Chittourgarh Fort
A
standing sentinel to the courage and valor of Chittaurgarh, it stands tall over
a 180 meter high hillock covering a massive area of 700 acres. The fort is belileved
to have been built by the Maurya rulers in 7th century AD.
The fort is a treasure house of history and historical monuments the approach
to the fort is very difficult, the one mile steep serpentine thoroughfare is
exhaustive and the fort is reached through huge seven pols of gates, which are
in fact the strong points having a watch tower and massive iron spiked doors.
It was ravaged thrice, and each time phoenix-like it rose again Allaudin Khilji
was the first to sack Chittaur in 1303, legend and history corroborate that
this was because of his passionate desire to abduct Rani Padmini. Yet she preferred
death to dishonor, and committed Jauhar (self immolation) along with the other
ladies of the court. Chitturgarh was plundered again in 1535 by Sultan Bahadur
Shah of Gujarat and finally by the Moghul Emperor Akbar, in 1567, in an attempt
to subdue Maharana Udai Singh.
The fort is approached through massive pols of gates. Near Bhairon Pol, is a
cenotaph or 'chhatra' in honor of the chivalrous Jaimal and his cousin Kala,
who laid down their lives whilst defending Chittaur against the Mughals. Jaimal
who was seriously wounded, but was not ready to die in his bed , thus he was
carried into battle on the shoulders of his cousin Kala , both of them died
while showing exemplary courage.
At Ram Pol is a memorial to Phatta, who was only 16 years old and had just been
married, his father had already died defending Chittaurgarh, and was sent into
the battle by his mother, to free her son from any affection towards home she
herself pickled up sword along with his bride and jumped into the battle field
both of them died in front of Phatta. Next day the women folk of the palace
ended their lives by committing Johar. Phatta leading the saffron robed men
from the front thundered down like lightening from the mighty fortress to die
fighting.
The other major gates are Padal pola and Hanuman Pol, with a distinct Rajput
style of architecture.
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