Tourism in Chittorgarh district is a historical trip down the ages. There are a number of places and monuments of historical interest situated in the district of Chittorgarh in Rajasthan. It is also known as the town of the brave, known for its massive fort atop a hill, which can be singled out for its glorious past. The fort has a chequered history; it has witnessed some of the bloodiest battles in history, three great sakas and some of the most heroic deeds of valour, which are still sung by the local musicians. Apart from the various places of historical interest located here, there are a number of places of religious interest located in the district. Discussed below are the various places of tourism in the district of Chittorgarh.
Pilgrimage Tourism in Chittorgarh District
Barolo is situated 140 Kms from the Rawatbhata tehsil. This town is worth visiting, because of the group of ancient temples situated here. The Sanwariya Ji Temple, 40 Kms from the Bhadesar tehsil, is dedicated to Lord Krishna. It is situated on the Chittorgarh - Udaipur highway. The temple has been recently constructed; it is not a very old structure. It is an important centre of Hindu pilgrimage. The Matri Kundiya Temple is famous as the Haridwar of Mewar. There is found here a shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Gomteshwar temple is famous for the ancient temple found here, dedicated to Lord Shiva. Jogniya Mata Ji temple of Goddess Yogini is said to be 300 years old.
Leisure Tourism in Chittorgarh District
Nagri, situated 20Kms from Chittorgarh tehsil, is one of the most important townships of the Mauryan era in Rajasthan. It is situated on the banks of river Bairach. It was formerly known as Madhyamika, which flourished from the Maurya to the Gupta era. The excavation sites here have unearthed many interesting facts and have showed signs of strong Hindu and Buddhist influence. Deogarh, the 16th century fort near Pratapgarh, is famous for the palaces, their murals and Jain temple. The 350 year old castle built by Rao Shakti Singh, the youngest brother of Maharaja Pratap, is the major attraction of Bijaipur. It has now been converted into a hotel.
There are a number of wildlife sanctuaries located in the district. The Bassi Wildlife Sanctuary covers an area of 50 Sq kilometres near Bassi village. The key fauna of the sanctuary includes panther, wild boar, antelopes and mongoose. Migratory birds also visit the sanctuary. For entry into the sanctuary, prior permission is to be obtained from the District Forest Officer, Chittorgarh. The Bhainsorgarh Wildlife Sanctuary lies in the lush green environs of Bhainsrogarh. Invaluable archaeological remains can also be seen here. The Sitamata Sanctuary is spread over the Aravalli Mountain ranges and Vindhyachal ranges and is the only forest where teak trees of building value are found. The thickly vegetated sanctuary has about 50 percent teak trees besides salar, tendu, amla, bamboo and bel etc. Three rivers flow through the forest, and the Jakham and Karmoi are the major ones. A huge dam has been constructed over the Jakham River for irrigation, and wild animals in the sanctuary. The key fauna of the sanctuary includes leopard, hyena, jackal, fox, jungle cat, porcupine, spotted dear, wild bear, four horned antelope and nilgai etc. The most important and conspicuous animal of the sanctuary is the flying squirrel, which can be observed gliding between the trees during night. This nocturnal creature hides in the daylight, and the best time to watch the squirrel is in the months of February and March at Arampura Guest House, when most trees shed their leaves making it easier to spot the squirrel. The sanctuary is also associated with mythological events. It is believed that Sita> wife of Lord Rama stayed here during the period of her exile in the ashram of Saint Valmiki.
Thus discussed above are the various places of tourism in the Chittorgarh district.
