Chittaurgarh....

Friday, 5th March 2010.

Mid-afternoon, the train arrived at Chittaurgarh ( Chittor or Chittorgarh) - the location where the largest fort of India is located. It was built by the Maurya Dynasty in the 7th century AD, initally named Chitrakot, after Chitrangade Mori, a Rajput ( a clan of warriors) chieftain, as inscribed on an ancient Mewari coin. Chittaurgarh was the former capital of the Mewar district or province which extends from Gujerat to Ajmer.

The fort has 7 huge gates and due to its strategic importance was beseiged 3 times by the Moghul rulers from Delhi. The fiercely independent and brave Rajput warriors never gave up easily and the epics of their battles against the Muslims became the epitome of Rajput pride, romance and spirit of the people of Chittor who chose death over surrender to their conquerors.

Chittor was first beseiged by Alauddin Khilji in 1303 AD who was so enamoured by the reputed beauty of Rani Padmini. Padmini chose death over abduction and dishonour and committed 'jauhar' ( act of self immolation by leaping into a huge fire) with all the other ladies when her husband was defeated in the war. There is a story of how enamoured Alauddin was with Padmini that he wanted so much to see Padmini's face, but as there was no way then that any woman would allow her face to be seen by anyone else except her husband, the King had arranged that Alauddin be allowed to see her indirectly from the reflection of a mirror from another building opposite Padimini's palace.Despite this concession, it still did not stop or prevent Alaudin from finally conducting an assault of the fort. Padmini's Palace is today one of the popular tourist sites of Chittor.

Chittor was again attacked by the Moghul King, Babur in 1527 and later in 1535 by the Muslim Sultan of Gujarat, Bahadur Shah. In the thrid seige, 32,000 men, realising their eventual defeat, robed in saffron attire and rode to their death while Maharani Karnawati and all the other ladies committed mass "jauhar" instead of surrendering themselves to the conquerors.

The half day tour of Chittor took us to a Jain temple, to Padmini's Palace, and to the Victory tower complex built to commemorate the defeat of the Muslims in 1440. The group also attended a "Light and Sound" show at the Victory Tower complex before returning to the train for dinner and continuation of the journey to the next destination.

the first temple complex visited in Chittor...

some pictures at the Rani Padimini's Palace

a group of trainee teachers was on excursion to the Fort

this pretty trainee teacher was happy to do a pose for pakdokter

after pakdokter told her how beautiful her clothes are..

the victory tower in the background....

Light and Sound show...