The history of Mewar itself is so rich and glorious that it becomes interesting to know about every area, fort, palace, and any other historical place here, in this sequence, the history of Kumbhalgarh Fort is also very interesting and interesting are attractive.
Kumbhalgarh Fort is also famous for being the largest wall in the world after China. It was built by Rana Kumbha in the 15th century, This is the reason that Rajputs have a special place in the hearts of this fort. In 2013, the fort was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site at the 37th session of the World Heritage Committee.
The wall is spread in the Aravalli mountains. The fort is about 1100 meters high above sea level and offers a wonderful view of the surrounding area. Highlights of the fort include the mesmerizing palace with 360 different types of temples, 300 of which are Jain temples and the rest are Hindu temples.
The fort of Kumbhalgarh is surrounded by 13 mountain peaks, 7 huge gates guarding the fort and the huge clock further strengthens it. Badal Mahal Palace is right on top of the fort.
The palace has beautiful rooms and is painted in shades of green, white and turquoise, thus providing an interesting contrast to the raw and grim fortress. Kumbhalgarh is also the place where the legendary Maharana Pratap, the great warrior of Mewar, was born.
The Mewar Fort in the Rajsamand district of Rajasthan was rebuilt and extended again in the 19th century by Maharana Fateh Singh. It is now accessible to the public and tourists as a museum. The fort is easily accessible and is about 60 km from Udaipur city
It is also said that the Maharana of Kumbhalgarh failed to build the fort wall several times. He then consulted the pilgrims about this problem, he advised them to let them carry the stone on his head and build a temple wherever the stone fell from his head. He asked them to build a wall where his body had laid. Following his advice, the wall, which is the second largest wall in the world, was built.
Introduction to Kumbhalgarh Fort (Estukan), (Giri Fort)
| Name of fort | Kumbhalgarh fort |
| Architect of Kumbhalgarh | Mandan |
| Who built the Kumbhalgarh fort | Maharana Kumbha |
| When was Constructed | 1443 to 1458 |
| length of Wall | 36 km. long /15 feet wide |
| District | Rajsamand |
| State | Rajasthan (India) |
Who built the Kumbhalgarh fort?
Rana Kumbha built Kumbhalgarh in 1458 AD, hence its name is Kumbhalgarh. The fort was built on the ruins of the Jain king Samprati, the grandson of Ashoka.
Rana Kumbha was the king of the Sisodia dynasty, he entrusted the architect Mandan to determine the architecture of the fort. It took about 15 years to make it.
Rana Kumbha’s empire was spread from Mewar to Gwalior, to secure his kingdom, Rana Kumbha had built 31 other forts in addition to the Kumbhalgarh fort, while according to another fact, he had built a total of 84 forts in his entire empire.
Rana Kumbha and Kumbhalgarh
Rana Kumbha had many oil lamps which he used to light every evening, his purpose behind this was to bring light to the farmers working under the fort. Although it is also believed that the queen of Jodhpur had become very attracted to these lights and Rana Kumbha and she had come to the Kumbhalgarh fort, Kumbha, easing this uncomfortable situation, gave her the respect of her sister.
Rana Kumbha was killed by his son Udai Singh I while he was praying in 1468, although he was not murdered in the Kumbhalgarh fort, in the Eklingji temple of Chittor, Kumbhalgarh was the first to kill its builder was witnessing.
Attacks on Kumbhalgarh Fort
It has not been easy to penetrate this stronghold, which has been witness to many wars. The Rajput kings took refuge in the palaces of the fort several times in case of danger. Allaudin Khilji had attacked the fort, after which the second attack was done by Ahmed Shah of Gujarat but he was unsuccessful. Ahmed Shah demolished the Banmata temple, although it is also believed that the deities saved the fort from invasion and damage.
Mahmud Khilji attacked the fort in 1458, 1459, and 1467 but could not win the fort. Akbar, Raja Udai Singh of Marwar, Raja Man Singh of Amber, and Mirza of Gujarat also attacked the fort, the Rajputs surrendered due to lack of water.
In fact, the Kumbhalgarh fort had suffered defeat in only one battle, due to lack of water, it is believed that 3 gardeners had betrayed the fort. Akbar’s general Shahbaz Khan took the fort under his control, in 1818 the Marathas captured the fort.
Features of the Kumbhalgarh Fort
- Kumbhalgarh Fort is the second largest fort in Rajasthan after Chittorgarh, it is located in the western Aravalli hills in Rajsamand district, 64 km from Udaipur. The fort built on 13 hills is 1914 meters high above sea level. The length of the fort is 36 kilometers, and it has made international records. The wall of the fort extends for 38 km. The walls of the fort are so wide that 8 horses can stand together on them.
- There are seven gates in the fort, there are many palaces, temples, and gardens in the fort which make it attractive. There are more than 360 temples in the fort, among them the most important is the Shiva temple, which has a huge Shivling. There are also many Jain temples here, the Jain and Hindu temples located in the fort show the religious tolerance of the kings of that time, and how they encouraged Jainism in the state by polarizing them.
- On the way to Kumbhalgarh Fort, there is a winding road and a deep forest is visible around, this path opens into Arat Pol, from where the watch tower and Hulla Pol, Hanuman Pol, Ram Pol, Bhairav ​​Pol, Paghara Pol, Cannon-Khana Pol, and Nimbu Pol come in the way.
Stories and facts about Kumbhalgarh Fort History
- When Chittorgarh Fort was conquered by the Mughals in 1535, Rana Udai Singh was very young, at that time he was brought to Kumbhalgarh Fort, and Udai Singh was kept safe here. Pannadhay had saved the dynasty by sacrificing his child, Udai Singh was the only king who had settled Udaipur.
- There are also lakhs of tanks in the fort which was built by Rana Lakha. There is also a beautiful palace in the fort named “Badal Mahal”, also known as Badal ka Mahal. Maharana Pratap was born here.
Other interesting facts about the Kumbhalgarh Fort
- It is believed that in fact, Rana Kumbha did not build Kumbhalgarh, the evidence of the fort being from before the 15th century has been found. According to the evidence, the early fort was built by the Mauryan king Samprati in the 6th century and named Machindrapur. The then fort was built by Rana Kumbha.
- The initial process of building the fort was very difficult, its wall had fallen before it was built. After this, on the advice of a sage, a human sacrifice of a person named Mehr Baba was done. Traditionally, his head was severed from the trunk, where his head was severed and rolled over, where he stopped, a temple was built and where the trunk fell, the work of the wall was started.
- This citadel was renovated by Rana Fateh Singh in the late 19th century, there are many stories related to the struggle and rule of the Mewari rulers in the history of the fort.
Famous in Kumbhalgarh Fort
There are about 960 temples built inside the Kumbhalgarh fort. Jhalibao Baori, Kumbswami Vishnu Temple, Jhalirani’s Malia, Mamadeo Talab, Udna Rajkumar’s Chhatri (Prithviraj Rathod), etc. are other famous monuments in the campus of the fort.
Pannadhay saved his master Uday Singh’s life in this fort by sacrificing his son sandalwood. Here Udai Singh was coronated and Rana Pratap was born. At its upper end is the residence of Rana Kumbha, which is called ‘Katargarh’.
It is famous as ‘Badal Mahal (Palace of Clouds) which is the birthplace of the great warrior Maharana Pratap. According to Abul Fazl, if a turbaned man looks toward Katargarh, his turban will fall. Kumbhalgarh fort has been the crisis capital of Mewar.
From the mountain range of Kumbhalgarh fort, many fortified mountain routes or passes have gone towards Marwar, Mewar, and other places. Among these, on the north side of the fort, the path of searching for a walkway, on the east side the way to descend into the drain of the elephant Gudha is called Daniwata! This drain has gone from the north of Kelwara towards Marwar. The road towards the west of the fort is called Tidabari.
How to reach Kumbalgarh?
Udaipur is the nearest airport to Kumbhalgarh Fort, which is located about one and a half to two hours drive from Kumbhalgarh. Its nearest railway station is Falna railway station. Kumbhalgarh is also well connected by a road network.
Traveling by road to Udaipur can prove to be very good. Because the city is well connected by road network to many major cities of India like Mumbai, Delhi, Indore, Kota, and Ahmedabad. Bus services to Kumbhalgarh are easily available from all major cities and towns in and around Rajasthan. Apart from the bus, you can reach Kumbhalgarh by hiring a car, taxi, or cab.
Kumbalgarh is situated 82 km northwest of Udaipur by road. Taking a cab can cost you around 5000, plus you can also take a vehicle for rent which is a very cheap and fun option. The vehicle fare is around Rs 500-1000 per day and it takes around 2 hours to reach Kumbhalgarh from Udaipur.
Kumbhalgarh does not have any railway station of its own. Its nearest railway station is Falna railway station, besides Udaipur railway station as an alternative. Udaipur is a major city in Rajasthan that is situated on a vast network of railways. From here you will easily get trains from all the major cities of India Jaipur, Delhi, Kolkata, Indore, Mumbai, and Kota. After reaching the railway station, you can reach Kumbhalgarh with the help of a taxi or cab and bus.
Kumbhalgarh Fort opening hours
- 9:00 am to 6 pm
- Duration of the journey – 3 hours
Ticket price to see Kumbalgarh Fort?
Ticket Price: The price to enter the fort for Indian citizens is Rs 40 and for foreign nationals, it is Rs 600. Parking is available and there is no cost.
light and sound show at Kumbhalgarh fort
There is a light and sound show every evening which starts at 6.45 pm and if you have come here, you must visit it once. The 45-minute show is a fascinating experience that brings the history of the fort to life. The show costs Rs 100 for adults and Rs 50 for children.
It starts at 6.45 pm and it gets quite dark by the end of it, so it is advisable to use a torch to get out. Huge lights are lit in the evening to illuminate the fort. About 100 kg of cotton and 50 liters of ghee are used in this. Every night there is a light and sound show in the courtyard of the fort.
Shiva temple with huge Shivling
The Shiva temple inside the fort known as Neelkanth Mahadev has a huge Shivling of about 5 feet in height. It is said that Maharana Kumbh was so huge in the body that when he used to do ‘Abhishek’ of Shivling, he used to offer milk while sitting up to the height of Shivling.
10 Major Tourist Places Near Kumbhalgarh Fort
Kumbhalgarh Fort is a major tourist destination in Rajasthan and is one of the most visited places in Rajasthan due to its history and attractions. Although there are many places to visit in Kumbhalgarh Fort, in this article we are going to tell you about 10 good places to visit in Udaipur near Kumbhalgarh Fort.
Bagore ki Haveli
Bagore Ki Haveli is one of the most special tourist places near Kumbhalgarh Fort located near Lake Pichola. This haveli was built in the 18th century by Chief Minister Amir Chand Barwa in the royal court of Mewar. After this mansion became the residence of Maharana Shakti Singh of Bagore in the year 1878, it was named Bagore ki Haveli.
This haveli has been converted into a museum that presents the culture of Mewar, the antique collection here includes many items such as jewelry boxes, hand fans, and copper utensils used by Rajputs. This massive structure has more than 100 rooms and offers splendid views with its unique style of architecture. If you are going to visit Kumbhalgarh Fort or Udaipur then definitely go to see this tourist place.
Saheliyon ki Bari
Saheliyon Ki Bari was built by Sangram Singh II as a gift to the queen and her friends. The king himself designed this garden and tried to make it a comfortable place where the queen could relax with her 48 friends.
This garden serves its purpose in many ways even today and people visit this place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. It is near Kumbhalgarh Fort and one of the best places to visit in Udaipur.
Moti Magri
Moti Magri is situated on top of a hill overlooking the Fateh Sagar Lake, built as a tribute to Maharana Pratap and his beloved horse Chetak.
The place here provides you with a lookout point for many fascinating views. If you want to know the amazing legacy of events related to Maharana Pratap, then definitely visit Moti Magri. Moti Magri Fateh is one of the major tourist places near Kumbhalgarh Fort that you must visit once.
Shilpgram
Shilpgram is a rural arts and crafts complex set up to promote the traditional arts and crafts of Rajasthan, spread over about 70 acres of land and situated in the lap of the Aravalli ranges. The place employs many artisans and is a center of many cultural festivals, which are held regularly in this place.
Another major attraction here is the open-air amphitheater which serves as the center for several art festivals. If you want to experience the simplicity of rural life, then you must visit Shilpgram once. If you are coming to visit Udaipur, then once you have come to see Kumbhalgarh Fort, then you must visit Shilpgram, the main tourist attraction of Udaipur.
car museum
Vintage Car Museum Udaipur is one of the best places to visit near Kumbhalgarh Fort, which is a paradise for motor and car enthusiasts. This museum was inaugurated in February 2000, after which it became a very popular tourist destination.
The museum is home to several vintage cars such as the 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom used in the Bond film Octopussy and several rare Rolls-Royce model cars. This place gives you a peaceful atmosphere by bringing you away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Lake Palace
Lake Palace is a major tourist destination of Udaipur as well as one of the best places to visit near Kumbhalgarh Fort. It is also a famous wedding venue which is a marvel of architecture in Udaipur city.
The Lake Palace, located on the island of Lake Pichola, was built by Maharana Jagat Singh II in 1746 and converted into a luxury hotel in the 1960s. Now it is a part of Taj Luxury Resorts. This luxurious hotel has also been featured in many Hollywood and Bollywood movies.
Fateh Sagar Lake
Fateh Sagar Lake is a very attractive lake located in the northwest of Udaipur city, whenever you come to visit Kumbhalgarh Fort then you must also visit this lake. This lake is the second largest man-made lake in Udaipur, which fascinates the tourists with its beauty. The serene surroundings of this lake give wonderful peace to the travelers.
Fateh Sagar Lake is spread over a square kilometer and is divided into three different islands, its largest island is called Nehru Park, which also has a restaurant and a small zoo for children, which serves as a picnic spot. It is also very famous.
The second island of the lake has a public park with water-jet fountains and the third is the Udaipur Solar Observatory. Due to being one of the special lakes of the city, Fateh Sagar Lake attracts a lot of tourists. People love to go boating in this place.
Jagdish Mandir
Jagdish Mandir is a very attractive temple built in the City Palace complex of Udaipur which has been built in dedication to Lord Vishnu.
This temple is also known as Lakshmi Narayan Mandir. The beautiful carvings, many attractive sculptures, and peaceful atmosphere of this temple are most liked by tourists and pilgrims.
Any person who once comes to this temple, everyone gets attracted to it after seeing its beauty, architecture, and grandeur. If you want to see other tourist places near Kumbhalgarh Fort, then you must also visit this temple.
Lake Pichola
Lake Pichola is a man-made lake that was built by a tribal Pichhu Banjara. Maharana Udai Singh was enchanted by the beauty of Lake Pichola, so he built the city of Udaipur on the banks of this lake. Lake Pichola is one of the largest and oldest lakes in Udaipur.
This lake attracts travelers coming here with its beauty and atmosphere. Surrounded by large mountains, buildings, and bathing ghats, this place is like a paradise for peace-loving people. You can also go boating at this tourist place of Udaipur. In the evening, this place appears to be immersed in golden color.
The beautiful view here takes the tourists to a different world. Lake Pichola is a very nice place to visit with family and friends. If you have come to Udaipur city to see Kumbhalgarh Fort, then definitely visit this tourist place.
City Palace
City Palace is a royal structure situated on the banks of Lake Pichola in Udaipur city which is one of the best places to visit near Kumbhalgarh Fort in Udaipur city, City Palace was built in 1559 by Maharana Udai Singh.
The Maharaja lived in this palace and his successors made this palace even more magnificent and added many structures to it. This palace now consists of rooms, a courtyard, pavilion, corridor, and terrace. A museum is also located at this place which displays Rajput art and culture.
What is the best time to visit Kumbhalgarh?
Kumbhalgarh has a hot and dry climate during the summer so traveling here is quite exhausting during this time. Winters (October to February) is a good time to visit Kumbhalgarh, as this season is quite good for sightseeing. The chances of spotting wild animals in the wildlife sanctuary are also very high during this season.
FAQs
- How many entrance gates are there in Kumbhalgarh Fort?
To climb the Kumbhalgarh durg one has to walk a circular path and one by one has to cross nine gates namely Orat Pol, Halla Pol, Hanuman Pol, Vijay Pol, Bhairavpol, Lemon Pol, Chaugan Pol, Pagada Pol, and Ganesh Pol. - On which plateau is the fort of Kumbhalgarh situated?
Despite being situated at an altitude of three and a half thousand feet above sea level, this fort is not visible from a distance due to the lush green valleys. It comes under the category of unconquered fortifications! It is safely surrounded by 13 high peaks of the Aravalli Mountains. Which used to fulfill the need for military utility and residence!
- When did the battle of Kumbhalgarh take place?
It happened on October 15, 1577.