THE legend has it that Bhim, a Pandava, started the construction of the Chittorgarh fort, Udaipur.The fort has a number of magnificent structures within itself.
History: The fort of Chittor is belived to have been the capital of the Gahlot and Sisodia kings. They ruled Mewar from the eighth to the sixteenth century AD.The fort is named after Chittrangad Mauraya.The Sisodia ruler Ajay Pal(AD 1174-1177) improved the fort wall built by the Gahlot KIng in the ninth century AD.The fort has witnessed three ferocious sieges. Each time her defender, demonstrating true Rajputana pride, fought valiantly against the enemies. The magnificent fort rises 150m above the surrounding region and runs to an approximate length of 3 km covering an area of 60 acres and peripheral length of 13 km.
Symbol of Valor:The Chittorgarh Fort is a living testimony to the bravery of the great Rajput ruler who laid down their life fighting a superior enemy instead of leading a life of submission . The firt is located on a hill that dominates the modern township of Chittor. It is a fine example of the Rajput style of architecture.
Fort of Siege: out of the three major sieges,the first one occurred in AD 1303 when Ala-ud-din Khilji of Delhi attacked to gain possession of Padmini,the beautiful wife of Rana Rattan Singh.In spite of gaining control of the fort,the goal remained unachievable since Padmini along with other underground cave and committed self-immolation or Jauhar.The second siege in AD 1535 was by sultan bahadur shah of gujarat.The rajputs fought valiantly but were defeated and jauhar was once again performed.The third siege of the fort took place in AD 1567 with the Mughal ruler Akhar arrayed against the might of the rajputs.It is believed that Akbar got annoyed with Udai Singh for sheltering the then ruler of Malwa.This was a bloody war with jauhar being performed for the third time.The tales of valor of Jaimal and Kalla are still alive in the local folklore.It is believed that Akbar was so impressed by the valor of Jaimal and Kalla that he got their statues installed at the Agra Fort.
Folklore: Legend has it that it was because of the beautiful padmini that chiittorgarh was sacked the first time.When sultan Ala-ud-din khilji,the ruler of Delhi,heard of padmini's beauty,he asked rana rattan singh(her husband) for a glimpse of the queen.however,the sultan was permitted to seee only the reflection of the queen from a water tank that overlooked the palace.it is said Ala-ud-din was so carried away by padmini's beauty that he attacked chittor in order to possess her.This led to the first bitter and bloody siege of the chittorgarh fort and the subsequent mass suicide by the women.
The pols: the ascent to the Chittorgarh fort takes one through zigzag paths interrupted at intervals by seven enormous gateways or pols.The different gateways are Padan Pol,Bharian Pol, Hanuman Pol, Ganesh Pol, Jorla pol, Lakshman pol,and ram pol.The suraj pol is the gate on the east.there are two chhatris (small domed canpoies,supported by pillars)where the two famous commanders Jaimal and Kalla fell when akbar laid siege to the fort in AD 1567.Near the Padan Pol is the memorial pf Rawat Bagh Singh who joinied hands with king vikramaditiya to fight against sultan bahudar shah of gujarat when chittor fort was attacked the second time.The bharion pol is named in the memory of bhairondas solanki who also fought against sultan bahadur shah in AD 1534.The hanuman pol,the ram pol,the ram pol,and the lakshman pol have a temple in their vicinity .The jorla pol has two adjancent gateways.
A monument to valour : the main places of interest within the precints of the fort are the two towers of the fort are the two towers known as the kirti stambh' (tower of fame)and the vijay stambh"(tower of victory).The kirti stambh is a seven-storey structure with a cramped stairway of 54 steps.It is 30 feet at the base and narrows down to 15 feet art the top and is adorned with jain sculptures on the outside.It is dated approximately around the 12th century AD.it is dedicated to the first jain tirthankara or spiritual teacher,adinath,and has an impressive five-feet higf statue of the saint.Besides these,there are several temples,reservoirs,and palaces originating between the 9th and 17th centuries AD. There is also a big complex of jain temple witin the fort.However,the most imposing structure within the Chitorgarh fort is the vijay stambh.Thiis tower can even be seen from the town,which is located below the fort.This exemplary piece of architecture stands on a pedestal of 47 square feet and 10 feet high,while the tower alone stands at a height of 122 feet and is 30 feet wide at a base .THERE ARE 157 STEPS AND THE STAIRS YEARS TO BE COMPLETED .Rana kumbha ,one of the most powerful mewar kings,built the tower around the 15th century ad.The tower was built to commemorate his victory over mahamood khilji of malwa.The entire structure is covered with sculptures of hindu epics,the Ramayana and the Mahabharta ,with names given below each piece of sculpture.
Palace of queen padmini:The Sammidheshwara temple is near this tower Gaumukh reservoir and the palace of queen padmini are important spots to the south of the Rana kumbha palace.Ala-ud-din khi9ji ,the sultan of delhi,was allowed to see the reflection of queen padimini in this palace.A big water reservoir with water gushing out of a rock shaped in the form of cow's mouth called Gaumukh is close to the opening of the cave where Rani Padmini and the other women are believed to have performed jauhar.Other spots worth visting are the bhimtal tank,newelkanth mahadev,meera temple, kumbha Shyam temple,and kalika Mata temple dating back to the 8th century.
History: The fort of Chittor is belived to have been the capital of the Gahlot and Sisodia kings. They ruled Mewar from the eighth to the sixteenth century AD.The fort is named after Chittrangad Mauraya.The Sisodia ruler Ajay Pal(AD 1174-1177) improved the fort wall built by the Gahlot KIng in the ninth century AD.The fort has witnessed three ferocious sieges. Each time her defender, demonstrating true Rajputana pride, fought valiantly against the enemies. The magnificent fort rises 150m above the surrounding region and runs to an approximate length of 3 km covering an area of 60 acres and peripheral length of 13 km.
Symbol of Valor:The Chittorgarh Fort is a living testimony to the bravery of the great Rajput ruler who laid down their life fighting a superior enemy instead of leading a life of submission . The firt is located on a hill that dominates the modern township of Chittor. It is a fine example of the Rajput style of architecture.
Fort of Siege: out of the three major sieges,the first one occurred in AD 1303 when Ala-ud-din Khilji of Delhi attacked to gain possession of Padmini,the beautiful wife of Rana Rattan Singh.In spite of gaining control of the fort,the goal remained unachievable since Padmini along with other underground cave and committed self-immolation or Jauhar.The second siege in AD 1535 was by sultan bahadur shah of gujarat.The rajputs fought valiantly but were defeated and jauhar was once again performed.The third siege of the fort took place in AD 1567 with the Mughal ruler Akhar arrayed against the might of the rajputs.It is believed that Akbar got annoyed with Udai Singh for sheltering the then ruler of Malwa.This was a bloody war with jauhar being performed for the third time.The tales of valor of Jaimal and Kalla are still alive in the local folklore.It is believed that Akbar was so impressed by the valor of Jaimal and Kalla that he got their statues installed at the Agra Fort.
Folklore: Legend has it that it was because of the beautiful padmini that chiittorgarh was sacked the first time.When sultan Ala-ud-din khilji,the ruler of Delhi,heard of padmini's beauty,he asked rana rattan singh(her husband) for a glimpse of the queen.however,the sultan was permitted to seee only the reflection of the queen from a water tank that overlooked the palace.it is said Ala-ud-din was so carried away by padmini's beauty that he attacked chittor in order to possess her.This led to the first bitter and bloody siege of the chittorgarh fort and the subsequent mass suicide by the women.
The pols: the ascent to the Chittorgarh fort takes one through zigzag paths interrupted at intervals by seven enormous gateways or pols.The different gateways are Padan Pol,Bharian Pol, Hanuman Pol, Ganesh Pol, Jorla pol, Lakshman pol,and ram pol.The suraj pol is the gate on the east.there are two chhatris (small domed canpoies,supported by pillars)where the two famous commanders Jaimal and Kalla fell when akbar laid siege to the fort in AD 1567.Near the Padan Pol is the memorial pf Rawat Bagh Singh who joinied hands with king vikramaditiya to fight against sultan bahudar shah of gujarat when chittor fort was attacked the second time.The bharion pol is named in the memory of bhairondas solanki who also fought against sultan bahadur shah in AD 1534.The hanuman pol,the ram pol,the ram pol,and the lakshman pol have a temple in their vicinity .The jorla pol has two adjancent gateways.
A monument to valour : the main places of interest within the precints of the fort are the two towers of the fort are the two towers known as the kirti stambh' (tower of fame)and the vijay stambh"(tower of victory).The kirti stambh is a seven-storey structure with a cramped stairway of 54 steps.It is 30 feet at the base and narrows down to 15 feet art the top and is adorned with jain sculptures on the outside.It is dated approximately around the 12th century AD.it is dedicated to the first jain tirthankara or spiritual teacher,adinath,and has an impressive five-feet higf statue of the saint.Besides these,there are several temples,reservoirs,and palaces originating between the 9th and 17th centuries AD. There is also a big complex of jain temple witin the fort.However,the most imposing structure within the Chitorgarh fort is the vijay stambh.Thiis tower can even be seen from the town,which is located below the fort.This exemplary piece of architecture stands on a pedestal of 47 square feet and 10 feet high,while the tower alone stands at a height of 122 feet and is 30 feet wide at a base .THERE ARE 157 STEPS AND THE STAIRS YEARS TO BE COMPLETED .Rana kumbha ,one of the most powerful mewar kings,built the tower around the 15th century ad.The tower was built to commemorate his victory over mahamood khilji of malwa.The entire structure is covered with sculptures of hindu epics,the Ramayana and the Mahabharta ,with names given below each piece of sculpture.
Palace of queen padmini:The Sammidheshwara temple is near this tower Gaumukh reservoir and the palace of queen padmini are important spots to the south of the Rana kumbha palace.Ala-ud-din khi9ji ,the sultan of delhi,was allowed to see the reflection of queen padimini in this palace.A big water reservoir with water gushing out of a rock shaped in the form of cow's mouth called Gaumukh is close to the opening of the cave where Rani Padmini and the other women are believed to have performed jauhar.Other spots worth visting are the bhimtal tank,newelkanth mahadev,meera temple, kumbha Shyam temple,and kalika Mata temple dating back to the 8th century.