Chittorgarh
Chittorgarh (also Chittor, Chittaur, or Chittaurgarh) is an ancient city in Rajasthan state of western India. It lies on the Berach River, a tributary of the Banas, and is the administrative headquarters of Chittorgharh District and a former capital of the erstwhile kingdom of Mewar.
History
The Kingdom of Mewar was founded by Bappa Rawal, of the Guhilot (or Gehlot/Guhila) clan of Rajputs, who established himself as ruler of Mewar in 734, with Chittor garh (Chittor fort) as his capital. Chittorgarh was captured in 1303 by Ala ud din Khilji, Sultan of Delhi, but was recaptured in 1326 by Hammir Singh, a scion of the same Gehlot clan. The dynasty (and clan) fathered by him came to be known by the name Sisodia after the village where he was born.
By the 16th century, Mewar had become the leading Rajput state. Rana Sangha of Mewar led a combined Rajput forces against the Mughal emperor Babur in 1527, but was defeated at the Battle of Khanua. After the Mughal Emperor Akbar captured Chittorgarh in 1568, the capital was moved west to Udaipur, in the foothills of the Aravalli Range, where Rana Udai Singh II had established a residence in 1559. Udaipur remained the capital of Mewar until it acceded unto the union of India in 1947, and Chittorgarh gradually lost its importance.
However, Chittorgarh remains replete with historic associations and hold a special place in the hearts of many Rajputs, as it was a bastion of the clan at a time when every other stronghold had succumbed to invasion.
| State of Rajasthan </b> Rajasthan Topics | |
|---|---|
| Capital | Jaipur |
| Divisions | Ajmer | Bharatpur | Bikaner | Jaipur | Jodhpur | Kota | Udaipur |
| Districts | Ajmer | Alwar | Banswara | Baran | Barmer | Bhilwara | Bikaner | Bharatpur | Bundi | Chittorgarh | Churu | Dausa | Dholpur | Dungarpur | Ganganagar | Hanumangarh | Jaipur | Jaisalmer | Jalore | Jhalawar | Jhunjhunu | Jodhpur | Karauli | Kota | Nagaur | Pali | Rajsamand | Sawai Madhopur | Sikar | Sirohi | Tonk | Udaipur |
| Major cities | Alwar • Bhilwara • Bikaner • Jaipur • Jaisalmer • Jodhpur • Udaipur |