RANI PADMAVATHY & MORE LEGENDS FROM CHITTORGARH

The atmosphere is filled with courage. The atmosphere is filled with silent screams. The romance aura is tainted with bloody wars and terrible sacrifices. After fifteen years, memories flood when my husband and I visit Udaipur and Chittorgarh. This was our first trip together as a couple. After spending the night in Udaipur, we went on a day trip towards Chittaurgarh (or Chittorgarh), the former capital of Mewar. There are many places to see in Chittorgarh. It takes a whole day to visit all of the tourist spots. Chittorgarh was the first place I encountered Rajasthan. We were back in Mewar fifteen years later and decided to drive from Udaipur into Chittorgarh.

After fifteen years of being here, I realized that Chittorgarh was more than a collection of monuments. It is an album of emotions.

Each monument stands for pride, courage, and lust, whether it is the fortified fort, the tall towers or the beautiful temples, or the majestic palaces.

Chittorgarh Tourist Sites

It is only possible to visit some of the tourist attractions in Chittorgarh on a single day. Each wall tells a story. Not every level is about Rani Padmavathy. These are just a few fantastic places you can visit in Chittorgarh.

Every tale contains romance, chivalry, wars won and lost, deaths, and besiegements. These tales are told in oral ballads. One legend that still echoes from the Chittorgarh ruins is the legend of Rani Padmavathy or Chittor Rani Padmini. It’s now in celluloid.

Chittorgarh Fort

Chittorgarh Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is also home to five Rajasthani forts: Jaisalmer Fort, Jaisalmer Fort Amer Fort, Ranthambore Fort, and Ranthambore Fort Gagron Fort.

It was built on a hillock in the 5th century and overlooked the town. Over time, different rulers strengthened it. There are seven gates and 65 monuments, including four memorials, four palaces, and 18 temples. The skyline is dotted with Victory towers. You can now see more than twenty water bodies.

Legends of Chittorgarh

Legends are fascinating to me. It is fantastic to see how every Indian destination is linked to one of the two Indian epics, Mahabharata or Ramayana. Chittorgarh has a connection to the former, as Bheema is said to have landed here to seek water. The spring is named after him, Bhimlat Kund.

Rani Padmini and Padmavathy from Chittorgarh

The legend of Chittorgarh’s Rani Padmini, or Padmavathy, is about Raja Ratan Singh’s wife, known for her beauty and fame. Padmavathy, a medieval-era heroine, was the subject of many ballads, fantasies, and poems.

Apart from the oral Rajasthani folklore and one of the most famous fictional works, Malik Muhammad Jayasi wrote it. However, I read the story as an infant from Amar Chitra Katha, my favorite comic.

Talking parrots, who speak of the beauty and charm of the queen and even lure the king to her side, set the scene. But it’s Alauddin Khilji (the Sultan of Delhi) who takes center stage. Although he was allowed to see her beauty through the reflections of mirrors, he was able to launch an attack on Chittorgarh. Padmini and other Rajasthani women also committed Sati or Jauhar, which led to Ratan Singh’s death. They then immolated themselves to escape capture. Although historians deny the story, historians confirm that the siege occurred in medieval times and that Alauddin captured Chittorgarh during the 14th century.

Attack by Akbar on Chittorgarh

These forts have the practice of Sati and Jauhar imprinted on their walls. These ruins of palaces are a place where the cries echo. In the 16th century, Chittorgarh was again under siege. The final attack occurred during Akbar’s Mughal era. According to records, thousands were killed, and many women committed suicide.

Rana Uday Singh 11, Rana Uday Singh’s 11-year-old son, decided to move camps to the Mughals to discover that Akbar was plotting to invade his father’s territory. His father was not notified, and he returned to warn him. According to some stories, Rana Uday Singh, 11, is a woman who fled from her father while her brave men fought on and died on the battlefield. Rana Kumba built the Vijay Stamb, a victory tower, to commemorate a victory.

Chittorgarh has many more stories. One relates to Rana Uday Singh, the founder of Udaipur. His nurse killed her son to save him from an internal plot to kill him as a child.

Meera Bai and Chittorgarh

There are other stories than conspiracies. Chittorgarh revolves around Meera bai. She was a devotee to Krishna and gave her whole life to him. Although she was married to Bhojraj Sing, the son of Rana Sangha here, Krishna captivated her. In a temple dedicated solely to Meera Bai, the story of Meera Bai is now preserved.

Chittorgarh: Places to Visit

Here are some other places in Chittorgarh that you can visit if you only have a few hours to spend at the Mewar Fort.

 Palaces in Chittorgarh

Although there are many palaces within the fort, my favorite is Rana Kumbha’s palace. It is now completely ruined. As I walk through the crumbles, there is a feeling of poignancy. Every brick broken has a story to tell. This palace is the oldest structure in the fort. My favorite moment is to watch the sunset over the entire city from here.

Nearby is the Fateh Prakash Palace, but Rani Padmini’s palace in the pond is the most striking. It is shrouded in trees and looks rather sad.

Temples in Chittorgarh Fort

Nearly every corner of the fort has temples. If time is tight, you can visit the Meera Temple dedicated to Meerabai. It is one of the few temples that is dedicated to humans. She was considered a mystic, a devotee to Krishna, and was veered as a saint.

There are temples dedicated to Shiva and Kali. The Kshemankari Temple and the Kumbha Shyam Temple are just a few of the many Jain temples on the fort. These temples are included in the Chittorgarh tourist spots.

Towers – Kirti Stamb and Vijay Stamb

Here, two towers are visible: the Kirti Stamb, built by a Jain merchant during the 12th century and rises 22 meters high. Rana Kumba built the Vijay Stamb Victory Tower, which is dedicated to Vishnu. It was constructed to honor a battle victory and was open to the public. We climbed it on our first visit, but I decided to skip it this time. These towers are a great place to spend time if you’re looking for more sites in Chittorgarh.

Water bodies around Chittorgarh

Chittorgarh’s water bodies are everywhere, from reservoirs to wells. The emerald-tinged waters at the Gaumukh are fascinating to me. This pool was used as a private bathing area for queens. There was also an underground tunnel that connected the reservoir to the palaces. These are just a few of the many tourist attractions in Chittorgarh that you should take advantage of.

These are my top recommendations for places to see in Chittorgarh. Do you have other suggestions for Chittorgarh tourist spots that I still need to mention?