The water palace of Rani Padmini, Chittorgarh

Water palace · Chittorgarh

Padmini Palace, Chittorgarh

A small white palace beside a lotus pool, inseparable from the most famous legend of Chittorgarh.

LocationInside Chittorgarh Fort

Known forThe legend of Rani Padmini

SettingA water pavilion in a pool

Time needed30 minutes

The story

A little history.

Padmini Palace stands beside a pool in the southern part of Chittorgarh Fort, with a three-storey pavilion rising from the water. The building you see today has been much restored over the centuries.

It is linked to the legend of Rani Padmini, told in the 16th-century poem Padmavat. According to the story, Sultan Alauddin Khilji was allowed to see her reflection in a mirror, and his desire for her led to the siege of Chittor in 1303.

What to see

Don't miss.

The water pavilionThe palace in the middle of the pool, reflected in the still water.
The mirror roomA room associated with the legend of Khilji seeing Padmini's reflection.
Lotus poolThe tank around the pavilion, at its most beautiful in the morning.
Nearby monumentsThe Kalika Mata Temple and the Vijay Stambha are a short drive away within the fort.

Our tip: Visit as part of a guided tour of the whole fort, so the legend makes sense in the setting of the sieges.

Good to know

Questions travellers ask.

Is the story of Rani Padmini historical?

The siege of 1303 is historical. The details of Padmini's story come mainly from the poem Padmavat, written in 1540, and historians debate how much is legend.

Where is Padmini Palace?

Inside Chittorgarh Fort, in its southern part, near the Kalika Mata Temple.

Can I go inside the water pavilion?

The pavilion is viewed from the palace and the pool side rather than entered.