Chittorgarh Fort – stories of Courage, Devotion & Sacrifice

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If there is one fort in India that I clearly remember from my history books, it is the Chittorgarh Fort. Also called Chittaurgarh fort. So many important characters of Indian history have lived here that I met them in history books when it came to kings like Maharana Pratap and Rana Sangha. I met them in poetry books when it came to Mira Bai. I met them in historical fictions like Cuckold by Kiran Nagarkar . I heard about the jauhar of Rani Padmini in numerous stories and works of fiction it inspired. It appeared like a whole star cast of a grand production lived in Chittorgarh, of course over a period of few hundred years, but when seen from the lens of the present they all seem to merge in one time – history. In fact while I was there I found out that the roots of this mighty fort go back to 7^th CE when the Mauryan King Chitrangada Mori built it, and the fort derives its name from his name. By 8th CE it passed on to the Sisodias of Mewar who would rule from here for next 800 years till they were forced to establish their new capital at Udaipur . It continues to be a living fort with many villages inside it still calling it home. Can you just imagine the amount of stories these walls and people have to tell?

Elongated fish shaped Chittorgarh is also one of the largest forts in India so it is not easy to see it in one day. There is a heritage area that most tourists visit, there is a village area and there is a dense forest area and the fort is dotted with many water bodies. I spent one full day walking around the fort and finishing the day by watching the famous light and sound show here. Popular circuit that a guide usually takes the tourists around and can be done in probably 2-3 hours, but if you see at leisure, there is much more to explore. Chittorgarh is one of the 5 hill forts of Rajasthan that are a UNESCO World heritage site – others are Kumbhalgarh , Sonar Qila Jaisalmer , Amber Fort & Ranthambore fort.

Kumbha Mahal, Chittorgarh Fort

This is the core of Chittorgarh fort – the main palace area where the royal families lived. Interestingly at Chittorgarh, there is only one main palace where the royal family lived, divided into male and female sections.

The walls of Kumbha Mahal are in a threadbare state – they look extremely fragile especially with large windows that make you see across the wall, with faint hint of decorations on the walls. You almost fear that some of them may wall if you stand against them or shake them a bit. To me it is probably a depiction of the state of walls, as they exist today – exhausted after years of living, after having seen so much violence and so many generations. Jharokhas are just hanging on to the bare walls as if they have been pasted or projected there.

Kumbha Mahal is the oldest part of the fort and besides living quarters, you can see the remains of the Shiva temple. This is the palace where the Rani Padmini, Rani Karnavati, Mira Bai & Panna Dhai lived. Apparently there is an underground passage from the ladies chamber here that goes to the nearby pond and it was meant for the women to reach the bathing area without being seen. This place comes alive in the evening when light and sound show uses it as backdrop to tell the story of Mewar.

Close to the ramparts, you can see the view of Chittorgarh city and you suddenly realize it is quite a big city.

Ram Pol at Chittorgarh Fort

Pols are city gates in Mewar. Chittorgarh fort has gates called Suraj Pol, Pada Pol, Hanuman Pol, Ganesh Pol, Jodla Pol, Laxman Pol and Ram Pol. I visited the Suraj Pol which lied in the East – the direction of rising Sun, from here you see the vistas of Mewar from a height, with a highway going through the green fields and hills in the backdrop. Each of the gates have a story – some have seen the deaths of their princes and warriors, some have defeated the enemy and not let them enter the fort. Stone cenotaphs at the gates commemorate these brave men. All the gates are linked with a circular road, and each of them is a formidable stone structure that you can admire.

I spent some time at Ram Pol, which is the main gate through which you enter the fort as a tourist. The richly carved stone gate has many deities carved on it, that it seems are still worshipped actively. There are inscriptions in stone that are in Devnagari script yet a bit difficult to read as they follow a local dialect and it seems the concept of separating words was yet to become popular. The base of the gate carved with elephants almost resembles the base of a temple that stands on the back of some hundreds of elephants.

Vijay Stambha or the Tower of Victory, Places to visit in Rajasthan

Vijay Stambha is the most celebrated monument of Chittorgarh. It is a tall pillar like structure standing tall towering over every other structure around it, celebrating the victory of Rana Kumbha in mid 16^th CE over sultan of Malwa. It is actually two pillars one inside the other with a narrow hollow cavity in between. The outside and inside of the Vijay stambha are profusely carved with divine as well as royal symbols. There are many Hindu deities that are carved on the nine stories of the stambh and there is sun the symbol of the Sisodia dynasty that considers itself a descendent of the sun. Our guide said that the nine stories of Vijay Stambha depict the nine avatars of Vishnu to whom this tower is dedicated. With all its carvings, it is also refereed as the school of Indian iconography. A unique aspect of Vijay Stambha is the portraits of its architect Jaita and his three sons Napa, Pooja & Poma carved on the 5^th story. Base of the tower again sounds like base of a temple and in fact you have to take your shoes off to enter the tower.

You can go up to 8^th story of the structure through 157 narrow steep steps that go up in a circular fashion. It needs a bit of endurance to go up, but then a bird’s eye view of the Chittor is the reward you get. I went upto 3^rd story and gave up. Though I must say the carvings inside are just breathtaking and someone should do a story telling hike of the tower for tourists. The stairs alternatively go through the central chamber and surrounding gallery. Architecturally, it is wonder as the hollow structure has been so designed that it can withstand the winds and other climatic conditions by channeling the wind through its corridor.

My guide at Chittorgarh told me that after India’s independence in 1947, Vijay Stambha was Sardar Patel’s choice for national symbol, however Nehru disapproved of it.

Kirti Stambh or Tower of Fame

This is the older of the two towers at Chittorgarh fort and this one is dedicated to the first Jain teerthankar Adinath Ji. A Jain merchant probably built it in 12^th CE and it is my presumption that it would have inspired the Vijay Stambha.

You cannot enter Kirti stambha and must admire it from outside only, although this one also has winding stairs that take you to the 6^th story of the tower.

Jauhar Sthala

The ground between the Vijay Stambha and the Smadishwara temple, surrounded by two ornate gates – one each in South and East, is Jauhar Sthala or the place where the queens of Mewar conducted Jauhar.

The first Jauhar was done by Rani Padmavati after the attack of Alaudin Khilji in 13^th CE, another was done was Rani Karnavati during the times of Akbar and a third one is also recorded in the history. Each time there were thousands of women and children who jumped into the fire an immolated themselves, choosing death over losing their honour to the invading armies.

Today it looks like a plain ground filled with tourists going from one spot to another but I was told that in those days it was a hollow cavity in which flames used to be lit and women jumped from high walls. You go through a multitude of emotions when you stand on that ground – you feel the courage of so many women to embrace fire, you feel sick at the circumstances that leads to such mass sacrifice and you feel lucky that you live in the times that give you far more choices and freedom.

Padmini Palace

In the middle of a lake stands a multi-story structure that is popularly known as Padmini palace. There is another palace on the banks of the lake from where it is famed that Alaudin Khilji saw Padmini’s reflection in a mirror. As per our guide the palace is of later date probably 17-18^th CE so the legend of Padmavati and Allaudin Khilji is probably a story created much later as she lived around late 13^th CE. She conducted Jauhar is a documented episode though. At the moment this palace is in dilapidated state and though everyone visits it for being the spot of famous story, there is nothing spectacular about it. Now that I know that the story is also fabricated it loses whatever little charm it had.

However I do gather that this palace became the inspiration for all the Jal Mahals or Lake palaces that came up all over Rajputana later.

Fateh Prakash Palace & Museum

Fateh Prakash Palace is the youngest palace of Chittorgarh fort built just about 100 years ago – a part of which is now fort museum. There are some displays of ancient antiquities, some display of painting traditions of the region and there is some folk art on display. It is a large rectangular building with a central courtyard that proudly displays the bust of Rana Fateh Prakash.

If you are short of time you can easily skip this museum, however if you have time visit it for the giant wooden Shiva head that is kept right at the entrance of the museum.

You need to buy a separate ticket for this museum; it is not covered in the fort ticket.

Ratan Singh Palace, Chittorgarh fort

Located across the village is the Ratan Singh palace next to a pond called Ratneshwar Talao. This palace is in absolutely dilapidated state, while walking through its absolutely deserted interiors I constantly feared that some wall or some ceiling would collapse and no one will ever find my remains. However on the edge of the palace stands a small but exquisitely carved temple called Ratneshwar Mahadev temple.

Light & Sound Show

In the evening you can return to Kumbha palace and sit back to hear the stories of Chittorgarh fort – of its heroes, heroines and villains.

Shopping & Picture Time at Chittorgarh

All through the fort you would find stalls displaying colorful Rajasthani garments – the never-ending ghaghras with colorful Odhnis. There are mounds of silver jewelry to adorn the body and innumerable headgear for men to choose from. Many fellow travelers walked up to these shops to buy these garments only to figure out that they are not for sale. Well all these stalls are photography studios – they dress you up in Rajasthani attire and click a picture for you. For Rs 50/- you can get yourself clicked in your own camera and for a print you pay a bit extra.

There are lot of hastakala kendras or handicrafts shops too, and every guide would guide you towards them. Do not be trapped, you can easily skip shopping here. I was told they make Saris from custard apple, banana fibre and sandalwood, while in my humble opinion they were all synthetic fabrics. I was later talking to a local woman living in the village who laughed at it and asked – really they sell a Sandal Sari for Rs 400/-

If you are wondering why I have not mentioned the various temples of Chittorgarh fort – wait for the next post on Temples of Chittorgarh.

Recommend you to read following Places to visit in Rajasthan.

1. Nathdwara – a town that revolves around Shrinathji .
2. Temples of Chittorgarh Fort.
3. Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary .
4. Royal Cenotaphs @ Bada Bagh, Jaisalmer .
5. Walking around the Jaisalmer Fort .
6. The Deceptive Palace at Deeg .
7. Kumbhalgarh Fort with an unwinding wall .
8. Neemrana Fort & Palace .