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Chittorgarh 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.
Chittorgarh Fort, Rajasthan Forts & Palaces Reservation Form
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