The story of Chittorgarh Fort is one of the timeless stories of Royal India, spanning from the 7^th century till the British Raj. The eventful chronicle of the fort is an unforgettable episode in the Rajput history of Rajasthan. It has been immortalized in the memory of mankind by not only Rajput rulers’ valor but also Rajput women’s spirit of sacrifice. The tales of Rani Padmavati and Rani Karnavati embracing death on a pyre in order to save their dignity from the lecherous invaders like Allauddin Khilji are eternally associated with the bygone days of Chittorgarh Fort.

Inside the timeworn fort complex, one of the largest in India, are some structures including Kirti Stambha and Vijay Stambha that still stand tall. Then an impregnable edifice on a hilltop, Chittorgarh Fort suffered blows of invasion by Allauddin Khilji in 1303, Bahadur Shah of Gujarat in 1534, and Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1567. But the Rajput rulers of the fort neither stooped nor gave in to the sultans of Delhi. Indian Eagle shares some interesting facts of Chittorgarh Fort through the infographic below:

How to reach Chittorgarh Fort 

Chittorgarh can be reached via roadway and air travel from Jaipur and Udaipur in Rajasthan. Both Jaipur and Udaipur are a short domestic flight away from Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi. Indian Eagle books the cheapest flights to IGI Airport from the USA. Log on to IndianEagle.com and find the best itinerary from any major US city to New Delhi according to your travel dates. September to March is the best time to visit Chittorgarh.

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Craving for the taste of ultimate adventure? Visit Bhangarh Fort in Rajasthan. One of the most haunted places in India; Bhangarh Fort is a hotbed of paranormal activities. Though landscaped by greenery, the fort sends shiver of fear down the spine even in broad daylight. The desolate Bhangarh Town is like a heath on the colorful canvas of Rajasthan. Among the historic forts of Rajasthan, the dilapidated Bhangarh Fort is an aloof entity. Despite its isolation from the civilization, the fort is a popular offbeat tourist attraction especially because of the age-old haunting stories which describe Bhangarh as one of the most haunted sites in the world.

It is said that Bhangarh lost its beauty, prosperity and people because of a curse. Among the popular stories of the curse, one story states that King Madho Singh was the founder of Bhangarh. He sought approval from ascetic Guru Balu Nath before he laid the foundation brick in 1613. The ascetic had his seat of meditation near where the fort is located. Guru Balu Nath allowed Madho Singh to found the town, on a condition that the shadow of the king’s palace should not reach out to the hermit’s shelter. He warned that the moment it would happen, the whole town would be reduced to ruins. One of Madho Singh’s descendants turned a deaf ear to the warning and raised the height of the palace to such a level that it overshadowed the ascetic Balu Nath’s humble shelter. As a consequence, his prophecy became true in form of curse, which caused devastation of Bhangarh Town.

Most Offbeat Places to Visit in India

According to the rural folks in the surrounding areas, Guru Balu Nath’s curse is so strong and effective even after so many years that whenever a construction is made within the border of the town, it collapses in the dead of the night. Evidently, the town and the fort are steeped in eerie silence. It is also said that whoever dared to stay in the town and penetrate the mystery of the fort after sunset did not return alive.

Another popular myth of Bhangarh Fort is linked with the story of Ratnavati, the Princess of Bhangarh. The legends of Bhangarh say that she was very beautiful. Her charming beauty caught the fancy of many princes and nobles of that time. The talk of her exceptional beauty spread so far and wide that she began to receive marriage proposals from the princely states of Rajasthan and other parts of India, at the age of 18. A local wizard named Singhia (tantric, a man with knowledge of black magic) too was smitten by the bug of love to see her. He was aware of the impossibility of marrying Ratnavati because of his socio-economic difference with her.

One day Singhia noticed the princess’ maid purchasing perfume in the market. He instantly thought of an idea to ensnare the princess. He applied a trick on the maid and replaced the perfume with some magic potion so that the princess would be overpowered by the enchanting aroma and would come to him under the influence. But the things did not happen according to his plan. Luckily the princess caught notice of the wizard when he was replacing the perfume with the magic oil. She threw the bottle towards him. It broke and the oil spread on the ground. That part of the ground turned into a boulder, which caused his death. The wizard cursed the fort to desolation while taking his last breath.

The Great Wall of India in Rajasthan

A battle between Bhangarh and Ajabgarh followed this incident. The battle hurled severe blows to Bhangarh Fort. Then, the Mughals invaded Bhangarh and caused further damage which the fort could not survive. The inhabitants of the fort including the princess were killed. The present dilapidated condition of the fort is believed to have resulted from the wizard’s curse. Today, Bhangarh Fort is supposed to be the abode of the ghosts of the princess, the wizard and others. Supernatural activities in and around the fort have been reported by the locals, several times.

That is why Bhangarh Fort has been declared a forbidden haunted spot, and entry to the fort is prohibited after sunset. The stories of Bhangarh Fort are likely to end with a popular belief that Princess Ratnavati has been reborn somewhere else in Rajasthan, and that only her return can put an end to the curse on Bhangarh.

Bhangarh is about 300 km away from New Delhi. Make a trip to this haunted place when you travel to India the next time. Book cheap flights to New Delhi from USA on IndianEagle.com.

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India and history are the two sides of the same coin. The soil of the country is soaked in the centuries-old history of bravery, chivalry, revolution, wars, freedom, martyrdom, subjugation, violence, and peace. Many episodes of the Indian history have been converted into dramatic stories which have found an audience even outside of India, while a few are still waiting to be heard by a global audience. One such story is that of Pratapgarh Fort, which is seldom told and heard beyond the demography of Maharashtra.

Pratapgarh Fort stands for the history, glory and pride of the Maratha community in India. The fort itself is a living legend of the Maratha Chieftain Chhatrapati Shivaji’s landslide victory over Afjal Khan, chief commander of the Bijapur Sultanate. Evidently, the fort is a testimony to the then unconquerable power and indomitable spirit of the Maratha. Today, Pratapgarh Fort is not just a historic place but a tourist spot too. Thanks to this episode of the Maratha history!

Really, the fort has the features of a tourist attraction – scenic landscape, lush greenery, serene surrounding and idyllic coastal setting. Built by Shivaji in 1656, Pratapgarh Fort is a strong citadel with sprawling complex on the Konkan coast, some 24 kms from Mahabaleshwar, one of the most popular Maharashtra hill stations. A fleet of 450 steps leads to the top of the fort, which commands 360 degree views of the horizon over the panoramic Konkan coast.

There are ponds, chambers and gardens inside the fort complex at the base. The serene and green countryside around the fort makes a perfect hideaway for those looking to spend some time quietly. The dark paths from the complex, leading to the inside and penetrating the interior, reveal the enigma of the fort. The double-line fortification dividing the massive structure into two sections – the upper and the lower – is a rare constructional feature of Pratapgarh Fort.

Built at a height of 1080 meters from the sea level, the fort is no less important than a pilgrimage spot to the people of the Maratha clan. An equestrian statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji, which dominates the summit of Pratapgarh Fort, was set up in 1959, to commemorate of Shivaji’s historic triumph over the Bijapur Sultanate. Even a road was laid up to the fort, and a guest house was built in the fort complex for tourists. Besides Shivaji’s colossal statue, there is a temple of Goddess Bhavani is on the eastern side of the lower section of the fort, adding to the pilgrimage status of the place. A black stone idol of the deity presides in the shrine.

Visit to Pratapgarh Fort is a good opportunity for the photographers to capture the natural beauty of the place in their camera lenses. This Maratha heritage has, unsurprisingly, secured a place for itself among the imposing forts of India, on the map of travel and tourism. Besides Pratapgarh Fort, there are several must-see tourist attractions in Mahabaleshwar, a hill station within short drive from Mumbai City.

Indian Eagle books cheap flights to India from USA out of its respect for NRIs’ and American tourists’ love for the heritage of India. Cheap airline tickets for flights to Mumabi International Airport from major US cities are available on IndianEagle.com.

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India does not envy the Great Wall of China. It is because India has a great wall too. A surprising secret to many tourists and travelers in the world, the Wall of Kumbhalgarh Fort in Rajasthan is the Great Wall of India. IndianEagle justifies if it is right to call the Kumbhalgarh Fort Wall which stretches across the Aravalli Mountains, a jewel in the historic treasure of India.

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Mewar, a historic Rajputana region in Rajasthan, is defended by some 84 forts which have been standing tall on hilltops for ages. Kumbhalgarh Fort is one of those fortresses. Rana Kumbha, the King of Mewar, had pushed the boundary of his kingdom from Ranthambore in Rajasthan to Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh in the 15th century. He himself had architected the structure of 32 forts including Kumbhalgarh Fort to safeguard the kingdom from invasions. The architecture of Kumbhalgarh Fort is said to be the most impressive, massive and robust of all.

What has made Kumbhalgarh Fort the most famous World Heritage Site among the hill forts of India is the 36-km long wall. The wall surrounding the fort of Kumbhalgarh is one of the offbeat attractions in India. It stands as a safeguard of the colossal fort that has some 360 temples. This massive, majestic and mystifying wall is not a mere structure of bricks. It zigzags through barren valleys and along mountaintops. Built of heavy stone bricks, the 15-meter wide wall of Kumbhalgarh Fort is not just an attraction but a wonder as well. Evidently, it is rightly named the Great Wall of India after the Great Wall of China.

The imposing construction of the wall reflects the fortitude and valor of the Rajputs. Built on a hilltop about 1100 m high from the sea level, Kumbhalgarh Fort is one of the few unconquerable forts in the history of India for its wall and hostile landscape. The fort has seven huge gates. The watchtowers of the fort command stunning views of the 13 peaks of the Aravalli Mountain range. The interior of the fort consists of magnificent palaces apart from 360 temples. The fort is topped by the Badal Mahal Palace with grand rooms, painted in white, green and turquoise which make an eye-catching contrast to the grey fort and the dull landscape.

The other historic fact besides the great wall that Kumbhalgarh Fort is known for is that it is the birthplace of Maharana Pratap, the legendary king and warrior of Mewar. The fort is the point of separation between Mewar and Marwar. In the Rajput history of Rajasthan, Kumbhalgarh Fort was invaded only once by the combined forces of Mughal Emperor Akbar, Raja Man Singh of Amber and Raja Udai Singh of Marwar. This Mewar fortress was renovated during the regime of Maharana Fateh Singh in the 19th century.

Today, Kumbhalgarh Fort and the surrounding wall which is next to the Great Wall of China in Asia make one of the best tourist attractions of Rajasthan. Accessible to the public, the fort can be reached from Udaipur, Ajmer, Jodhpur and Pushkar. It is said that the history of the place where Kumbhalgarh Fort was built dates back to the 2nd century, the Mauryan Era of ancient India.

Many stories of Mewar are hidden and trapped inside Kumbhalgarh Fort. Fly to India, visit Rajasthan and explore the stories behind the great wall of the fort. Book the cheapest flight to India on IndianEagle.com and have a wonderful trip!

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Jhansi Fort, one of the living witnesses to the Sepoy Mutiny (1857) that is the first War of Independence in India, has recently completed the 400th year of its establishment. Built on a hilltop in 1613, the fort has been the stronghold of Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh. The foundation of the fort is a historic mark of Jhansi’s rise to prominence in the regime of King Bir Singh Deo of Orchha. He was in good terms with Jahangir, the then emperor of the Mughal dynasty.

Jhansi Fort is a colossal structure with 10 mighty gates. The Lord Shiva temple, the Lord Ganesh temple and the Kadak Bijli Canon are some of the prominent sights in the interior of the fort. The canon was used to fight the British army in the Uprising of 1857. Some of the historic sites in the fort tell the story of courage and bravery that Rani Laxmi Bai held an example of during the Sepoy Mutiny. The Rani Mahal, added to the fort in the second half of the 18th century, has been converted into an archaeological museum.

The British army led by General Hugh Rose had sieged the fort during the Sepoy Mutiny. However, the fort retains immense architectural and sculptural value. An interface between the Bundela and Maratha architecture styles, Jhansi Fort boasts a number of historical sculptures. Jhansi Fort serves as a glittering venue of Jhansi Mahotsav, a grand annual festival in the calendar of the city and held in the month of January or February. Many eminent artists of the state participate in the event.

The 400th anniversary of Jhansi Fort has been celebrated through cultural functions including folk songs and dance performances in the fort itself. The renowned personalities from various walks of life and the cultural minister offered tribute to Rani Laxmi Bai and others who had embraced martyrdom in the Uprising of 1857. The opening of a museum in honor of Jhalkari Bai, a close accomplice of Rani Laxmi Bai, has been announced on the day of the anniversary celebration.

Jhansi is a small city with several tourist attractions of historic importance in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Other important tourist spots nearby Jhansi are Khajuraho, Gwalior and Agra. Jhansi is at a short drive from Lucknow Airport and easily accessible from Delhi, too.

Get the cheapest flight to India on IndianEagle.com and make a trip to Jhansi, Agra, Khajuraho and Gwalior.

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