Chittorgarh Fort is one of those places I simply had to visit in India after seeing just 1 single photo. The temple looked like something out of this world with its intricate details and the water bassin below reflecting all of that beauty and the lush greenery.
The Chittorgarh Fort is one of the largest forts in India and considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
So when I figured out I could perfectly fit a short visit to Chittorgarh into my Rajasthan itinerary I was absolutely over the moon.
After out adventures in Pushkar we jumped into our car and on the way down to Udaipur we were able to make a stop at one of the most beautiful forts in the entire world!
RAJASTHAN IS FILLED WITH STUNNING FORTS & PALACES AND I WROTE A DETAILED GUIDE WITH TONS OF PHOTOS & DETAILS – THE MOST BEAUTIFUL FORTS & PALACES IN RAJASTHAN
Chittorgarh Fort – Visit The Most Beautiful Fort in India
To be completely honest I was a little disappointed. Not because the fort itself wasn’t as beautiful in real life as I would have imagined. But because I completely chose the wrong time of year and of day to visit this iconic place.
Due to circumstances I had planned my trip through Rajasthan at the start of May. If you’ve ever visited this area in India during that time you know that the sun will be scorching hot and reach daily temperatures up to 45°C.
And since we were visiting Chittorgarh Fort on our way to Udaipur we arrived in the middle of the day. Not the best combination if you’re not all that good with dealing with the heat!
Something I hadn’t thought about before planning my visit to Chittorgarh is that during the Summer the weather gets so hot that all of the bushes and trees actually dry up and become barren. So instead of all of these beautiful temples being surrounded by lush greenery I was looking at a death wasteland of trees. After monsoon season in July and August they would revive but for now this was it.
The purpose of this guide is to give you all of the tips you need so you won’t end up disappointed like me during your visit!
How to reach Chittorgarh Fort
Even though Chittorgarh is an extremely popular place in India it does not have its own airport. The closest airport is the Dabok airport in Udaipur which is about 70km away!
FROM UDAIPUR
BY BUS
Chittorgarh is well connected to major cities in Rajasthan such as Udaipur, Jaipur, Jodhpur… You can easily jump on one of the state busses and arrive to your destination. It takes about 1,5 hour to reach Chittorgarh from Udaipur on the road.
BY TRAIN
Chittorgarh Junction is the main station connecting Chittorgarh with other cities. It is situated on the broad gauge line and is one of the largest railway junctions in Southern Rajasthan.
BY CAR
The most convenient way to reach Chittorgarh is to hire a taxi from Udaipur which is approximately a 2-hour drive. You can discuss a fixed price from before which would include the taxi to wait for you for 1 to 2 hours and then drive you back to Udaipur. This way you can also choose at which time of the day you visit this magnificent place.
When to visit Chittorgarh Fort
The ideal time to visit is during the months of October through March for a pleasant experience.
The entire fort is spread out on a hilltop and covers an area of 2.8km². There are about 6 different sites that you can visit and all of them are quite spread out.
During the Winter months it will be no problem to visit all of them plus all of the water bassins will be full after monsoon season and you’ll be greeted by more lush greenery than you could possibly imagine.
Where to stay near Chittorgarh Fort
These are some of the hotels you should look into if you want to spend more time in the area and you don’t just want to visit Chittorgarh as a short day trip from Udaipur.
- Hotel Amrit Manthan – One of the best hotels to stay and enjoy Chittorgarh
- Roop Shree Hotel – A grat choice for travellers looking for a budget accommodation near Chittorgarh Fort
Visiting Chittorgarh Fort
The Fort of Chittorgarh is the largest fort in entire India and one of the most talked about ones as well. Tt was built in the 7th century by the Maurya rulers and has since then been home to many different rulers.
Once seen as an invincible and impenetrable fort it did fall into the hands of the Mughals and they completely tore the place apart. The remains that are now left are a reminder of how beautiful the architecture once was and for that reason the fort is a soft spot for a lot of Indians.
- Opening hours – 9.30am until 5pm
- Entrance fee – INR 100
- Duration – 2 to 3 hours
During your visit of the Fort of Chittorgarh make sure to wear comfortable shoes cause you’ll be walking a lot and make sure to bring a bottle of water and a snack with you.
Another item you absolutely can’t forget is your camera! EveKALIKAry temple, every monument has so many beautiful details that it’s impossible not to take hundreds of photos!
If you’re staying close by you might want to return to the fort in the evening! Every day at 7pm there’s a light and sound show (INR 50).
And besides the fort itself there are also a ton of other beautiful places to visit on the site!
RANI PADMINI’S PALACE
This three storied white building was built in the 19th century, and is located in the southern part of the fort. Rani Padmini was a princess who’s beauty is often compared to that of Cleopatra. She was happily married to Maharana Rattan Singh but also desired by Aladdin. His greed convinced him to destroy Chittor and kill Maharana. Rani was left behind but instead of obeying to Aladdin she committed Jauhar, an act where she puts herself on fire and burns to death.
- Opening hours – Every day from 6am until 6pm
VIJAY STAMBH
Vijay Stambh, also known as Victory Fort, is a huge tower within the Chittor Fort that was constructed in 1449. It’s 37 meters high and consists of 9 floors and a visit to Chittorgarh is pretty much incomplete without seeing this tower up close.
KALIKA MATA MANDIR
This temple is dedicated to Lord Bhadrakali and was built in the 14th century. The temple attracts a large number of visitors during the annual fair held near the complex and people from far and wide visit the temple to pay homage to Goddess Kali.
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