Chittorgarh Fort
The Largest Fort in India
Overview
Chittorgarh Fort (Chittor Fort) is one of the largest forts in India and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, inscribed among the Hill Forts of Rajasthan. Rising on a 180-metre hill over roughly 280 hectares near Chittorgarh, it was the capital of Mewar and the stage for three legendary jauhars, mass self-immolations by its women, in 1303, 1535 and 1568. Its landmarks include the nine-storey Vijay Stambha (Tower of Victory) raised by Rana Kumbha in 1448, the 12th-century Jain Kirti Stambha, Rani Padmini's palace, and the Gaumukh reservoir. MyTripMyTravel arranges an escorted visit with an expert guide for the history.
Chittorgarh is the largest fort in India by area and the emotional heart of Rajput history, not a single palace but an entire fortified plateau of towers, temples, palaces and tanks that served as the capital of Mewar.
Its story is one of defiance: three times besieged and three times ending in jauhar, the mass self-immolation of its women in 1303, 1535 and 1568 rather than surrender. That history is written across its monuments, from the nine-storey Vijay Stambha that Rana Kumbha raised in 1448 to celebrate a victory, to the Jain Kirti Stambha, Rani Padmini's lake palace, and the sacred Gaumukh reservoir.
MyTripMyTravel runs Chittorgarh as an escorted, expert-guided visit, the fort is far too large and too layered to read without one, and can time the evening sound-and-light show that narrates its sieges.
At a glance
Chittorgarh Fort in brief
What to see
Highlights
Vijay Stambha
The 37 m nine-storey Tower of Victory built by Rana Kumbha in 1448, climbable inside.
Kirti Stambha
The 12th-century Jain Tower of Fame, dedicated to the first Tirthankara, Adinatha.
Rani Padmini's Palace
The lake pavilion tied to the legend of the 1303 siege and first jauhar.
The jauhar sites
The locations of the three mass self-immolations that define the fort's history.
Gaumukh reservoir
The spring-fed sacred tank set into the cliff edge of the plateau.
Meera & Kumbha Shyam temples
The temple cluster linked to the mystic-poet Meerabai and Rana Kumbha's era.
Visitor information
Our tips
The fort is vast, a vehicle and an expert guide are the only way to cover it well.
Climb the Vijay Stambha for the plateau-and-plains panorama.
Let the guide tie the three jauhars to the monuments; it is what makes Chittorgarh land.
Consider the evening sound-and-light show (Hindi and English) that narrates the sieges.
Good to know
Chittorgarh Fort, your questions
Is Chittorgarh the largest fort in India?
It is one of the largest forts in India, sprawling over roughly 280 hectares on a 180-metre hill, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
What is the Vijay Stambha?
The nine-storey Tower of Victory, built by Rana Kumbha in 1448 to commemorate a military victory; visitors can climb its internal staircase.
What are the jauhars of Chittorgarh?
Three episodes, in 1303, 1535 and 1568, in which the fort's women performed mass self-immolation rather than surrender to besieging armies.
Is it a UNESCO site?
Yes, it is inscribed as part of the Hill Forts of Rajasthan.
How long does it take to see?
About 2.5 to 3 hours with a vehicle and guide, given the fort's scale and spread of monuments.
Visit with us
See Chittorgarh Fort, properly.
A private, chauffeured visit with a licensed expert guide, timed for the best light and the smallest crowds. We fold Chittorgarh Fort into a wider Chittorgarh and Rajasthan Escapes itinerary, built entirely around you.
- Skip the queue where possible, at the right hour
- Licensed local guide who brings the story to life
- Private car and chauffeur, door to door
Plan your trip
Plan a visit to Chittorgarh Fort
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