Chittorgarh Fort, Chittorgarh

Visitor Information

  • Famous For: History, Architecture, Religion, Photography
  • Entry Fee: 20 INR for the Adults and 15 INR for the Children below 15 years of age.
  • Visiting Time: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
  • Visiting Duration: 3 to 4 hours

The Fort of Chittorgarh is the largest fort in Rajasthan and the most talked-about fort throughout the history of India. This fort has got one of the best-planned architecture that is best suited for a luxurious lifestyle and also has an advantageous position from the warfare point of view. Once an indomitable fort, this fort eventually fell into the hands of the Mughals who have practically ravaged the entire fort apart. However, the very few architectural remains, that stand even today with their heads held high out of sheer pride and honour, display the grandeur of the Rajput rulers of Mewar. Associated with the heart-wrenching legend of Rani Padmini, this fort has occupied a soft corner in the hearts of every Indian. Thus, as a tourist destination, the Fort of Chittorgarh is a marvel.

Chittorgarh Fort
Photo (Cropped) by Santosh namby, CC BY-SA 2.5

Traveller Tips

  • Wear comfortable shoes as you will be required to walk a lot through the ruins of the fort.
  • Beware of monkeys! Keep your belongings fastened properly so that the monkeys do not snatch them away from you.

Things to Do There

  • Wonder at the massive structure of the fort.
  • Walk around the ruins and get a feel about what life used to be like in the past.
  • Offer your prayers at the temples in the premises.
  • Take a tour of the Palace of Rani Padmini.
  • Click multiple photographs of this world heritage site.

Availibility of Guides

Professional guides speaking English and Hindi are available by the ticket counter for a nominal fee of 500 INR. You can hire a guide as per your choice to get a better understanding of the majestic fort.

Best Time to Visit

Rajasthan is a desert area and, thus, it remains very hot throughout the year. So, it is recommended that you visit Fort of Chittorgarh in between November and February for a pleasant experience.

How to Reach the Place

You can hire a cab or an auto rickshaw for a price of 500 INR approximately to roam through every location of the Fort of Chittorgarh.

Interesting Facts About the Fort of Chittorgarh, Chittorgarh

  • The Fort of Chittorgarh is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • This fort has got 9 gates in totality namely, Ganesh Pol, Jodala Pol, Ram Pol, Laxman Pol, Bhairon Pol, Hanuman Pol and Padan Pol. These gates have been designed in such an amazing way that a mere sound that is heard at any one of the poles gets channelized to the upper regions of the fort as a precaution against invasion.
  • There are two towers, namely, the Vijaya Stambh (the tower of Victory) and the Kirti Stambh(the tower of Fame), that have survived the constant invasions and the mass destruction over the years.
  • Once upon a time, 84 water bodies within the premises of the fort supported the entire population living there. However, due to environmental degradation, only 22 such water bodies have survived over the years out of which the famous reservoir, the Gaumukh Reservoir, is considered as extremely sacred and it is the primary water supply to the residents of Chittorgarh in the present days.
  • Another marvellous spot of the Chittorgarh Fort is the temple of Meera Bai dedicated to Lord Krishna. The worship and the offerings are continued even today and the temple is open to the public from dawn to dusk.
  • There a many other magnificent temples following both Hinduism and Jainism that have made this fort a grand confluence of art and culture.
  • Rani Padmini, whose sacrifice through ‘Jauhar’ has been sung over so many years used to reside in this fort. Her palace and her garden are open to the public and draw attention of every tourist visiting the Fort of Chittorgarh.
  • Another famous place of visit is the Rana Kumbha Palace where Maharana Kumbha used to spend his days at Chittor. This palace has got underground cellars, dungeons and secret pathways that have closed at present. It is believed as per the documentation of the past that the famous sacrifice of Jauhar performed by Rani Padmini and the other female occupants of the fort took place at this very palace.
  • This is the largest fort in Rajasthan. If you drive along the broken boundary of the fort, you will realize that you have covered a distance of 13 km!
Chittorgarh Fort Chittorgarh
Photo by Ssjoshi111, CC BY-SA 3.0

Nearby Attractions

  • Archaeological Museum of Chittorgarh
  • Rana Sanga Market

Nearby Restaurants

  • Manuhar Dining Hall
  • Gangaur Restaurant
  • Hotel R R
  • Hotel Right Choice
  • Nakoda Restaurant
  • Chokhi Dhani Garden Family Restaurant
  • Ritu Raj Vatika

The Fort of Chittorgarh is a treasure of the nation not only because of its historical significance, but, also because of the splendid architecture. Thus, this fort will make every tourist revel with pride at the honour of the Rajputs and will make every tourist cry too because of its tragic history. This place, in all, will completely transform a person’s visualization of history. Hence, the Fort of Chittorgarh is a must visit for all.

About Rohit

An architect by profession, Rohit Agarwal is a curious traveller, seeking out the minutest detail about the places he travels to, and that’s what one will find in his writings. His writings have appeared in various blogs, he’s currently trying to bring forth as many different places a traveller who shares the same level of curiosity like him would like to visit through his writings.

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