One of the popular tourist destinations in Rajasthan, Chittorgarh is a place with a saga of tenacity , love, valor and sacrifice. It is located in the southern part of the state of Rajasthan, in the northwestern part of India by the River Gambheri. A lot of tourists come to Chittorgarh during winter. The main tourist attraction here is the Chittorgarh Fort which gives one a glimpse into the life of the Great Rajputs and echoes the stories of bravery and love till date.
History:
The history of Chittorgarh is synonomous with chivalry and bravery of the Rajputs. It is indeed a story of sacrifice and wars. The history of Chittorgarh can be traced back to the 7th century when it was named after a Rajput Cheiftain, Chitrang. Until the 16th century it was ruled by the Rajputs and after that wars and attacks by the Muslim rulers followed. There were successive attacks by Ala-ud-din Khilji who wanted to capture the beautiful Queen Padmini of Chittorgarh. Maharaja Bhim Singh then led his men, adorned in saffron robes to fight. The women, including Padmini, set themselves on a huge pyre and committed mass suicide by immolating themselves. It was in their pride rather than to lose their honour at the hands of the enemy. It was towards the end of the 15th century that Chittorgarh gained eminence when Rana Kumbha the legendary Rajput became the ruler.
Best For:
Cultural tour
Sight seeing
Shopping
Excursions : There are a lot of options for excursions to the following destinations from Chittorgarh namely: Mati Kundiya temple, Bassi Wildlife Sanctuary, Gotmeshwar, Bassi Village, Baroli, Menal, Bijaipur, Bhainsrogarh Wildlife Sanctuary
The climate of Chittorgarh is arid. The summer is hot when the temperature soars to more than 44° C and the minimum temperature is 24° C making it quite dry and parched. Summer lasts from April to June. Summer is followed by Monsoon which lasts till August and the weather is pleasant with a very little rainfall. During winter the temperature is around 29° C to 12° C starting from October to February. The best time to visit Chittorgarh would be between September and March.
The Indian Rupee is the official currency of Chittorgarh. Currency can be converted at the currency exchange counters at the Airport. Credit and debit cards are accepted in only big shops and major hotels.
No permits are required to travel to Chittorgarh other than a visa for India
By Rail: For the Royal experience one could opt for the Palace on Wheels. Chittorgarh is well connected by rail to other cities in the North like Delhi, Kota, Ahemdabad, Ajmer, Udaipur and Jaipur.
By Road: There are lots of private and State run buses to reach Chittorgarh. There are bus services at regular intervals from Udaipur, Mount Abu, Ajmer, Delhi, Bundi and Indore. By Air : The nearest airport to Chittorgarh is at Dabok Airport (Maharana Pratap Airport) at Udaipur, which connects with Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur and Lucknow by frequent flights.
Chittorgarh Fort : The Chiitorgarh Fort is the main tourist attraction in Chittorgarh. It is a massive and majestic fort situated on a hilltop. It is a significant fort not only in Rajasthan but whole of North India. The Archeological Museum : The Archeological Museum is worth a visit at Chittorgarh. It is adjacent to Rana Kumbha Palace. The Victory Tower or Vijay Stambh : Built by Rana Kumbha to commemorate his victory, The Vijay Stambh is a major tourist attraction at the Chittorgarh Fort. This 9 storey tower is decorated with scultptures of Hindu deities and gives a breath taking view of the illuminated Chittorgarh at night.
Kirti Stambh This is a 7 storied tower with nude Digambur figurines adorning the walls of the tower. The Kirti Stambh when translated means the tower of fame. It was dedicated to Adinathji, the first Jain teerthankar and was built by a wealthy Jain merchant in 12th century. Rana Kumbha Palace It is believed that the Rana Kumbha Palace has an underground basement where Rani Padmini along with the other women had committed mass suicide or Jauhar. It is one of the must visit places when in Chittorgarh.
Kumbha Shyam Temple: Kumbha Shyam Temple is built in an Indo-Aryan style of architecture. Ratan Singh Palace The Ratan Singh Palace was built for the kings as a winter resort. It overlooks a lake with a breath taking view.
Padmini Palace Another Palace that is very famous in Chittorgarh is the Padmini Palace that has a pretty lotus pond beside it. It is believed that Ala-ud-din had seen the reflection of Rani Padmini in this pond and was captivated by her beauty and had then tried to captivate her leading to the war with Mahrana Ratan Singh. This was the battle which changed the history of Chittorgarh
Shopping: Chiitorgarh is famous for it’s colourful jutis(shoes) made of camel leather, Metal handicrafts, Thewa Jewelry, Akola Fabric, Bandhani.Make sure you pick souveniers for all your near and dear ones. You would get the best bargains at Fort Road Market, Sadar Bazaar , Rana Sanga Market, New Cloth Market or Gandhi Chowk
Where To Eat:
The traditional Rajasthani cuisine is spicy. There are multi cuisine restaurants, however one must try the Rajasthani Thali which most often comprises of kadhi, dal, dal-bati churma, bajere ki roti etc.
Where To Stay: There are a lot of places offering accommodation in Chittorgarh. Since it is a major tourist destination; there are hotels of various tariffs ranging from low budget hotels to luxurious suites. Some of the hotels popular with the tourists are Hotel Padmini, Hotel Castle Bijaipur, Bassi Fort Palace. A lot of Hotels in Chittorgarh are palaces turned into Hotels giving the tourists a taste of Royalty.
Bijaipur, 40 km
Menhal, 48 km
Nagri, 17 km
Chittorgarh is an ideal holiday destination for those who are fascinated by history and it is a great starting point for a trip to Rajasthan.
