Gul Eduljee walked into the class, tall and petite, sleek and slender. Dressed in a knee-length black pencil skirt and red shirt, jet black bob, red lipstick, and stilettos.
We could smell her perfume from way back, with tic tok of her stilettos as she crossed the corridors to enter our class of 10th B batch of 1983.
The class is already drowsy after lunch and a history period after that made sure to do the necessary.
Why can I describe her so vividly? One is that I always admired her for everything. She an epitome of language, storytelling, and being a perfect teacher which has hugely contributed to shaping our personality.
Second, Luck wasn’t on my side in terms of height hence have always been seated right under all my teacher’s nose, and here too I am kept awake by her perfume and wide eyes. It’s a tough tug of war of all senses… The full stomach with drowsy eyes, the aromatic perfume, and the Kohl and lipstick.
But it was Gul’s teacher who always with her storytelling and zeal to teach kept us awake. She had a knack for bringing our history and culture, our heritage alive … it was a visual aid for us in times when visual aids seem to be distant.
I very well remember the lesson when the country faced dire situations with many monarchs supporting the Mughals and British. Many brave heart kings and millions of soldiers had to sacrifice their life to retain our land. My love for history is attributed to my educator who has had an everlasting effect and made the sati episode and Chittorgarh so live to get Goosebumps.
Visiting the Most historical capital of Mewar
2021… December I am at the Rani Padmavati palace… Gul teacher peeps in… The big elephant i.e. the big brain has done a super job of storing as was taught, the memories flood back endless and accurate and I thank Gul teacher once again.
My fascination for heritage and architecture has taken me to places and today as I stand in this walled fort, built in the 5th Century, though dilapidated its grandeur is mesmerizing.
Spread in around 13km periphery on the landmass of 700 acres, to access it on foot is almost undoable. To visit various edifices spread across we hire a vehicle along with an advisable government guide.
The premises are divided into 3 parts forts, temples, and water bodies, Chittorgarh today is under cloud cover and bores a resplendent look with its Rajasthani architecture and stone color something like war struck.
The Meera temple along with the other deities
Our first stop is the temples. The most revered and unusual is the Meera temple in her maiden native, is a novice.
Married to one of the King of Mewar, she is a hardcore devotee of Lord Krishna and spends her life singing ballads in his love and praises. In that era, the king seemed to be broadminded and understanding of his queen’s Love.
Her unparalleled devotion attracted a lot of dislikes and she had to go through hardships, yet she remained undeterred, immersed in the devotion of her beloved Lord.
As it pours in the winters, the already chilled temperature chills you to the core. Today the sky is overcast and the carved monuments bear a deserted look. As I watch closely the stone-carved temples seems to be the fondest part of the artist of the bygone era.
The stone Art
A Monument par Excellence: Vijay Stambh
Moving on to the Vijaya Stambh a towering nine-story structure, heavily and magnificently carved, built to commemorate the victory over Aladdin Khilji is s superb example of valor, integrity, and craftsmanship.
The stone carving on this 9 floor building of Vijay stambh is piece of Art
With steps to climb a narrow staircase takes me up, every level having a Jharokha to watch the city outside. Defending countless attacks and remaining in siege thrice the place has an illustrious history and is loaded with intriguing stories and tales.
The Revered Pond:
The guide goes on narrating tales one after the other till we come to the Gaumukh pond. This is an epic walk, down the steps to reach the blue-green pond, which has a continuous supply of freshwater …
I do see women wading through knee-deep water. Its water everywhere, by now it’s pouring from the sky, and the pond is at its emerald best. It’s said the queen came here to bathe along with her entourage. I now understood why Rani Padmavati chose this place. It’s serene, beautiful, and private.
I stayed at this very strategic point for longer than planned as it is raining heavily and could see the pond adjacent to the fort wall making both very picturesque. The stories by the guide and the history learned help visualizing as said above when I could see the queen and entourage at the pond, I also saw the Jauhar Kund.
Jauhar Kund.
Chittorgarh’s women were brave and integrity towards their state and people were prime, so when it came under attack and siege was inevitable they walked into the mass pyre led by the queen. The Number of Women doing Jauhar was huge and though read many times, seen, and heard over years through books and movies the monument brings Goosebumps of pride and willpower.
Kumbha’s Palace: The real hero of the major history of Mewar, the more I get to know this valorous king, I am intrigued and wish to find more. The magnificent fort is in ruins but you can gauge its magnanimity of the fort.
This palace was named after Rana Kumbha. The beautiful canopied balconies tell the story of the yesteryears of the illustrious leaders. We get to see the staying quarters of the royal family and halls for public gatherings. Animals were respected and had beautiful stables to be hosted. Single walls stand tall without support and windows framing the ruins are still standing.
Padmini Palace: being the most popular palace in Chittorgarh, soaked in history and pride we eagerly visit the Padmini Palace. A humble Palace near a water body gives a serene look, as I proceed through the Padmini Udyan.
I am disappointed, after hearing such praises about her, the palace is modest. But what I loved is the edifice of the JAL MAHAL in the center of the lake where you had to navigate via boat. On a full moon night, it would have looked picture-perfect resembling to Van GOGH starry night.
A quiet palace: The lake palace of padmini
We move to the Fortified Wall of Chittorgarh which is one of the entrance gates and it’s built tells you how strategically it was planned and how beautiful chittor looks from this point. But this capital had to be abandoned to a safe capital which was Udaipur.
Ratan Singh Palace: As we are about to leave the driver takes us to a heritage mall, beside Ratan Singh palace, this king of Mewar and Padmini’s husband was short-lived as a king. But the palace is a wonderful Monument with a huge entry gate. Overlooking a lake. The palace was known for its concerts and celebration. It is also the winter palace and we loved exploring every part of the palace.
The Ratan Singh Palace stands with its full Glory
Chittorgarh for me is an unsung hero. Much has happened here but less is known and told. It stands amidst the lost glory and many untold tales.
Custard apple @ Chittorgarh… Mouthwatering
The guide tells us about the famous shopping we should be doing in Chittorgarh and what catches our attention is the famous Custard apple … its winters, almost the season of custard apple has passed by, but the description is so vivid that our mouth waters and we begin our search for the famous Custard apple.
Memories, Memories and fond Memories
As I write the taste of Chittorgarh custard apple lingers & unknowingly the sweetness tingles my taste buds , Available in a particular season they were ripe, sweet, and delicious. The sweetness lingers …..Of the fruit and the history, the respect stays for the kings and the Queens, and the devotion and perseverance heightens visiting the Meera Temple.
It’s amazing to hear stories of the kings and Queens, but today every common women has a story, each one is a success in her world and set examples to follow. The generations do not have to wait to hear as its difficult to explain are heroic historic past. Today they are happening every moment. I love the yesterday and I am hugely in love with Today.
Takeaways
# Do take a day trip to this power packed place: I stayed overnight.
# Hire a vehicle to take you around. (It’s 13Km)
# Hire a Guide for all the historic tales, you can always cross check the stories as many are a bit muddled up. But they make the visit very interesting.
#Do click chittorgarh from top of the fortified wall the site is picturesque.
# Do not forget the sleeping human figure of a mountain, shown by your guide.
# The Place has many monuments which are very significant but not shown in the Guides itinerary, do insists if you wish to spend some time.
# Do taste the Custard Apple if travelling in the season.
# Be grateful to your teachers, if you remember the history lessons. I remember mine.
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