Chittourgarh- The town of the
brave, known for its massive fort atop a hill, which can be singled out for
its glorious past.
The fort has checkered history, it has witnessed some of the bloodiest battles
iln history, three great Sakas and some of the most heroic deeds of valor, which
are still sung by the local musicians. The antiquity of Chittaurgarh is difficult
to trace, but it is believed that Bhim the legendary figure of the Mahabharta,
visited this place to learn the secrets of immortality and became the disciple
of a sage, but his impatience to perform all the rites deprived him of his goal,
and out of sheer anger he stamped on ground creating water reservoir, this reservoir
is called as Bhim Lat. Later on, it came under the Mauryas or Muri Rajputs,
there are different opinions as to when ilt came under the Mewar ruler, but
it remained the capital of Mewar till 1568, when it was shifted to Udaipur.
It is believed that Bappa Rawal the legendary founder of the Sisodia clan, received
Chittaur in the middle of 8th century, as a part of the dowry after marriage
with the last Solanki princess, after that his descendants ruled Mewar which
stretched from Gujarat to Ajmer, upto the 16th century.
Chittourgarh is the epitome of Rajput pride, romance and spirit. It reverberates
with history of heroism and sacrifice, which is evident as it echoes with the
tales sung by the Bards of Rajasthan. The main reason for visiting Chittourgarh
is its massive hilltop fort, which is a depiction of Rajput culture and values.
The fort stands on a 240-hectares site on an 180m high hill that rises rapidly
from the plains below.
Thrice a stronger enemy sacked Chittourgarh. The first sack occurred in 1303
when a Pathan King Ala-ud-din Khilji overwhelmed by the beauty of Queen Padmini
besieged the fort in order to capture the regal beauty. In 1535 Bahadur Shah
the Sultan of Gujarat besieged the fort causing immense carnage and it is said
that 32000 men donned the saffron robes of martyrdom and rode out to face a
certain death, and the women folkes committed Jauhar (an act of self immolations
by plunging in a large fire) led by Rani Karnawati.
In 1568 Mughal Emperor Akbar razed the fort to the rubble and once again the
history repeated itself. In 1616 Mughal emperor Jehangir restored the fort to
the Rajput but it was not resettled. Today a new township sprawls below the
hill on the west side. Chittourgarh is connected by both bus and rail. The bus
stand and the railway are located in the new township.
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