Last Updated on: 30th August 2025, 02:04 pm
In a country of over 1,000 surviving ancient fortresses, Rajasthan’s Chittorgarh holds the distinction of being India’s largest. So large, in fact, that it remains home to thousands of inhabitants. And its landmarks are so spread out that you’ll need a vehicle to get around. In this guide to Chittorgarh Fort, we’ll be covering how to reach the fort along with a rundown of its main landmarks you should be sure not to miss.
Chittorgarh Fort served as the capital of the Mewar Kingdom from the 7th to 16th centuries. Situated on a hill 180 m above the city, it would only be successfully sacked three times: In 1303 by the Sultanate of Delhi, in 1535 by the Sultan of Gujarat, and in 1568 by the Mughal Empire.
Following the final sacking, the Mewars finally left Chittorgarh to establish Udaipur. As such, a visit to Chittorgarh Fort can provide valuable historical context to your explorations of Udaipur.
But unlike Udaipur, Chittorgarh gets few foreign visitors (but plenty of domestic ones). Are foreign tourists really missing out by skipping India’s largest fort? Does bigger always mean better?
We’ll be answering those questions at the end of the article. Also down below, you can learn more about how to reach the city of Chittorgarh and where to stay if you decide to spend a few nights.
A Guide to Chittorgarh Fort
Chittorgarh Fort is situated in the modern city of Chittorgarh, a sprawling city of roughly 150,000 inhabitants. The fort is situated on a hill 180 m above town.
At the time of writing, the fort opens at 9:00 and costs Rs 600 for foreigners, plus a small extra parking fee.
Stretching out to two kilometers long and 155 m wide, most visitors will want to hire a vehicle to get around. While walking would technically be possible, bear in mind that you’d have to walk along the road amongst heavy traffic.
In the following guide, we’ll be going over how to go about hiring a vehicle to the fort, followed by a rundown of the main landmarks you should be sure your driver takes you to.
Reaching the Fort From Town
While we’d normally include practical information like this as an appendix to the article, it’s important to preface this guide with some tips on what to do – and avoid – when planning your visit to Chittorgarh Fort.
In my case, I spent two nights in the city of Chittorgarh in between the Kota/Bundi area and Udaipur, with the intention of spending a full day at the fort to see as much as possible.
But before going further, I’d suggest that most people not even bother with this. Instead, consider just visiting Chittorgarh Fort as a day trip from Udaipur. You can book reasonably priced tours like this one online.
Before my arrival in Chittorgarh, I’d contacted my hotel in advance about how to go about exploring the fort, and they said it would be easy to arrange a driver upon my arrival the day before.
And so that’s what I did upon check-in, explaining to the staff that I wanted to see ‘everything’ at the fort. He said that this could be done within 3-4 hours, and that the tuk tuk tour would cost a mere Rs 400.
That sounded suspiciously cheap, but I was not given any choice between a shorter or a longer version of the tour. No time limit was mentioned, and I was under the impression that we’d simply finish once all the main landmarks were covered.
As it turned out, my driver did NOT end up taking me to all of the main highlights, and I only realized near the end when I did some last-minute research on my phone.
I normally do meticulous research in advance, but my trip to Chittorgarh came at the end of end of an intense five weeks of nonstop travel before finally slowing down in Udaipur.
Furthermore, I’d just hired a great tuk tuk driver in Bundi, while I didn’t feel that a driver arranged by my hotel would try to cheat me.
Not only did my driver not take me everywhere, but all of a sudden, our tour had a total time limit of three hours, including pickup and drop-off time! I called the hotel manager who said this was correct, despite not having been told anything about time limits the night before
To make matters worse, before mentioning the time limit, my driver had repeatedly been pausing the journey to make long phone calls.
So in the end, after lots of stressful communication and arguing, and after multiple calls to the hotel staff, I finally got to see all of the locations in the Chittorgarh Fort guide below. But only after agreeing to pay slightly more money, of course.
Why they couldn’t have just offered me a more expensive option from the beginning, I’ll never know. I do suspect, however, that certain people actually enjoy the back-and-forth arguing with customers.
Rather than just communicating clearly and following through so that both sides end up happy, my driver seemed to take pleasure in the small ‘victory’ of getting me to pay a little extra. Welcome to India.
Anyway, whether you’ll be visiting Chittorgarh Fort as a day trip from Udaipur or via tuk tuk from Chittorgarh city, I would recommend making a list of the locations featured below and confirming exactly where you’ll be going before your tour begins.
Given the massive size of the fort, however, there are likely still some landmarks beyond what’s included below.
Rana Kumbha Palace
The first major landmark we stopped at was Kumbha Palace, named after Rana Kumbha (r. 1433-1468), one of Mewar’s most influential rulers.
He’s responsible for the six fortified gateways you’ll have passed through on the way here.
Kumbha also hoped to turn Chittorgarh into a thriving cultural hub. In addition to this palace, he also commissioned the nearby Vijaya Stambha (more below).
He’s even responsible for Kumbhalgarh Fort (hence the name) which, while not as large as Chittorgarh, is easily one of Rajasthan’s most spectacular fortresses.
In addition to being one of the most eye-catching structures of Chittorgarh, this palace is also remarkable for its association with numerous historical figures.
For example, Udaipur’s founder Maharana Udai Singh was born here. He was just an infant during a Mughal siege in the 16th century, and his wet nurse went as far as putting her own son in his place to save him – knowing full well that her baby son would be killed.
Another notable 16th-century figure who lived here was Mirabai. But more on her shortly.
Architecturally, the palace is known for its two elaborate gateways, its multistoried structures and its spacious courtyards. The buildings here were largely built from locally sourced sandstone.
Mirabai's Temple
A bit further south along the road is Mirabai’s Temple. As mentioned, Mirabai was a prominent 16th-century figure who resided at Kumbha Palace.
She remains a prominent figure in the Bhakti tradition, or what could be summed up as the ‘yoga of devotion.’ And the object of her devotion was Krishna.
Many hymns of devotion to Krishna sung in India to this day, in fact, are attributed to her.
Mirabai had married Bhoj Raj, the son of ruler Rana Sanga in 1516. But after fighting against the Delhi Sultanate, he would succumb to his battle wounds and pass away in 1521.
Her husband is often described as her only supporter within the family, but she was stuck living with her in-laws after his passing. One reason for their frequent clashes was that they considered her use of music in religious worship to be low-class behavior.
According to legend, tensions were so high that they even tried to kill her multiple times. But through Krishna’s intervention, she repeatedly managed to evade death, and she ended up amassing a sizable amount of followers.
It’s hard to know how many of these stories are true, however, as the oldest surviving accounts of Mirabai were written well after her death.
As for the temple, it was likely established by Rana Kumbha. But its main shrines are dedicated to Krishna, and it’s been associated with Mirabai and her teachings for centuries.
Vijaya Stambha
Moving on, we reached what’s arguably Chittorgarh’s most iconic landmark. The 37 m-high Vijaya Stambha was constructed in 1448 by Rana Kumbha to commemorate his victory in the Battle of Sarangpur.
Kumbha was victorious over Mahmud Khalji, the Sultan of Malwa who ruled out of present-day Mandu, Madhya Pradesh.
The main reason for the battle was the fact that Khalji had been sheltering the assassin of Rana Kumbha’s father, Rana Mokal. Following the battle, Mahmud Khalji was even taken prisoner at Chittorgarh Fort before he was eventually released.
Notably, the Battle of Sarangpur was just one of three battles in which Rana Kumbha emerged victorious over the Sultanate of Malwa.
While the pillar is primarily dedicated to Vishnu, the Jain Goddess Padmavati also makes an appearance at the top.
The impressive monument is carved from top to bottom in detailed figures and geometric patterns. While there’s a staircase inside, it wasn’t possible to go in at the time of my visit.
Next to the pillar are numerous ancient structures, all of which made up the wider royal quarters of the Mewars.
A major temple in the area is known as Samadhisvara, a Shiva temple that had been constructed by Bhoja Paramara in the 11th century AD. Its shrine contains a massive image of Trimurti Shiva, and you’ll likely encounter a sizable queue of Indian devotees waiting to get in.
Also in this area is a pond called Gaumukh Kund. Though I only viewed it from the north, the most iconic images of Chittorgarh Fort feature Gaumukh Kund – with the Vijaya Stambha in the background – as seen from the south.
I couldn’t figure out a way to get there, however. And in any case, it was a terribly hazy winter day.
Kalika Mata Temple
Further south is the Kalika Mata Temple, which should be thought of as a religious site and not a mere tourist attraction. As the name suggests, it’s dedicated to the goddess Kali, who, in simplistic terms, is the goddess of death and destruction.
Prominent Kali devotees such as Sri Ramakrishna, however, saw her as a benign deity and the ultimate Mother Goddess.
Interestingly, this temple was originally dedicated to Surya, the Sun God, before it was converted in the 14th century. It’s not entirely clear why, but it may have been associated with the tragic Rajput tradition of Jauhar (more on that shortly).
At the time of my visit, the temple grounds were inhabited by a huge community of langur monkeys.
As with most Indian temples, photography within the main shrine is strictly prohibited.
Padmini Palace
Nearby is Padmini Palace. It overlooks the tranquil Padmini Lake which is home to a three-story structure known as Jal Mahal. Padmini Palace is also home to numerous courtyards, a circular hall, and a double-storied room at the southern end.
The palace was named after Rani Padmini, the wife of Mewar ruler Rawal Ratan Singh. According to legend, the Sultan of Delhi, Alauddin Khilji, laid siege to Chittorgarh Fort in 1303 because he was enamored with Rani Padmini and wanted to kidnap her.
And while the Sultan did successfully take over Chittorgarh, he never got to take Padmini.
Chittorgarh is somewhat infamous for the practice of Jauhar that took place when it was clear that defeat was inevitable. Rather than surrender, Chittorgarh’s women – along with their children – would perform mass suicide by immolating themselves in a funeral pyre.
The following day, the men would march out onto the battlefield clad in saffron, knowing full well that it was their time to die. Fortunately for the Mewars, they would eventually take back Chittorgarh in 1326. But it wouldn’t be the last Jauhar to take place here.
Suraj Pol
While the western side of Chittorgarh Fort features a whopping six fortified gates in a row, the eastern side features just one: Suraj Pol.
Today, visitors can walk through the gate and take in some of the views. While the other gates have traffic flowing through them, this one is restricted to food traffic only, so it’s ideal for admiring the gate’s architecture.
Kirti Stambha
The northeast side of the fort is home to Kirti Stambha, a pillar that looks quite similar to Vijaya Stambha. But it even predates it, having been completed in the 13th century
The beautifully-carved pillar stands at 22 m high and is dedicated to Adinatha, the first Jain Tirthankara
It was erected by a merchant named Jeeja Bhagerwala during the reign of Rawal Kumar Singh, while a 14th-century Jain Temple stands next to it.
Satbis Deori Temple
Speaking of Jain monuments, further within the fort is Satbis Deori Temple, Chittorgarh’s largest Jain structure.
Notably, Chittorgarh has a long history as a Jain center, even predating Chittorgarh Fort itself. Jainism long flourished in Rajasthan as a whole thanks to Rajput patronage, and some of the finest Jain monuments can be found in the state.
Jain temples are often among the most beautiful religious monuments you’ll see when traveling throughout India, and Satbis Deori is no exception.
Built in the 11th century, it features over 20 different shrines. (The name translates to ’27 Shrines,’ but not all of them are intact.)
While Satbis Deori Temple is worth a stop during your visit to Chittorgarh, those traveling through the region should be sure not to miss the stunning Ranakpur.
Fateh Prakash Palace
Just nearby is the Fateh Prakash palace, an elaborate white structure featuring four domes.
The structure is one of Chittorgarh’s latest, having been built by Maharana Fateh Sing (r. 1884-1930). He was known for being defiant against the British Empire, focusing on restoring various forts and monuments of Mewar.
Since 1968, the structure has served as a museum. Today, it contains a detailed history of the Mewar Kingdom, and it also features an armory gallery, fine art gallery, a sculpture gallery, and more.
Note that entry requires an additional ticket of Rs 100 in addition to the Rs 600 to enter the fort. Frankly speaking, you might be better off learning about Mewar at one of the various museums around Udaipur.
Ratan Singh Palace
At the far northern end of Chittorgarh Fort lies Ratan Singh Palace. It was established by Rana Ratan Singh II (1528-31), who doesn’t seem to stand out much amongst Mewar’s many influential rulers.
And hardly any tourists seem to know about this, as I was the only one here during my visit (I pointed it out to my driver as we passed, and he reluctantly stopped).
The royal palace features multiple courtyards and towers, along with its own temple
Nevertheless, it’s almost as impressive visually as Rana Kumbha Palace mentioned above. The palace grounds feature multiple courtyards and towers, while you’ll even find a sizable temple.
Additional Info
Could India’s largest fort possibly be worth skipping, or should you make sure to include it in your Rajasthan itinerary at all costs?
As mentioned above, not many foreign visitors seem to make it here despite its proximity to Udaipur. Are most people missing out?
Putting aside the troubles I had with my driver and solely focusing on the fort itself, I was honestly a little let down by Chittorgarh Fort.
Sure, it’s technically the biggest fort in the country, but it’s so big that it doesn’t even feel like a fort at all. Rather, it’s more like exploring a town situated atop a plateau.
Personally, one of the funnest parts of visiting old fortresses is freely exploring them. And the fact that Chittorgarh must be explored with a driver sucks away a lot of the enjoyment, in my opinion.
With that said, some of the monuments here are indeed impressive, such as Vijaya Stambha and the Jain Temple. If you’re doing slow travel through Rajasthan, you should indeed try to make it out here.
But if you had to choose between visiting Kumbalgarh or Chittorgarh as a day trip from Udaipur, definitely go with the former.
Coming by train, you can reach the main Chittorgarh (CHITTAURGARH) station directly from cities like Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Bundi, Udaipur, Ajmer.
But if the train departure time doesn’t suit you, also try searching for routes to the nearby Chanderiyah Station. I wanted to depart from Bundi in the evening rather than early morning, so I headed to Chanderiyah and took a tuk tuk to my hotel from there.
If you’re doing a long trip through India, it’s best to create an account on the official Indian Railways (IRCTC) website. But that’s much easier said than done!
If you’re just doing a shorter trip, it’s best to book train tickets through 12GoAsia. You’ll pay a significantly higher fee, but it’s a much smoother experience.
The above link is an affiliate link, but I did use 12GoAsia a few times before I got my IRCTC account set up and I had no issues.
As mentioned above, most people should probably just visit Chittorgarh Fort as a day trip from Udaipur with a tour like this one. But staying a few nights might be ideal for those who like to break up long journeys.
I stayed at Hotel Royal Inn (not to be confused with Hotel Royal Palace). While it was a reasonable distance from the fort, I can’t recommend it due to the poor communication regarding the fort tour mentioned above. Furthermore, it was far from clean.
Other nearby hotels with good reviews that you might want to look into include Hotel Keshav Residency and Hotel Pride Of Chittor.