INTRODUCTION

Chittaurgarh, the pride & glory of Rajasthan, echoes with tales of romance, valour & chivalry. Chittaurgarh finds mention in the epic, Mahabharata. The warrior prince Bhim, one of the five Pandavas, is said to have visited this place & struck the ground with his foot with such force that water gushed out from the earth & formed a massive reservoir. Even today it is called Bhimlat or the kick of Bhim.

The history of Chittaurgarh revolves around its ancient fort which dates back to the reign of the Sisodia ruler Bappa Rawal (734 – 53 AD). The Sisodias are believed to be the oldest dynasty in the world with their origin dating back to 566 AD. Mewar & the Sisodias occupy a very special niche in the annals of history as the Rajput Kingdom & dynasty which upheld the Rajput values & kept alive the tradition of independence. When other rulers were bowing to acknowledge Mughal supremacy, the rulers of Chittaur held out defiantly & fiercely, never allowing their princesses in marriage to the Mughal emperors. It was this indomitable spirit of the Mewar rulers which deterred & even challenged many attackers.

Over the centuries Chittaurgarh was attacked by Allauddin Khilji, Bahadur Shah of Malwa & the Mughal emperor Akbar. Although the Rajputs managed to recover the fort after the first two conquests, the third conquest of Chittaurgarh by Akbar in 1567, finally annexed it to the Mughal Empire.

Through the three attacks, the rulers displayed exemplary heroism, choosing death to surrender & dishonor.

The saga of Chittaurgarh is replete with heroic tales. The legendary Sisodia rulers like rana Kumbha, Rana Sanga & Maharana Pratap are today revered as heroes by the nation.