Chittor Fort with a Mewar historian
The road up to the fort climbs through seven gates, each named and each fought over. At the top, a road circles the plateau, about 5 km long, and your driver moves you between the main sites while your guide tells the story of Mewar from the founding of the Guhila dynasty to Akbar's siege of 1567–68.
We start at Rana Kumbha's palace, the largest ruin on the fort, then visit the Meera temple and the Kumbha Shyam temple, the Vijay Stambha and the cremation ground beside it, where by tradition the jauhars took place. From there we move to the Gaumukh reservoir, Padmini's palace and the Kalika Mata temple, originally a sun temple.
The fort is large and open, so we use the car for longer distances and walk the main sites. Allow three to four hours, then lunch in the town or on the road back to Udaipur. Opening hours and ticket rules change, so check current status before you travel.
Questions travellers ask
Good to know
How long do you need at Chittorgarh Fort
Three to four hours with a guide covers the main sites. The fort is large, about 280 hectares, so you drive between some of them along the 5 km road that circles the plateau. A full day from Udaipur, including the 2-hour drive each way, works well. We leave Udaipur early to reach the gates by 9 am, before the heat, and return for the evening by the lake.
Is Chittorgarh worth a day trip from Udaipur
Yes. It is one of the largest and most historic forts in India, central to Mewar's story and to Rajput identity. The drive is 2 hours on a good road. Start early and return to Udaipur for a late afternoon by the lake.
What is jauhar
Jauhar was the act of mass self-immolation by Rajput women facing capture after a defeat, while the men rode out to fight to the death. Chittorgarh is associated with three jauhars, in 1303, 1535 and 1568, according to tradition. On the fort, your guide shows the cremation ground beside the Vijay Stambha where, by tradition, they took place. We tell the story with care, as it still carries great emotion in Rajasthan.
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