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Bastions of history, bristling with memories,
these splendid treasures stand battling the vageries of time.
 Fort
Amber
The
City Palace, Jaipur
Wind
Palace, Jaipur
Chittaurgarh
Fort
City
Palace, Udaipur
Jaisalmer
Fort
Mehrangarh
Fort
Nahargarh
Fort, Jaipur
Decide your favourite colour and pick a city to
match, Rajasthan's kaleidoscope of colours covers all.
The desert sands shimmer and pulsate with an
energy and a spirit of festivity permeates the air, every season
provides many reasons to celebrate.
Camel
Festival
Mewar
Festival
Elephant
Festival
Gangaur
Festival
Pushkar
Festival
Desert
Festival
Ride a camel over the dunes or horses through
the hillside, speed ahead in a jeep and camp under open skies.
A delicate ecosystem, part desert part marshy
lands and even a small section of lush water filled valleys, sports a
wildlife rich in variety.
Whichever Budget Hotel you choose you will
always experience a traditional hospitality that you may never want to
forget.
Jaipur
Budget Hotels
Jaisalmer
Budget Hotels
Bharatpur
Budget Hotels
Bikaner
Budget Hotels
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Rajasthan Tours Travel » Architectural
Treasures » Chittaurgarh Fort
Chittaurgarh Fort
Marvel of Architecture
The story of Chittaur and its giant 700-acre fort are intrinsically
interwoven. Built by the Moris between the 5th and the 8th century it was
invaded at different points in time by Rajputs, Gujaratis and even the
Afghans. Its glorious past is refelected well in its architecture, an
interesting amalgamation of Hindu, Jain and Muslim styles of construction.
There are seven gateways to the main gate, the Rampol. On entering the
fort you will encounter Rana Kumbha's Palace. An evocative mansion where
the Rana would pray to Surya (the Sun ) each morning with musicians
playing in the background.
Next is the Zenana Mahal or the women's quarters, with its faint traces
of pink and blue paint on the walls and an endless array of maidservants'
quarters surrounding it. The Gaumukh Kund or the bathing tank still
carries a haunting blend of sadness and courage for this is the spot where
thousands of women, not once but on three separate occassions are said to
have committed Jauhar or mass suicide by jumping into funeral pyres insted
of risking dishonour at the hands of the enemy. Wander on to the Mira Bai
temple, where an old woman sits playing finger cymbals to recorded bhajans
and its as if you can sense the very presence of Mira Bai lost in her
devotion to Lord Krishna. The Diwan-i-Aam or the hall of public audience
is now just a tree dappled room. An elaborately carved Jain temple stands
across the road from the palace, a truly secular structure for its neat
square walls are capped with an Islamic dome. The Prakash Palace is now an
in-house museum which contains sculptures, weapons, artefacts and some
folk art. The Vijay Stambth, built by Rana Kumbha rises nine storeys high
and is encrusted with Hindu deities and in the spirit of secularity it
even has Allah's name inscribed on its third and eighth storeys. The Kirti
Stambh, a Digambra Jain tower honouring Adinath stands tall within the
fort complex. After exploring the fort to your heart's content be sure to
save a few minutes for the breathtaking view of the historic battlefield
and the rugged Aravallis, 10 kms away.
Shopping Spree
The handicrafts found in the local market make for nice little curios and
trinkets to take home. The most popular indigenous craft reamins the
handpainted wooden toys of Bassi Village. Also don't forget to take back a
kavadh, a miniature altar painted with scenes from the epics and hinged so
that it can be folded like a book. The main markets include Sadar Bazar,
Rana Sangha Market, New Cloth Market, Fort Road Market, Gandhi Chowk and
Station Circle.
Getting There
By Air : The nearest airport is at Udaipur. Daily
flights form Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur and Lucknow are available to Udaipur.
By
Bus : Rajasthan Roadways runs very luxurious deluxe and air
conditioned buses from Jaipur to Chittaurgarh. It is also connected by
road to Delhi, Mount Abu, Chittaurgarh, Bundi and Udaipuri.
By Train : Chittaurgarh has rail links with Ahmedabad,
Chittaurgarh, Udaipur, Jaipur, Kota, Alwar and Delhi.
Weather Watch
The climate of Chittorgarh is dry. Summers, from April to June are quite
hot and winters from October to February are cool. Monsoon rainfall can be
experienced between June and August. We recommend you visit anytime
between September and March. As per the temperature, come equipped with
light cotton clothes in summer, and if the mercury dips too low then you
might require heavy woolens in winter.
Soak in the Surroundings
For truly experiencing Chittaur spend a few days here soaking in its
history and middle-of-nowhere quietude. After visiting the fort, poke
around the villages, woodlands and temples and savour the sight of stars
in a clear black sky. The city also has some beautifully laid out parks
and gardens for you to wander through and museums that house treasures
from times gone by. Go all out to go back in time by visiting Nagri, one
of the oldest towns in Rajasthan. Hindu and Buddhist remains from the
Mauryan and Gupta periods can still be found here. Situated on the banks
of River Banish, it is 17 kms from Chittaur. Another must see is the
cheerful village of Bassi with its houses painted mint-green, purple,
yellow and sky-blue. The Bassi Wildlife Sanctuary located close to the
village will require prior permission from the District Forest Office but
it's worth the effort. You may even explore this wooded wonderland on
horseback thereby increasing your chances of spotting the panther,
antelope, mongoose and migratory birds that it's famous for.
