Chittaurgarh Fort

One of the finest examples of Rajput architecture and also one of the greatest citadels in India, Chittaurgarh Fort is located in the southern part of the state of Rajasthan, India. Lying on the bank of the river Gambheri, this magnificent fort stands on a 152 m high rocky hill rising above the surrounding place. The fort has seen the bloodiest battles besides three great sacks during its long history.

Embellished with a number of richly decorated buildings, the fort sprawls over 700 acres, extending to 3 kms in length and 13 kms in peripheral length. Even though, most of the places inside the fort are in virtually deserted ruin, the views from the walls, on all four sides of the fort are marvelous.

Said to be built by Chitrangad of the Mori dynasty in 7th century AD the fort was dominated by Gehlot rulers for few period but most part of the history the fort was dominated by the Sisodia kings. But according to legends, the fort's original construction goes to Bhim (one of the Pandava heroes of the epic Mahabharata).

Named after Chittrangad Mauraya, the fort has witnessed three battles and 'Jauhars' (a custom of mass suicide in medieval times by Rajput women in which they commit suicide in the fire to save their honor from the hands of the enemy).

Out of the three major sieges, the first defeat occurred in AD 1303 when Ala-ud-din Khilji, the Pathan king of Delhi attacked to capture 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 Rajput women committed jauhar. For the second time, the Fort was sacked by Sultan Bahadur Shah of Gujarat in 1535. But, the Rajputs were defeated and jauhar was once again performed. It is said that 13,000 Rajput women and 32,000 Rajput warriors died following the declaration of jauhar. The third attack of the fort took place in AD 1567 by the Mughal Emperor Akbar to conquer Maharana Udai Singh. Again, jauhar being performed 

The entrance is through a zigzag pathway interrupted at intervals by seven huge gateways or pols. They are,  the Padal Pol where Rawat Bagh Sigh, the Rajput leader, fell during the second attack, the Bhairon or Tuta Pol where Jaimal, one of the heroes of the third attack was killed by Akbar in 1567, the Hanuman Pol and Ganesh Pol, the Jorla Pol whose upper arch is connected to the Lakshman Pol, finally the Ram Pol the main gate which was built in AD 1459. The Hanuman Pol, the Ram Pol, and the Lakshman Pol have a temple in their vicinity. The Jorla Pol has two adjacent gateways. These all are guarded by iron spiked door served as a watch tower in earlier times.  Inside the walls is a village and ruined palaces, towers and temples.