Chittorgarh Fort
About Chittaurgarh Fort
Standing tall in one of the oldest cities in Rajasthan, the
Chittaurgarh Fort perched on a 152-m-high rocky hill. The Chittaurgarh
Fort epitomises the doomed romantic ideal of Rajput chivalry.
Chittaurgarh Fort is a living testimony to the bravery of the great
Rajput warriors who sacrificed their lives fighting a superior enemy
instead of leading a life of submission. The fort of Chittor is believed
to have been the capital of the Gahlot and Sisodia kings who ruled Mewar
from the eighth to the sixteenth century AD.The fort is named after
Chittrangad Mauraya. The Sisodia ruler Ajay Pal (AD 1174-1177) improved
the fort wall built by the Gahlot king in the ninth century AD
Architecture
The ascent to the Chittaurgarh Fort takes one through zigzag paths
interrupted at intervals by seven enormous gateways or 'pols'. There are
7 gateways to the main gate are Padan Pol, Bhairon Pol, Hanuman Pol,
Ganesh Pol, Jorla Pol, Lakshman Pol, and Ram Pol. The Suraj Pol is the
gate on the east. On the climb, there are two chhatris (small domed
canopies, supported by pillars) where Jaimal and Kalla, heroes of the
1568 seige, fell during the struggle against Akbar.
Near the Padan Pol is the memorial of Rawat Bagh Singh who joined hands
with King Vikramaditya to fight against Sultan Bahadur Shah of Gujarat
when Chittor fort was attacked the second time. The Bhairon Pol is named
in the memory of Bhairondas Solanki who also fought against Sultan
Bahadur Shah in AD 1534. The Hanuman Pol, the Ram Pol, and the Lakshman
Pol have a temple in their vicinity. The Jorla Pol has two adjacent
gateways.
