Kumbhalgarh Fort is one of the five hill forts of Rajasthan that were declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 2013. Situated in the Rajsamand district of Rajasthan, around 82 kilometers from Udaipur, Kumbhalgarh Fort has the second largest wall (38km) after the great wall of China. Constructed on the foothills of the Aravalli ranges, it is surrounded by thirteen hill peaks of the ranges and is perched at an elevation of 1,914 m. The magnificent fort is situated in the middle of a forest that has been turned into a wildlife sanctuary. It is the second-largest and the most important Mewar fort of Rajasthan after Chittorgarh palace.
Under the reign of Mewar kings in Rajasthan, the majestic fort was built by Rana Kumbha in the 15th century between AD 1443 and 1458 under the direction of Mandan who was a very renowned architect of that time. The fort was constructed in the exact same place where an old castle existed which was attributed to Samprati who was a Jaina prince of the second century BC. Named after King Kumbha, the Kumbhalgarh fort was cleverly designed on a hilltop to provide a strategic position to the Mewar kings to protect them against the attacks of the enemy.
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The fort is also the birthplace of Maharana Pratap, one of the most powerful kings of Mewar. Also, the Badal Mahal was constructed inside the fort by Rana Fateh Singh, who was one of the most famous builders of the time. Badal Mahal, Kumbha Palace, Jain Temples, Baoris, Chhatris, water reservoirs, and Brahmanical are some of the main buildings inside the spectacular fort.
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History of Kumbhalgarh Fort
There is a story behind this striking fort according to which when Rana Kumbha began constructing the fort, he came across several difficulties after which he thought of giving up on the construction. One day, he met a holy man who advised him not to give up hope and that one day all his problems would vanish away provided a pure-hearted man sacrificed his life willingly. Hearing this, the king got disappointed after which the holy man offered his own life to the king. He told the king to build the entrance of the Kumbhalgarh Fort where he was going to get beheaded and places where all his body would fall. Following his advice, Rana Kumbha did exactly what was told to him and succeeded in building the majestic fort.
Kumbhalgarh marked different territories between Mewar and Marwar and was used as a place to escape to whenever there was an attack. Prince Udai ruled the Kumbhalgarh Sort as well and was the founder of the city of Udaipur. This admirable fort remained unconquerable throughout its existence except for the one time when there was a scarcity of drinking water for Akbar, Raja Man Singh of Amber, Raja Udai Singh of Marwar, and the Mirzas of Gujarat.
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This fort is said to be the place where Maha Rana Pratap was born. It was attacked by Ahmed Shah I of Gujarat in 1457 but to no good. The locals believed that there was the presence of the Banmata deity in the fort which protected the fort as its temple was destroyed by Ahmed Shah I. Further attempts were made by Mohammad Khilji in 1458-59 and 1467. Shahbaz Khan, general of Akbar, finally gained power over the fort in 1576. It was later taken over by the Marathas and the residential buildings, as well as temples, still remain intact.
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Tips For Visiting Kumbhalgarh Fort
- The light and sound show is a must-watch and the key highlight of the fort.
- Also, since the fort is massive and requires walking for hours so it is advisable to wear comfortable shoes.
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How To Reach Kumbhalgarh Fort
Located in the Rajsamand district, 84 km away from Udaipur it is well connected to the main city via all means of transport. Bus services are quite prominent. Rajasthan State Government run ordinary and deluxe buses that stop around 50 km from the fort. From there, you can hire a taxi to reach the Kumbhalgarh fort.
Another enjoyable way to reach the fort is by becoming a part of the regular trekking trip which is organized by the Youth Hostels Association of India once every year. This trip is 5 days and 4 nights long and covers a total of 40.5 km including the Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary as well as Kumbhalgarh Fort for INR 3010.
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