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8 Lesser Known Facts About The Historical Chittorgarh Fort
February 26, 2017
Chittor Fort symbolizes the courage and sacrifice of the Rajput rulers particularly in the medieval period, i.e. from 7th to 16th century. It is one of the most popular tourist places in the country and the people who visit this fort face no difficulty in finding the best hotels and resorts Chittorgarh which offer them a comfortable stay. There are many interesting facts about this fort that are not known to people. Read this blog to know about them.
- It is the largest fort in India : Chittorgarh Fort, located on the bank of the river Berach, is the largest fort in the country regarding area. It is situated on a hill and expands across an area of about 700 acres. No other fort complex in India covers such a huge expanse.
- It is named after Chitrangada Mori, a Mauryan ruler : The coin inscriptions dating back to the medieval times suggest that this grand fort was built by the rulers of the Mauryan dynasty. It is named after one such great Mauryan ruler, Chitrangada Mori.
- Its shape resembles that of a fish : When seen from above, this large fort seems to be constructed in the shape of a fish. You can see this aerial view of the fort in various photographs and even in the brochures of the hotels and resorts situated in Chittorgarh.
- It houses many palaces and temples : The Chittorgarh fort complex comprises of 4 well-designed palaces, 19 main temples, 4 memorials and 20 functional water bodies, among other buildings. There are total 65 built structures inside the fort complex which include the huge and splendid towers.
- Large number of water bodies form a part of this fort : One can see wells, ponds, step-wells, and other such water bodies inside the fort complex. There was a time when this fort included 84 water bodies within its area but now only 22 remain of which just 20 are in a functional state. Chittor Fort has witnessed many battles, and these water bodies could support the needs of an army of around 50000 soldiers as their combined storage capacity is almost 4 billion litres.
- It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site : The Chittorgarh fort complex has been recognised as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO, under the cultural category. This designation grants enhanced International recognition to the fort so that it can be protected for the future generations as well.
- It has witnessed the historic ‘Jauhar’ : This fort was attacked three times in the history, each time to be safeguarded by the Rajput warriors. All these attacks resulted in the defeat of the Rajputs and were followed by ‘Jauhar’, a ritual in which Rajput women sacrifice their lives to avoid dishonor and enslavement after a defeat. An annual festival called “Jauhar Mela” is held in the city of Chittor till date to commemorate all the three Jauhars.
- It is accessible through seven gates : To enter the main fort, one has to cross the seven giant gateways, called ‘pols’. These are named as Ram Pol, Padal Pol, Lakshman Pol, Jorla Pol, Ganesh Pol, Bhairon Pol and Hanuman Pol. These are made up of sharp iron spikes and served as a means of defence in the earlier days of wars and battles.
After reading the above-mentioned facts, don’t you feel like visiting this fort complex? We are sure you must be excited to take a tour through the grand Chittorgarh Fort. Plan your visit soon and book your stay with Castle Narela, a premium heritage hotel and resort in Chittorgarh.