Chittorgarh Fort in Rajasthan- The Complete Guide

The Chittorgarh Fort or the Chittor Fort is one of the largest forts of the country. Sprawling over a 180 m high hill and spread over an area of 280 ha above the plains of the valley, the Fort extends 3 km in length and 13 kms in peripheral length. The fort in its true charm is an epitome of Rajput pride, culture, spirit, and values. It is believed that the fort was built by the Mauryans in the 7th century and expanded by the successful Mewar rulers.

The formidable fort is famously called as the Water Fort as it had 84 water bodies out of which only 22 exist today in the form of ponds, wells, and step wells.

The long serpentine road to the fort is one mile in length and very steep and exhaustive. There are seven huge gateways or ‘pols’ which are guided by watch towers and huge iron spiked doors. Each gate has a different name and are built as massive stone structures with secure fortifications for the defense of the military. These seven gates are Padan Pol, Bhairon Pol, Hanuman Pol, Jorla Pol, Ganesh Pol, Laxman Pol, and Ram Pol.

Apart from these seven gateways, the ornate fort is famous for its many palaces including Rana Kumbha Palace and Padmini's Palace, which are wonders of Rajput architecture.

The fort also has many temples in its huge vicinity. Sammidheshwara Temple, Jain Temple, Kalika Mata temple, Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, Meerabai Temple and Kumbha Shyam Temple are some of these and are famous for remarkable carvings and intricate work depicting the grandeur of Rajputs.

Gaumukh reservoir and Bhimtal Tank are other places worth visiting inside the fort.

The heritage fort has towers which depict the glorious victories of the Rajput kings. ‘Vijay Stambh’ or the tower of victory is one of the most spectacular towers of the fort. This giant nine storied tower was constructed by Maharana Kumbha to commemorate his victory over Mohammed Khilji in the 15th century. It gives the most picturesque view of the down town from its balconies. ‘Kirti Stambh’ or the tower of fame is another huge tower dedicated to Adinath Ji, the first Jain thinker. Kirti Stambh is a seven-storied structure with a height of 22 m.

The fort has a rich history and has seen its share of dramatic tragedies, most famous being the story of Queen Padmavati which also served as an inspiration for the movie ‘Padmavat’. The Fort was named after Chittrangad Maurya.

Location

The magnificent fort is situated 112 km northeast of Udaipur, in the southern part of Rajasthan state. The hill and fort are situated near the Gambhiri River, making the setting particularly spectacular.

Best time to visit?

September to March is the best time to visit the fort as the weather is pleasant and it is not too hot.

Travel East provides the best of customised Rajasthan tour packages to make your holiday memorable. Here is a rundown of some key points to keep in mind while visiting the fort.

• Be careful with the monkeys which are present inside the fort.
• Since the fort is humongous, wear comfortable shoes and wear sun protection.
• Guides are available at the fort to take you around. Be smart and bargain to get the best deal.
• The fort cannot be seen alone on the foot. If you don’t have your own car, hire a bicycle or auto rickshaw for the day. Transportation is available at the ticket counter.
• The fort is free to enter and open all the time. But a nominal charge of Rs. 25 is there if you wish to see the main attraction point viz. Padmani Palace and other government museums. Tickets for foreigners is Rs. 300.
• Entry into the fort is from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm daily.