Chittourgarh Fort
The Fort is on a 280-hectare site on the top of a 180-metre-high hill, which
rises abruptly from the surrounding plain. There are many palaces within the
fort like Rana Kumbha Palace, Fateh Prakash Palace, Tower of Victory and Padmini's
Palace, which are a must see for the tourists. This hilltop fortress of Chittorgarh
epitomizes the romantic and doomed ideal of Rajput chivalry.
The main places of interest within the precincts of the fort are the two towers
known as the 'Kirti Stambh' (Tower of Fame) and the 'Vijay Stambh' (Tower of
Victory).
Besides these, there are several temples, reservoirs, and palaces originating
between the 9th and 17th centuries AD. There is also a big complex of Jain temples
within the fort.
The Kirti Stambh is a seven-storied structure with a cramped stairway of 54
steps. It is 30 feet at the base and narrows down to 15 feet at the top and
is adorned with Jain sculptures on the outside. It is dated approximately around
the 12th century AD.
It is dedicated to the first Jain tirthankara or spiritual teacher, Adinath,
and has an impressive five-feet-high statue of the saint.
However, the most imposing structure within the Chittorgarh Fort is the Vijay
Stambh. This tower can even be seen from the town, which is located below the
fort.
This exemplary piece of architecture stands on a pedestal of 47 square feet
and 10 feet high, while the tower alone stands at a height of 122 feet and is
30 feet wide at the base.
There are 157 steps and the stairs are circular. It is believed that the tower
took 10 years to be completed. The tower was built around the 15th century AD,
by Rana Kumbha, one of the most powerful Mewar kings.
The tower was built to commemorate his victory over Mahmud Khilji of Malwa.
The entire structure is covered with sculptures of Hindu deities and episodes
from the two great Hindu epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, with names
given below each piece of sculpture.
The Sammidheshwara Temple is near this tower. Gaumukh reservoir and the palace
of Queen Padmini are important spots to the south of the Rana Kumbha Palace.
According to legend, Ala-ud-din Khilji, the Sultan of Delhi, was allowed to
see the reflection of Queen Padmini in this palace.
A big water reservoir with water gushing out of a rock shaped in the form of
cow's mouth called
'Gaumukh' is close to the opening of the cave where
Rani Padmini and the other women are believed to have performed jauhar.
Other spots worth visiting are the Bhimtal Tank, Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, Meera
Temple, Kumbha Shyam Temple, and Kalika Mata Temple dating back to the 8th century.
