh Fort is easy. It is well connected with road and rail network with all the major cities of the state and other states as well. The nearest airport from Chittorgarh Fort is at Udaipur at a distance of around 56 miles.
please give me the exact location of this palace in chittorgarh