Vijay Stambh, Chittorgarh

Vijay Stambha or Tower of Victory is one of the most famous monuments of India and is an important tourist attraction of Chittorgarh in Rajasthan. Located inside the Chittorgarh fort, this Victory Tower was constructed by Mewar king Rana Kumbha between 1442 AD and 1449 AD to honor his distinguished victory over the joint attacks of Sultan Mohammad Khilji of Malva and Sultan Kutubuddin Shah of Gujarat. Its graceful and immaculate architecture is unique. Dedicated to Vishnu, this 37.19 m high tower was constructed on a 14 m square platform. Its base width is 9 m. The Tower is built partly of red sandstone and partly of white marble.

The interior and exterior are delicately carved showing Hindu deities of mythological characters with names. The inscribed slabs in the uppermost storey contain the genealogy of the rulers of Chittaur from Hamir to Rana Kumbha. The entire tower is covered with architectural ornaments and inscribed images of gods and goddesses, seasons, weapons, musical instruments, etc. The inscribed sculptures are a veritable textbook of Hindu iconography. The portraits of the architect of this tower Jaita and his 3 sons, Napa, Puja, and Poma are carved on the fifth floor of the tower.

The Tower has nine storeys, each of the nine storeys are distinctly marked with openings and balconies at every face of each storey. The 157 circular and narrow steps which lead to the terrace is also a noticeable feature of the architecture. After reaching the top of the tower, anyone can see a great and unique view of the whole city. The uppermost floor has been sealed off and is no longer accessible to visitors. The area around the Vijay Stambh is littered with an impressive number of further remains, including a pair of monumental gateways and a number of florid temples, including the superbly decorated Samiddhesvara Temple, whose shrine houses an image of the Trimurti, a composite, three-headed image of Shiva, Brahma and Vishnu.

History of Vijay Stambh

Vijay Stambh was built in 1440 AD by Maharana Kumbha of Mewar. He was a very powerful ruler and a brilliant tactician on the battlefield. The tower was built to commemorate the Maharana’s victory over the Muslim rulers of Gujarat and Malwa..

Architecture

The structure is 37m high with 9 storeys. It is covered with exquisite sculptures of Hindu deities, depicting some of the best scenes of Ramayan and Mahabharata. The narrow steps are a prominent feature of the Vijay Stambh. It is said that it took more than 10 years to build this structure. It has ornate windows and balconies at every storey. On the fifth floor of the tower there are inscribed images of Jaita and his three sons Poma, Napa and Puja. At the top of the tower, the genealogy of the rulers from Hamir to Rana Kumbha is sculptured on inscribed slabs. From the terrace one can actually view the beautiful Chittogarh city and the fort.

Monuments in Chittorgarh

Monuments in Chittorgarh resonates with stories of Rajputana bravery, pride and passion. The bards of Rajasthan sing tales of courage and sacrifice recounting stories that are known to every child and adult in the city. Chittorgarh is named after its most imposing structure, the Chittorgarh Fort which stands atop a 180 metre high hill and is spread across 700 acres. Chittorgarh Fort has had a tumultuous past. This bastion of the Rajputs has faced violent attacks thrice in its entire history. The first was in 1303 when the Sultan of Delhi, Ala-ud-din Khilji, who was enamoured by Queen Padmini, launched an attack to abduct her. More than two centuries later, in 1533, it was Bahadur Shah, the Sultan of Gujarat, who caused immense destruction. Four decades later, in 1568, Mughal Emperor Akbar attacked and seized the fort. It was finally in 1616, under the rule of Mughal Emperor Jahangir that the fort was returned to the Rajputs.