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Chittorgarh...
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.
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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.
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The main reason for visiting
Chittorgarh 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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