The massive Chittaurgarh fort is one such example which was built by the later Maurya rulers in the seventh century AD and is perched at the a height of 180 m over a hill top. The sprawling fort has several gates out of which the main ones are Padal Pol, Bhairon Pol, Hanuman Pol and Ram Pol. The fort is a standing reminder of the courage that the Rajput rulers exuded at a time when a foreign power threatened to wipe out their very existence. The fort also houses many temples, palaces, gardens and Kunds (water tanks).

The fort is approached through massive pols of gates. Near Bhairon Pol, is a cenotaph or 'chhatra' in honor of the chivalrous Jaimal and his cousin Kala, who laid down their lives whilst defending Chittaur against the Mughals. Jaimal who was seriously wounded, but was not ready to die in his bed , thus he was carried into battle on the shoulders of his cousin Kala , both of them died while showing exemplary courage.

The fort is a treasure house of history and historical monuments the approach to the fort is very difficult, the one mile steep serpentine thoroughfare is exhaustive and the fort is reached through huge seven pols of gates, which are in fact the strong points having a watch tower and massive iron spiked doors. It was ravaged thrice, and each time phoenix-like it rose again Allaudin Khilji was the first to sack Chittaur in 1303, legend and history corroborate that this was because of his passionate desire to abduct Rani Padmini.

Yet she preferred death to dishonor, and committed Jauhar (self immolation) along with the other ladies of the court. Chitturgarh was plundered again in 1535 by Sultan Bahadur Shah of Gujarat and finally by the Moghul Emperor Akbar, in 1567, in an attempt to subdue Maharana Udai Singh. At Ram Pol is a memorial to Phatta, who was only 16 years old and had just been married, his father had already died defending Chittaurgarh, and was sent into the battle by his mother, to free her son from any affection towards home she herself pickled up sword along with his bride and jumped into the battle field both of them died in front of Phatta. Next day the women folk of the palace ended their lives by committing Johar. Phatta leading the saffron robed men from the front thundered down like lightening from the mighty fortress to die fighting.