When it comes to drama, passion, legacy, and colorful history, no other fort in India can compare to the Chittorgarh fort.
From the mesmerizing beauty of Rani Padmavati with the treachery and lust of Alauddin Khilji, and from the unbelievable valor of Rana Kumbha to the sacrifice os Panna Dai, the Chittorgarh Fort is a citadel of honor and a crown jewel of the Mewar region of Rajasthan in India.
The Chittorgarh Fort is a township in itself and one of the many attractions is the Samadhishwar Temple.
This is located adjacent to the magnificent Vijay Stambh.
The special thing about this Shiv Temple is the Nandi Mandap which has ornately decorated pillars as seen in the photo below.
This is the view of the beautiful Nandi Mandap from the side.
Note the ornately decorated pillars.
Also, note that the hind legs of the Nandi which are both folded on the right and can be seen on the other side in the collage above.
Below is the entrance to the Samadheeshwar temple and note the wonderful carvings.
This is the Shikhar of the temple constructed in the Nagara style of temples. This Shikhar is made of several mini-shikars using a fractal art form which makes it look attractive and enigmatic. Read my article about the use of fractal art in Indian Temples where the mini-shikars are self-repeating patterns of diminishing sizes.
Location
Chittorgarh Fort is spread across 700 acres atop a 180 meter or 590-foot high hill about two hours northeast of Udaipur, in the southern part of Rajasthan state in India. The distances to major cities are:
300 km from Jaipur.
125 km from Udaipur.
300 km from Jodhpur.
How To Reach the Chittorgarh Fort
Nearest airport: Udaipur Airport.
By Road: Bus or taxi for one-day and take National Highway 27.
Train: The Udaipur - Jaipur Intercity Express 12991 departs Udaipur at 6 AM and arrives in Chittorgarh at 8 AM.
Auto-Rickshaw: Pay about INR 200 for an AutoRickshaw from the train station to the fort which is about 6 kilometer.
To return to Udaipur, catch the Jaipur-Udaipur City Intercity Express 12992 back at 7.05 PM.
Exploring the Fort
Entry for Fort: Free to enter.
Fort Timings: Open all the time.
Padmini Palace: INR 40 for Indians and INR 600 for foreigners.
Timings 9.30 AM to 5 PM last entry
All Days of the week.
Fateh Prakash Palace: INR 20 for Indians and INR 100 rupees for foreigners.
Timings: 9.30 AM to 5 PM
Closed on Monday.
Best Time to Visit the Fort
September to the end of March.
Where to Stay
There are plenty of hotels in the Chittorgarh town at the foothills of the fort with a price range serving all budgets.
Monument Tips
- Make sure you have sun protection such as a hat, sunscreen, and comfortable walking shoes.
- There are monkeys inside the fort that behave themselves but best avoided.
Other Attraction Within the Chittorgarh Fort
- Vijay Stambh, Victory Tower
- Kirti Stambh, Fame Tower
- Rana Kumbha Palace
- Fateh Prakash Palace
- Gaumukh Reservoir
- Maharani Padmini’s Palace
- Meerabai Temple
**
**Accessibility Features
Ramp Access.
Wheelchair-accessible Entrance.
Wheelchair-accessible Restroom/Toilet.
Wheelchair-accessible Seating.
Wheelchair-accessible Parking.
Wheelchair-accessible Elevator.
What Else To Do Around The Fort
- Various palaces and lakes in Udaipur
- Shrinathji Temple, Nathdwara
- Ekligaji Temple
- Sahastra-Bahu Temple
- Bundi Fort
- Molela Terracotta
Did you visit a memorable Shiv Temple recently that has a special Nandi Mandap? I’d be interested in knowing and going there.
Until Then… Happy Guiding ?
