Chittor is famous in the annals of the Mewar Dynasty as its first capital (prior to this, the Guhilots, forerunners of the Mewar Dynasty, ruled from Idar, Bhomat, and Nagda), and renowned in India's long struggle for freedom.

By tradition, it is to remain the Mewar capital for eight hundred and thirty-four years.

With only brief interruptions, the fort will always remain in possession of the Sisodias of the Guhilot (or Gehlot/Guhila) clan of Rajputs.

One such interruption comes at the hands of Alauddin Khilji, who supposedly had been enamored by the beauty of Mewar’s Rani Padmini, of which he had only heard, and in 1303 mounts a relentless siege of the massive Chittorgarh Fort.

The defenders’ situation becomes hopeless, and the queen, preferring death to abduction and dishonor, commits jauhar (an act of self immolation by leaping into a large fire) along with all the other ladies of the fort.

After casting their wives on the funeral pyres, all the men leave the fort in saffron robes to fight the enemy to the death.

Elderly people assume the responsibility to raise the surviving children of the slain.