Gora-Badal Palace — Attraction in Rajasthan

The bards of Rajasthan sing of Gora and Badal,two legendary warriors of Chittorgarh, Mewar,whose marvellous potent and command over the army has been remembered since ages.History claims that Songara Chauhan generals Gora and Badal were uncle-nephew in relation and hailed from Jalore.Sultan Alauddin Khilji (1290-1316) took Rawal Ratan Singh as a prisoner of deceit after he denied the Sultan a chance to meet Queen Padmini in person and savour her beauty by looking at her in the flesh,instead of admiring her reflection in a mirror. The atonement demanded by Khilji for the rescue of Ratan Singh was Padmini. The objectification of woman as a show piece marked by her beauty is highlighted in proper through this incident. Khilji wanted to enhance the esteem of his harem by seizing Padmini from Chittor. Padmini’s unparallel beauty called despair for her husband, her kingdom and herself.

In the war council that was held immediately after Ratan Singh was taken into captive, Gora and Badal spiritedly planned out a strategy and accordingly acted. Words were sent out to Khijli camp that Padmini would be delivered the next morning and thereby it was asked that his army should be pulled out from the trenches. As the day dawned, one hundred and fifty palanquins (covered cases in which royal ladies were carried in medieval times) left the fort and entered the enemy camp.It was thought that Padmini’s entourage of female servants had accompanied her. But here the hook was- the palanquins were armed with the best Rajput warriors.This pretentious act of agreeing to the demand of the Sultan was in fact a noose for the rival army.When the palanquins reached, Gora gave a signal to the warriors and everyone descended from the palanquins and chopped off the heads of the Muslim soldiers.General Badal and Ratan Singh galloped away safely to Chittorgarh fort. While Gora fought bravely and reached Khiliji’s tent. He was about to kill the Sultan but Khilji moved his concubine in front of himself and Gora being a Rajput could not kill a guiltless woman. Consequently he laid down his life during the skirmish.

Two domed shaped houses have been constructed south of Padmini Mahal in Chittorgarh fort to commemorate these two heroic martyrs. This palace is known as Gora Badal Palace. The story is also depicted in a wall painting inside the Eklingji mandir in Udaipur. In the collection of Pandit Gaurishankar Ojha there is a reference of Gora and Badal being a single person. However, the bards still sing of them as two warriors and going with the age old oral tradition we can say that the present ruined citadel of Chittor has a glorious past and an extraordinary impulse of heroism and sacrifice, taken to matchless heights by...

The legendary warriors of Chittorgarh, Gora and Badal, echo through the ballads sung by the bards of Rajasthan, etching their marvelous feats into the annals of history. Hailing from Jalore and sharing a unique uncle-nephew relationship as Songara Chauhan generals, their valor and command over the army have been revered for ages.

The tale unfolds during the reign of Sultan Alauddin Khilji (1290-1316), who, captivated by the unparalleled beauty of Queen Padmini, sought to possess her. The refusal of Rawal Ratan Singh to grant the Sultan a personal meeting with the queen led to his capture through deceit. Khilji's demand for Ratan Singh's release was Padmini herself, objectifying her as a showpiece of beauty.

In the war council that followed, Gora and Badal, spirited generals, devised a cunning strategy. The message was sent to Khilji that Padmini would be delivered the next morning, requesting the withdrawal of his army from the trenches. A convoy of palanquins, supposedly carrying Padmini and her female attendants, set out. Unbeknownst to the enemy, these palanquins concealed the best Rajput warriors, ready to spring into action.

As the palanquins reached the enemy camp, Gora signaled the warriors to descend and engage the unsuspecting Muslim soldiers. The plan unfolded with precision, allowing General Badal and Ratan Singh to escape safely back to Chittorgarh. Gora, however, fought valiantly, reaching Khilji's tent. In a moment of chivalry, he refrained from harming a guiltless woman placed in front of the Sultan, and in the ensuing skirmish, Gora laid down his life.

To honor the extraordinary sacrifice of these two legendary warriors, the Gora Badal Palace, marked by two domed-shaped structures, stands south of Padmini Mahal within the Chittorgarh Fort. The heroic saga is vividly depicted in a wall painting inside the Eklingji mandir in Udaipur, and the legacy of Gora and Badal persists through the oral tradition of Rajasthan's bards.

In the tapestry of Chittor's history, these warriors exemplify heroism and sacrifice, elevating the citadel to matchless heights of glory. Their story resonates through the ruins, a testament to the indomitable spirit of Rajput valor that defines the rich heritage of...

Gora and Badal are legendary warriors, whose story appears in Padmavat (1540 CE), Gora Badal Padmini Chaupai (1589 CE), and their later adaptions. They served the king of Chittor, Ratansen (identified with Ratnasimha, also called Ratan Singh in later legends). Alauddin Khalji of Delhi attacked Chittor to obtain Ratansen's wife Padmavati and captured the king. Gora, Badal, and their soldiers entered Delhi disguised as Padmini and her companions, and rescued the king. Gora died fighting in this campaign, while Badal escorted the king to Chittor. In Malik Muhammad Jayasi's Padmavat (1540 CE), Gora and Badal are vassals of Ratansen, the king of Chittor (identified with Ratnasimha). Alauddin Khalji of Delhi attacks Chittor to obtain Ratansen's beautiful wife Padmavati. During a peace negotiation, Ratansen invites Alauddin as a guest inside the fort, against the advice of Gora and Badal. Alauddin deceitfully catches a glimpse of Padmavati, captures Ratansen, and returns to Delhi. Hemratan's Gora Badal Padmini Chaupai (1589 CE) follows a similar plot: Alauddin invades Chittor to obtain Ratan Sen's wife Padmini, and deceitfully captures Ratan Sen.[2] The frightened nobles of Chittor consider surrendering Padmini to Alauddin. But warriors Gora (or Goru) and Badal (or Badil) agree to defend her and rescue king Ratansen. They pretend to make arrangements to bring Padmavati to Alauddin's camp, but instead bring warriors concealed in palanquins. They rescue the king; Gora dies fighting Alauddin's army, while Badal escorts the king back to the Chittor fort. Gora's wife commits self-immolation (sati). In heaven, Gora is rewarded with half of...