Chittaurgarh
Chittaurgarh Fort
The
fort is a treasure house of history and historical monuments the approach to
the fort is very difficult, the one mile steep serpentine thoroughfare is exhaustive
and the fort is reached through huge seven pols of gates, which are in fact
the strong points having a watch tower and massive iron spiked doors.It was ravaged thrice, and each time phoenix-like it rose again Allaudin Khilji was the first to sack Chittaur in 1303, legend and history corroborate that this was because of his passionate desire to abduct Rani Padmini. Yet she preferred death to dishonor, and committed Jauhar (self immolation) along with the other ladies of the court. Chitturgarh was plundered again in 1535 by Sultan Bahadur Shah of Gujarat and finally by the Moghul Emperor Akbar, in 1567, in an attempt to subdue Maharana Udai Singh.
The fort is approached through massive pols of gates. Near Bhairon Pol, is a cenotaph or 'chhatra' in honor of the chivalrous Jaimal and his cousin Kala, who laid down their lives whilst defending Chittaur against the Mughals. Jaimal who was seriously wounded, but was not ready to die in his bed , thus he was carried into battle on the shoulders of his cousin Kala , both of them died while showing exemplary courage.
At
Ram Pol is a memorial to Phatta, who was only 16 years old and had just been
married, his father had already died defending Chittaurgarh, and was sent into
the battle by his mother, to free her son from any affection towards home she
herself pickled up sword along with his bride and jumped into the battle field
both of them died in front of Phatta. Next day the women folk of the palace
ended their lives by committing Johar. Phatta leading the saffron robed men
from the front thundered down like lightening from the mighty fortress to die
fighting. The other major gates are Padal pola and Hanuman Pol, with a distinct Rajput style of architecture.
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