
CHITTORGARH FORT | TOURIST PLACES TO VISIT & TRAVEL GUIDE TO CHITTORGARH
Heritage
About Chittorgarh
#7 of 12 Places to visit in Rajasthan | #98 of 100 Places to visit in India
Ideal Trip Duration: Full Day
Nearest City to Chittorgarh: Udaipur (117 Kms)
Best Time to Visit Chittorgarh: October to March
Peak Season: December to February
At a distance of 117 km from Udaipur, 175 km from Kota, 199 km from Ajmer, 313 km from Jaipur and 319 km from Jodhpur, Chittorgarh or Chittaurgarh is a historical city and municipality located on the banks of river Gambhiri and Berach in Rajasthan, India. It is the administrative headquarters of Chittorgarh district and a former capital of the Sisodia dynasty of Mewar. It is one of the top Rajasthan tourist places and also among the best places to visit as part of Udaipur Tour.
The history of Chittorgarh holds an important place in Indian history and is brimming with heroic tales of the great Rajput warriors. Also known as Chittor, Chittorgarh was built by Maurya dynasty in the 7th century AD. It was then known as Chitrakut after Chitrangada Mori, a Rajput chieftain as written on historical Mewari silver coins. According to history, the Mori dynasty was in possession of the fort when Bappa Rawal the founder of the kingdom of Mewar seized Chittorgarh and made it his capital in 734 AD. Some other accounts say Bappa Rawal received it as a part of the dowry after marriage with the last Solanki princess in the mid-8th century AD. After that his descendants ruled Mewar, which stretched from Gujarat to Ajmer, until the 16th century AD.
Chittorgarh was one of the most contested seats of power in India with probably some of the most glorious battles being fought over its possession. It is famous in the history of the Mewar dynasty as its first capital, and renowned in India's long struggle for freedom. With only brief interruptions, the fort has always remained in possession of the Sisodias of the Guhilot clan of Rajputs, who descended from Bappa Rawal.
Chittorgarh is mainly known for its beautiful forts and temples. The Chittorgarh Fort is the largest in India and houses 4 palace complexes, 19 main temples, 4 memorials and 20 functional water bodies. Kirti Stambh, Padmini's Palace, Rana Kumbha Palace, Vijaya Stambh, Gaumukh Reservoir, Kalika Mata Temple, Meera Temple, Shyam Temple are the prominent places to visit in Chittorgarh.
The nearest airport to Chittorgarh is Maharana Pratap Airport, Udaipur, which is 95 km away. Chittorgarh Railway Station is directly connected by train with Udaipur, Ajmer, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bhopal, Khajuraho, Bangalore, Indore, Kolkata, Jalpaiguri, Okha, Delhi, Ratlam, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Nagpur, Meerut, Hyderabad, and Satragachi. Chittorgarh is also well linked by bus with Udaipur, Jodhpur, Jaipur, Ajmer, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Indore, and Mumbai.
Gangur and Jauhar are the popular festivals celebrated in Chittorgarh, followed by other festivals like Diwali and Holi. Rajasthan is known to be a haven for shoppers and so is Chittorgarh. Tourists can buy a variety of tie and dye fabrics, silver jewellery, metal work and shoes from markets such as Rana Sanga Market, Fort Road and Sardar Bazaar.
The best time to visit Chittorgarh is from October to March while the peak season is from December to February. The summer months are extremely hot and therefore, people avoid visiting the place during this time.
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