The Chittorgarh Fort has
witnessed three bloody sieges and 'jauhars' (a Rajput tradition in which
royal maidens and ladies immolate themselves in the fire to save their
honor from the cruel hands of the enemy, when there is no chance of
defeating the enemy). The walls and the atmosphere is still haunted with
the gloom of despair, valiant pride of the Rajput queens and ladies and
sheer zeal and bravery of their men who refused to cow down before the
enemy. The Rajput style of architecture is clearly visible in the fort,
which is said to be the Gahlot and Sisodia ruler of Mewar from the 8th
to the 16th century. Named after Chittrangad Mauraya, the magnificent
fort rises 150 m above the surrounding region and runs to an approximate
length of 3 km covering an area of 60 acres and peripheral length of 13
km.The legend says that when the talks of Rani Padmini's beauty reched the years of Sultan Alauddin Khilji, the powerful ruler of Delhi, he requested her husband, Rana Rattan Singh, for a glimpse of the queen. Though, it went against the honor code of Rajputs, yet he was allowed to get a glimpse of the queen through the reflection of the queen in a water tank that overlooked the palace. Alauddin, then, had the audacity to attack Chittor to gain her possession. He won the war but lost Rani Padmini who committed 'jauhar' to save her honor.
The entrance of the Chittorgarh has seven massive gates, the two towers known as the 'Kirti Stambh' (Tower of Fame) and the 'Vijay Stambh' (Tower of Victory) along with several temples, reservoirs, and palaces dating between the 9th and 17th centuries.
