Chittorgarh

History

Originally called Chitrakuta, the Chittor Fort is said to have been built by Chitranga, a Mori king.

The Guhila (Gahlot) ruler Bappa Rawal is said to have captured the fort in either 728 CE or 734 CE. However, some historians doubt the historicity of this legend, arguing that the Guhilas did not control Chittor before the reign of the later ruler Allata.

Chittor has a history going back several centuries. It was an ancient centre of Jain tradition. Chittor is adjacent to the ancient city of Madhyamika. The Jain inscriptions at Mathura from the Kushana period (1st–3rd centuries CE) mention a "Majjhimilla" branch of the "Kottiya" gana, indicating that it was a major Jain centre. The famous Acharya Haribhadra Suri (6th century CE) was born in Chittor and wrote "Dhurtopakhyana" there.

Chittor was known as "Chit-Ror" at that time. Between 1251 and 1258, Balban repeatedly led troops to Chittor fort. Under the orders of Alauddin Khilji, Ulugh Khan laid siege to Ranthambore, Chittor and Bundi forts.

In 1303, the Delhi Sultanate ruler Alauddin Khilji defeated the Guhila king Ratnasimha, and captured the fort. The fort was later captured by Hammir Singh, a king of the Sisodia branch of the Guhilas. Chittor gained prominence during the period of his successors, which included Rana Kumbha and Rana Sanga. In 1535, Bahadur Shah of Gujarat besieged and conquered the fort. However, Bahadur Shah was not able to hold Chittor for long, and the Sisodias captured it within a short time of his departure.

In 1567–68, the Mughal emperor Akbar besieged and captured the fort. In 1615, as part of a peace treaty between Akbar's successor Jahangir and the Maharana of Mewar, Amar Singh I, Mewar accepted Mughal suzerainty and the fort as well as the areas surrounding Chittorgarh were given to Mewar. However, due to the military danger presented by the fort, it was never to be fortified or even repaired.

The Maasir-i-Alamgiri, written by Saqi Must'ad Khan under Mughal patronage, chronicles the reign of Aurangzeb and records that on February 22, 1680 (1st Safar, 1091 AH), the emperor ordered the destruction of 63 Hindu temples in and around the city of Chittorgarh.

Climate

The climate is a tropical savanna climate (Koppen: Aw), showing traits of a humid subtropical climate (Koppen: Cwa), narrowly being precluded from being a semi-arid climate (Koppen: BSh), with almost all its rainfall occurring during the summer monsoon.

Festivals

Maharana was born on May 9, 1540, in Kumbhalgarh in Rajsamand district of Rajasthan to Maharana Udai Singh II and Maharani Jaivanta Bai Songara. His birth anniversary (Maharana Pratap Jayanti) is celebrated as a full-fledged festival every year on the 3rd day of Jyestha Shukla phase.

Special puja and processions are held in his remembrance on Maharana Pratap Jayanti day everywhere. Several cultural programs, such as debate, are also organized.

Meera Mahotsav

Meera Bai (1498–1547) was a devout follower of Lord Krishna, one of the foremost exponents of the Prema Bhakti (Divine Love) and an inspired poet. She was a Rajput princess born in about 1498 in Medta, Rajasthan. Her father, Ratan Singh, was the youngest son of Rao Duda, ruler of Medta, and son of Rao Duda, the ruler and founder of Jodhpur. Ratan Singh belonged to the Rathore clan. She was married to Bhoj Raj, ruler of Chittor.

Meera Smrithi Sansathan (Meera Memorial Trust), along with the Chittorgarh district officials, organises Meera Mahotsav every year on Sharad Purnima day (On Mirabai's birth anniversary) for 3 days. Many famous musicians and singers get together to sing bhajans in this celebration. The 3-day celebration also features pujas, discussions, dances, and fireworks.

Teej

Teej is one of the major festivals in Chittorgarh, which is celebrated with great enthusiasm. Teej is the festival of swings. It marks the advent of the monsoon month of Shravan (August). The monsoon rains fall on the parched land, and the pleasing scent of the wet soil rises into the air. Swings are hung from trees and decorated with flowers. Young girls and women dressed in green clothes sing songs in celebration of the advent of the monsoon. This festival is dedicated to the Goddess Parvati, commemorating her union with Lord Shiva. Goddess Parvati is worshipped by seekers of conjugal bliss and happiness.

Gangaur

The Gangaur Festival is the colourful and most important local festival of Rajasthan and is observed throughout the state with great fervour and devotion by womenfolk who worship Gauri, the consort of Lord Shiva, during July–August. Gan is a synonym for Shiva, and Gaur, which stands for Gauri or Parvati, who symbolises saubhagya (marital bliss). Gauri is the embodiment of perfection and conjugal love, which is why the unmarried women worship her for being blessed with good husbands, while married women do so for the welfare, health, and long life of their spouses and a happy married life.

Jauhar Mela

The fort and the city of Chittorgarh host the biggest Rajput festival called the "Jauhar Mela". It takes place annually on the anniversary of one of the jauhars, but no specific name has been given to it. It is generally believed that it commemorates Padmini's jauhar, which is most famous. This festival is held primarily to commemorate the bravery of Rajput ancestors and all three jauhars which happened at Chittorgarh Fort. A huge number of Rajputs, which include the descendants of most of the princely families, hold a procession to celebrate the jauhar. It has also become a forum to air one's views on the current political situation in the country.

Rang Teras – The Tribal Fair

Rang Teras is a popular tribal fest of Mewar celebrated on the 13th night of the month of Chaitra. A big colorful fair and huge gathering of tribes to rejoice in the harvest of wheat has been celebrating Rang Teras since the 15th century. It is a Thanksgiving festival for farmers. Farmers pay their honor to Mother Earth for providing them with food every year.

Industries

The city's industrial sector can be divided into

1. Northern sector – Chanderiya Lead-Zinc Smelter is one of the largest zinc-lead smelting complexes in the world. Its current metal production capacity is 610,000 tonnes per annum (525,000 tonnes per annum of zinc and 85,000 tonnes per annum of lead). In the year ended March 2013, Chanderiya produced 443,000 MT of zinc and 60,000 MT of lead. The main products are special high-grade (SHG) zinc, continuous galvanising grade (CGG) zinc, prime western (PW) zinc, and pure lead. It also produces several valuable by-products, including silver and cadmium.
2. Southern sector – Indore road (Nimbahera road) - many big cement players such as Aditya Birla group, Ultratech cement, Wonder cement by RK group, JK Lakshmi cement, Lafarge Cement are among the major industries of the southern industrial complex of the city. In the northern part of the city, Birla Cement Works (MP Birla group) also boasts one of the biggest cement plants in the country.
3. Northern Marble sector – The second biggest marble production hub of Rajasthan, after Kishangarh, Chittorgarh has one of the biggest production and finishing industries and marble complexes, and also a major exporter centre for marble in the country. RIICO Industrial Area at the bypass road and RIICO Industrial Area Chanderiya are big marble industry compounds. All kinds of marble, like onyx, Italian marble, Kota stone, famous white marble of Rajasthan, are in abundance.

Manpura mines are also a major mining area. The city also boasts of big marble mines.

1. Far north – Soniyana textile industrial area is the newest development in the city in the past 10 years.

Places of interest

Chittorgarh Fort

The Chittor Fort is seated on a 180-metre hill, covering an expanse of 700 acres (2.8 km²). It was constructed by the Mauryans in the 7th century CE. There is also a belief that it was constructed by Bhima of the Pancha Pandavas. This fort was the citadel of many great Rajput warriors such as Gora, Badal, Rana Kumbha, Maharana Pratap, Jaimal, Patta, etc.

Architectural Features of Chittorgarh Fort

The Chittorgarh Fort contains towers, reservoirs, and other architectural elements, as pictured below:

Kirti Stambh

Kirti Stambh (Tower of Fame) is a 22-meter-high (72-foot) tower built in the 12th century CE. Kirti Stambh is built inside the Chittorgarh fort. It is dedicated to Rishabha, the first Tirthankara of Jainism. It was built by a merchant and is decorated with figures from the Jain pantheon. It is a seven-storied pillar which was built by Biherwal Mahajan Sanaya of the Digambar Jain sect. On its four corners are engraved idols of Shri Adinathji in Digambar style, which are each five feet (about 1.5 meters) high, and elsewhere are engraved several small idols consecrated to the Jain lineage of deities.

Vijay Stambha

Vijay Stambha is a huge nine-storey tower which was built by Maharana Kumbha to commemorate his victory over the rulers of Malwa and Gujarat in 1440. The tower is 122 ft (37 m) high and stands on a 10 ft (3.0 m) high base. There are sculptures and carvings on the exterior walls of the tower. The tower is visible from any section of the town below. To reach the top of the tower top one has to climb 157 steps; it offers a great view of the surroundings from the top. The inside walls of the tower are carved with images of Gods, weapons, etc.

Rana Kumbha's Palace

Rana Kumbha's Palace is near the Vijay Stambh. This is the birthplace of Maharana Udai Singh, the founder of Udaipur. His life was saved by the heroic act of the maid Panna Dhay, who replaced her son in place of the prince, with the result that her son was killed by Banbir. She carried the prince away to safety in a fruit basket. Rani Meera Bai also lived in this palace. This is the place where Rani Padmini committed jauhar with the other ladies in one of the underground cellars.

Rani Padmini's Palace

According to legend, Rani Padmini's Palace is from which the Delhi Sultanate ruler Alauddin Khalji was allowed to watch a reflection of the Rani by replacing the mirror at such an angle that even if he turned back, he could not see the room. Khalji had been warned by the Rani's husband Rawal Ratan Singh that if he turned back, they would cut his neck.

Kalika Mata Temple

Kalika Mata Temple was originally built in the 8th century for Surya, the Sun God, and was later converted to a temple for the mother Goddess, Kali, in the 14th century. During the festival days of Navaratri, fairs are organised, and pilgrims from different places come here to pay obeisance at the temple.

Transport

The completed Golden Quadrilateral highway system passes through Chittorgarh, connecting it to most of India. The East-West Corridor (Express Highway) also crosses it. Chittorgarh is situated on National Highway No. 27 & 79. National Highway 27 connects to Kota and Udaipur with a 2-hour drive, and National Highway 48 connects to Bhilwara and Ajmer.

Chittorgarh is also connected to Indore via a 4-lane highway, a 5-hour drive, making it easy to access India's mini Bombay and business hub, Indore, via NH56 and then SH156. This highway makes connections with Neemuch, Mandsaur, and Ratlam, also. Chittorgarh is also home to Southeast Asia's Largest highway exchange (Diamond crossing or Reethola Chauraha).

Chittaurgarh Junction is a busy & important junction of Western Railway of Indian Railways, Ratlam Division. It has direct rail links with all major Indian cities including Ajmer, Udaipur, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Agra, Delhi, Haridwar, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Pune, Chennai, Rameswaram, Yeshwantpur, Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Indore, Ratlam, Gwalior, Bhopal, Mandsaur, Jhansi, Khajuraho, Rewa, Nagpur, Bilaspur, Kota, and Mysore.

A daily train to Indore (Veerbhumi Express) and new connections to Ahmedabad are some of the important rail routes of the country. The city also enjoys the services of the Vande Bharat Express. The second suburban station of Chittorgarh is at Chanderiya (a locality of the city). To decongest heavy traffic on the Chittaurgarh junction, many trains are also directed from Chanderiya station.

Chittorgarh is well-connected to all parts of India by roads. The Golden Quadrilateral Road Project and north–south-East–west corridor expressways pass through Chittorgarh City. The bus stand (bus depot) of Chittorgarh is located between the old and new cities. There are good bus services (private as well as state-owned) available for Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Ajmer, Bundi, Kota, Udaipur, and other major cities.

Rajasthan Roadways (RSRTC) provides a service for visiting areas around Chittorgarh. Rajasthan Roadways also has premier services called Pink Line, Silver Line, and Sleeper Coaches (Grey Line).

The nearest airport is Udaipur's Dabok Airport. The airport is located 70 kilometres from Chittorgarh and is linked by daily air service from New Delhi, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Ahmedabad, Chennai and Mumbai.

Chittorgarh also has a small airport at Ondawa. The Ondawa air strip serves some defence and chartered flights.

The city has a helipad at the reserve police lines.