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Chittaud Garh is one of the oldest cities of Raajasthaan - founded in 728 AD by Bappoo Raaval, who according to a legend was reared by Bheel Tribe. The fort dominates the city and is itself 280 Hectare in area. The fort stands on a 152 m high rocky hill rising abruptly from the surrounding plane. The great length, 5 km, makes the elevation look lower than it really is. The place is deserted, the modern town lies at the foot of the hill and is surrounded by a wall. Access is across a limestone bridge of 10 arches over the Gambheree River. The winding 1.5 km ascent to the fort is defended by seven impressive gates.

There were three occasions in Chittaud Garh's history when its people preferred death to surrendering.
(1) The first was in 1303 when Alaauddeen Khilajee, the King of Dehlee, wanted to claim Raanee Padminee, wife of Raanaa's uncle. When she refused to, he laid siege to the fort. The women committed Jauhar, Padminee entering last and over 50,000 men were killed in that battle.
(2) The second one was in 1535, when Bahaadur Shaah of Gujaraat wanted to claim Chittaud Garh. Every Raajpoot clan had lost its leader in the battle, in which over 32,000 lives were lost, and 13,000 women and children died in the sacred Jauhar (self immolation).
(3) The third one occurred after 32 years, (in 1567), when Akbar attacked it and women and children had to immolate themselves. All the clans lost their chiefs and 8,000 defenders came out of the fort. When Akbar entered the city, he found it transformed into a mass graveyard. He ordered for the destruction of the buildings.

After this event the fort was abandoned and the capital of Mevaad was moved to Udayapur. Then in 1615 Jahaangeer restored the city to the Raajpoot.
[India Handbook, p 455-456]

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