Kumbhalgarh fort| Rajasthan

Kumbhalgarh

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Kumbhalgarh is a wonderful 15th century fort situated roughly 110 kilometers to the northwest of Udaipur, in the Rajsamand district. Famous for the world’s third longest wall that circumvents it, running 36 kilometers, Kumbhalgarh Fort makes an attractive view situated atop a high hill in the Aravali hill range. This nostalgic place also has a wildlife sanctuary and the facility of some good hotels and resorts for the night stay.

Kumbhalgarh Fort was built by Rana Kumbha, the ruler of Mewar whose dominion stretched up to Gwalior and Ranthambore. This wonderful fort fell only once among the several wars it faced to a combined force of Mughal, Amber and Marwar armies; water scarcity being the reason. The outer wall of Kumbhalgarh Fort encloses nearly 360 temples along with several gardens and palaces. There are some beautiful temples inside the inner wall of the fort as well. Situated at a great height, Kumbhalgarh fort offers magnificent views of the surrounding plains and hills, which was also a major strategic advantage.

Before one enters the grand gate of Kumbhalgarh Fort, a great widespread view of the fort is to be had. Upon entering, there are some attractive temples to the right and a way leads to the top of Kumbhalgarh fort from the left. As the way winds up towards the pinnacle, one has to surrender the temptation of stopping and taking pictures of the fort as well as the bird’s eye views of the green and widespread land around. The serene and comparatively quiet atmosphere at the Kumbhalgarh, it being out of the heavy tourist traffic region, can be soothing and contemplative.

The Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the lesser known yet interesting places a wildlife lover could visit. Within its expanse of 578 Square Kilometers, the sanctuary is a home to some endangered species of plants, animals and birds. The frequently seen animals at Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary are leopards, sloth bears, wolves, hyenas, jungle cats, jackals and different species of deer. Small and large water reservoirs scattered throughout the sanctuary offer nice opportunities to the bird lovers. Golden orioles, grey pigeons, parakeets, red spur owls and different kinds of kingfishers can be seen in the Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary. Jungle treks and safaris are arranged by the authorities.

Just a few hours from Udaipur, the blend of history and beautiful nature at Kumbhalgarh can prove to be a very relaxing combination. Kumbhalgarh is highly recommended to those who are looking for a peaceful retreat away from the hubbub of tourists. Though you can easily cover Kumbhalgarh in one day starting from and returning to Udaipur, it is recommended that you book a night’s stay and enjoy the place at leisure.

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Kumbhalgarh is famous for Kumbhalgarh Fort that was built by Rana Kumbha in 15th century. Its long wall surrounds approximately 360 temples, palaces and gardens. The view from the Kumbhalgarh Fort is very pleasing. Kumbhalgarh also has a Wildlife Sanctuary where wildlife lovers can spend time. There are nice resorts and hotels in Kumbhalgarh.

Destination Grade:	B (What is this?)
Rating:	6/10
Population:	131446
5 Star Hotels:	Aodhi Hotel
Luxury Hotels:	Club Mahindra Fort
Airport:	Udaipur is 85 km away
Railway Station:	Udaipur
Nearest Major City(s):	Udaipur (105 km)
How to reach:	It is connected to Udaipur, Ajmer, Jodhpur and Pushkar by the state buses
Major Tourist Attraction:	Wildlife Sanctuary, Fort
Speciality(Famous for):	Kumbhalgarh Fort

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The story of Kumbhalgarh - by Yash Kothari Dated : 2011-11-19

The Kumbhalgarh fort, situated atop a hill, was built by Maharaja Kumbha. You will pass several large gateways as you move up the steep pathway that leads to the summit of the Kumbhalgarh fort. On elephants and horseback, you can imagine how difficult it must have been for a charging army to attack Maharaja Kumbha. Boulders and heavy material could be rolled down on the attacking army by the people in the fort. Maharaja Kumbha’s forces also could rain down arrows on the enemy.

Legend has it that Maharaja Kumbha was asked to behead a holy man by a seer. After beheading, the holy man’s head should be allowed to roll down a hill, was told to the maharaja by the seer. The maharaja should build a temple where the holy man’s head stops and the maharaja should build a great wall where the man’s body lay. On top of a hill, the supposed execution of the holy man took place. The temple and great wall were built by Maharaja Kumbha, as you can guess.

Once you reach the fort, you enter a large square where a memorial is built to honour the holy man, who was beheaded. As you explore the fort, you will realize that he rooms are not ornate as in the case of other forts and palaces.
Visit and explore this great fort.

Massive Kumbhalgarh - by Shafi Inamdar Dated : 2011-11-16

Kumbhalgarh consists of the massive Kumbhalgarh fort, located atop a hill. Since the fort is located in such a fashion, it was impregnable in the past.

The Kumbhalgarh fort is surrounded by a thick wall, 36 Kms long. It is the biggest man-made wall in the world, after the Great Wall of China. This feature of the fort also made the fort impregnable. The wall surrounding the Kumbhalagrh fort is not only long, but also wide. It is so wide that 8 horses can ride side by side along it.

The compound wall of the Kumbhalgarh fort has 7 main gates known as pols. These gates are also huge and are made of wood. There are also some watch towers on the ramparts. You can imagine how difficult it must have been to penetrate the fort in the past.

Kumbhalgarh fort was built by Mahahraja Rana Kumbha in the 15th century. He built the strong fort so that he could stay away from the feudal rampages and wars between the various clans. These wars were fought by the clans vying for power. Several kings tried to conquer the fort but were unsuccessful in doing so.

Do not miss a visit to this beautiful and massive fort complex.

Kumbhalgarh, the unconquered - by Madhuri Kulkarni Dated : 2011-11-15

In the 15th century, Maharaja Rana Kumbha built the Kumbhalgarh fort. To stay away from the feudal rampages and wars between various clans, he built the strong fort. Clans vying for power fought these wars. Unsuccessful were the kings who tried to conquer the Kumbhalgarh fort.

The Kumbhalgarh fort is surrounded by a thick wall, 36 Kms long. After the Great Wall of China, it is the biggest man-made wall in the world. The fort was impregnable due to this feature of the fort. The long wall of the fort is so wide that 8 horses can ride along it side by side.

Seven main gates called pols are there in the compound wall of the Kumbhalgarh fort. These gates are made of wood and are huge. On the ramparts, there are also some watch towers. Penetrating the fort in the past was very difficult.

The only time the Kumbhalgarh fort was conquered was when several Maharajas and Emperor Akbar joined forces to conquer the fort. Rana Kumbha’s kingdom stretched from Gwalior to Ranthambore.

The beauty of this fort is massive and beautiful. After you see this gorgeous fort, you will feel like visiting it again. You should definitely visit the Kumbhalgarh fort which was more or less unconquerable.

A marvel among the hills - by Roger Fleming Dated : 2011-11-14

The Kumbhalgarh fort had a farming land and jungle inside it. Thus food here was abundant. However, due to the location of the fort atop a hill, water was scarce. Elephants were used to transport gallons of water to the fort.

Abundant wildlife can be found inside and outside the Kumbhalgarh fort. The animals found in the jungles in and around the fort are panthers, leopards, wolves, wild boars, jackals, hyenas and four horned deer. You will also find crocodiles in the lakes around the fort. The birds found in the jungle are parrots, flamingos, cranes, kingfishers and storks. The forest offers a wide variety of flora and fauna. You can also enjoy the wildlife safari offered in the forest. The prominent feature of this wildlife safari is that it can be enjoyed in a protected setting.

The wildlife safari in the reserve can be undertaken on horseback or in jeeps. The jeeps for the safari are stationed nearby. Inside the huge compound wall of the Kumbhagarh fort are 360 Hindu and Jain temples. You can imagine how massive the fort complex is. Even today, the Maharaja of Udaipur has employed a priest who daily lights oil lamps in these gorgeous temples. The priest also tends to the temples.

Enjoy and explore the beautiful Kumbhalgarh fort.

A wonder in the rugged Aravali Mountains - by P Subramanyam Dated : 2011-11-12

The wonderful Kumbhalgarh fort offers a wildlife safari. Horses and jeeps are available in which the wildlife safari can be undertaken. Three sixty Hindu and Jain temples are there inside the huge compound wall of the Kumbhalgarh fort. The fort complex is massive. A priest lights oil lamps in these gorgeous temples, who has been employed by the Maharaja of Udaipur. The temples are also tended to by the priest.

Inside and outside the Kumbhalgarh fort, abundant wildlife can be found. The animals found in the jungles in and around the fort are wolves, leopards, jackals, wild boars, panthers, four horned deer and hyenas. The birds found in the jungle are cranes, parrots, flamingos, storks and kingfishers. A wide variety of flora and fauna are offered by the forest. The wildlife safari can be enjoyed in a protected setting. This is a prominent feature of this wildlife safari.

The Kumbhalgarh fort was used as a safe place for the royal family of Kumbhalgarh, rather then a place of entertainment. The ladies quarters also had screens where they could see the on goings around them, protected from male eyes.

This fort has a magnetic pull to it. Don’t miss a visit to this wonderful fort.

More about Kumbhalgarh - by Kajal Kapur Dated : 2011-11-11

The Kumbhalgarh fort has a past behind it. Several attempts were made by various people to build a fort or palace on top of a hill, but they were unsuccessful. The Kumbhalgarh fort was built by Maharaja Kumbha, atop a hill.
Legend has it that a seer asked Maharaja Kumbha to behead a holy man. The seer also told the maharaja that after beheading, the holy man’s head should be allowed to roll down a hill. Where his head stops, the maharaja should build a temple and where the holy man’s body lay, the Maharaja should build a great wall. The supposed execution of the holy man took place on top of the hill. As you can guess, the temple and great wall were built by Maharaja Kumbha.
As you move up the steep pathway that leads to the summit of the Kumbhalgarh fort, you will pass several large gateways. As the fort is situated atop a hill, you can imagine how difficult it must have been for a charging army to attack Maharaja Kumbha on elephants and horseback. The people in the fort also had the advantage of rolling down boulders and heavy material on the attacking army. Moreover, arrows also could be rained down on the enemy by Maharaja Kumbha’s forces.
Don’t miss a visit to this strategically located fort.

Kumbhalgarh, a nice getaway - by Rakesh Jain Dated : 2011-11-09

Udaipur and Nathdwara are the places from which Udaipur can be reached. Good roads are the speciality of Kumbhalgarh. This place forms a historical delight with Haldighati in close quarters. It is a good getaway from Udaipur as the views in the way from Udaipur to Kumbhalgarh are beautiful. Kumbhalgarh is a haven from the hustle and bustle of other cities as it is the least commercialized town in Rajasthan. Since the place is not commercialised, there aren’t many good restaurants here. Thus Kumbhalgarh is a peaceful, historical getaway.

As Haldighati is close to Kumbahlgarh, let me tell you something about it. The museum in Haldighati is worth a visit. You can club your visit to Kumbhalgarh, Haldighati and Ranakpur.

The food is costly in the very few good restaurants in Kumbhalgarh. It will be better if you carry your own food resources as there aren’t any other restaurants than the few costly restaurants here. Another attraction is the Ranakpur temple which is at a distance of 60 Kms from Kumbhalgarh.

Since the fort in Kumbhalgarh is well maintained and clean, it is worth visiting. The other forts in the state are not as clean as this fort.

A visit to wonderful Kumbhalgrah should not be missed.

The beautiful landscape of Kumbhalgarh - by Shivnarayan Yadav Dated : 2011-11-09

The fort at Kumbhalgarh is a photographer’s delight at night as it is beautifully illuminated at night.

Haldighati is a place close to Kumbhalgarh. Haldighati houses the famous museum. The enthusiasm of the guides in Haldighati is almost infectious. When you go to Haldigahti, make sure that you hire a registered guide.

The city of Udaipur is close to Kumbhalgarh. The drive from Udaipur to Kumbhalgarh is comfortable. Udaipur is also well connected by road rail and air to all the major cities in India. As Rajasthan is hot during the summers, I suggest that you should go to Kumbhalgarh during winters. This is applicable to all towns in Rajasthan.

The famous Kumbhalgarh fort here is the second most important fort in India. It is situated atop a hill, at a height of 3600 ft above sea level. As you walk up the steep path to reach the summit, you will realize how high this fort is situated. This is because you will find it difficult to go up the steep path to the Kumbhalgarh fort. The fort is surrouded by 13 beautiful mountains. The sight from the fort is gorgeous.

If you want to know more about the fort, you should definitely visit it.

Gorgeous Kumbhalgarh - by Vishal Sabnis Dated : 2011-11-05

Beautiful Kumbhalgarh houses the famous Kumbhalgarh fort. The second most important fort in India is the Kumbhalgarh fort. At a height of 3600 ft above sea level, it is situated atop a hill. You will realize how high the Kumbhalgarh fort is situated, as you walk up the steep path that leads to the fort. This is because, going up the steep path to the fort is difficult. Thirteen beautiful mountains surround the fort. You will be struck by beauty as you see the hills from the Kumbhalgarh fort. This fort was impregnable because of its location atop a hill.

Kumbhalgarh is close to the city of Udaipur. The drive between Kumbhalgarh and Udaipur is comfortable. All major cities in India are well connected by rail, road and air to Udaipur. I suggest that you go to Kumbhalgarh during winters as Rajasthan is hot during the summers. This can be applied to all towns in Rajasthan.

Kumbhalgarh is close to Haldighati. The famous museum is situated in Haldighati. The guides in Haldighati are very enthusiastic. Make sure that you hire a registered guide when you go to Haldighati, as the place has a long history behind it.

Don’t miss a visit to the gorgeous Kumbhalgarh fort.

Kumbhalgarh, a nice place - by Sachin Patil Dated : 2011-11-05

There is a fort in Kumbhalgarh. The fort lighting at night is beautiful. There is also a jungle safari here but it is not all that exciting. The jungle safari is offered early in the morning and evening.

There are very few good restaurants here but the food there is costly. Other than that there aren’t any good restaurants here, so it will be better if you carry some food resources with you. The Ranakpur temple is at a distance of 60 Kms from Kumbhalgarh, so it is another attraction.

Kumbhalgarh can be reached from Udaipur as well as Nathdwara. The roads here are excellent. With Haldighati in close quarters, Kumbhalgarh forms a historical delight. The views on the way from Udaipur to Kumbhalgarh are beautiful, so it is a very good getaway from Udaipur. Moreover, it is the least commercialized town in Rajasthan, so it is a haven from the hustle and bustle of other cities. The reason why there aren’t many good restaurants here is because this place is not commercialised.

The fort in Kumbhalgarh is worth visiting because it is very well maintained and clean. Thus it is a respite from the other forts in the state.

Thus Kumbhalgarh is a place worth a visit and should not be missed.

Kumbhalgarh - by Naina Dated : 2011-05-02

The reason why I went to Kumbhalgarh is because I wanted to see the Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary. It is an interesting place. There I saw leopards, sloth bears, wolves, hyenas, jungle cats, jackals and different species of deer. It was a wonderful experience. Kumbhalgarh is a silent city. The Kumbhalgarh Fort is a huge fort and is surrounded by the world's third longest wall.

My Kumbhalgarh Trip with Friends - by Dev Patel Dated : 2011-03-09

I was in Kumbhalgarh for over two days and three nights, on a planned trip along with 2 of my friends. We had booked a great hotel there and everything was perfect. since we did not have much time in our hands, we decided to chalk out a proper plan to visit the city.

The most prominent attraction of Kumbhalgarh is the Kumbhalgarh Fort so we preferred seeing the fort first. the morning we reached Kumbhalgarh we freshened up and were enthusiastic to about visiting the fort.

The Kumbhalgarh fort is surrounded by the Aravali hill ranges and the view of the hills was superb. The fort literally looks inaccessible. The wall that circumvents the fort is known to be the second largest wall in the world after the Great Wall of China.

The fort was built by Rana Kumbha and after seeing the inside of the fort I felt immense respect for him. There are many palaces and gardens inside the fort, the interior is attractive and beautiful. The fort is situated at an appalling height of 1914 meters above the sea level. I and my friends had great deal of fun exploring the fort, we were happy to come to a place where we got a spectacular view of the Aravali ranges. Later that afternoon we called it a day and went back to our hotel.

Next on the agenda was the Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary. I do not like sanctuaries much, but my friends did, so I went along. We saw many animals there and the ambiance of the sanctuary was wild and close to nature. It was a tiring day and as we returned back, we passed out in our beds, not knowing when sleep conquered us.

Kumbhalgarh is a good tourist place and it is worth visiting.

Memorable Day at the Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary - by Suraj Mishra Dated : 2011-03-08

I am a wildlife lover and hence I chose a destination close to my hometown that would help me explore wildlife to my heart’s content. Though not very well known, the wildlife sanctuary at Kumbhalgarh is a good option for wildlife lovers like me.

The Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary stretches a good 586 square kilometers in terms of area. During the monsoons, the Aravalis turn green and offer a decent shelter to animals like sloth bears, leopards, deer and antelopes. If you are interested in some bird watching, you must visit Kumbhalgarh during the winters. You can spot some beautiful migratory birds like Flamingos, Spoonbills and Egrets.

For those who do not know, I would like to tell that you can also see wild crocodiles here. They are scientifically bred here and can be seen in the lake within the sanctuary. They are a great attraction amongst tourists. The best season to visit this sanctuary is from March to May and September to November.

I also suggest that if you have good time to spare you can visit Ranakpur. It is hardly 50 kilometers from Kumbhalgarh and it is famous for the Jain temples. Here there is a temple that is dedicated to Tirthankar Adinath. It is called as the Chaumukha temple. Also there is a Suun temple of the 6th century nearby. It has intricate carvings of warriors, horses and deities driving royal chariots.
A well planned visit to Kumbhalgarh en route from Udaipur can be engaging and enjoyable.

A Good Day at Kumbhalgarh - by Vishal Saxena Dated : 2011-03-08

Kumbhalgarh is not very far from Udaipur. Apart from a majestic fort by the name of Kumbhalgarh fort this place also has a wildlife sanctuary.

The main attraction of Kumbhalgarh is the Kumbhalgarh Fort. It has many gardens and palaces. When I first saw the wall that surrounds this fort I was compelled to call it ‘the great wall of India’ through my mind’s voice. The fort is still in a good condition thanks to the yesteryear ways of defensive fortification.

The fort can be called an inaccessible fort in Rajasthan in a true sense. The view from the fort is exhilarating since it includes wild scenery of the desert of Mewar and the Aravali ranges. Literally the height of the fort is 1914 meters above the sea level. This must have been a great advantage for the fort and its security.
My guide filled me in with information about Rana Kumbha who built this fort. The man must have a great and powerful ruler. He is believed to have designed 32 fortresses that defended Mewar from external dominance and conquests.

The fort was only once won by the combined forces of Akbar, King Mansingh of Amber and King Udaisingh of Marwar. This was the fort where Maharana Pratap was born, the room where he was born is octagonal.

Since my time restricted me from visiting the Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary I had to satisfy myself just by a visit to this majestic fort. I was confused, whether the town got its name from this fort or this fort got its name from the town, and I smiled to myself.

A Happy Day at Kumbhalgarh - by Apurva Pathak Dated : 2011-01-24

In Rajasthan, a state full of forts, Kumbhalgarh Fort of Kumbhalgarh is yet another fort that is meant to captivate. Situated in Rajsamand district in the Northwest of Udaipur, the Fort has the world’s third longest wall stretching 36 kilometers around it.

The Kumbhalgarh Fort was built by Rana Kumbha, the ruler of Mewar in the 15th century. There are beautiful temples inside the inner wall of the Fort while the outer wall encloses around 360 temples along with gardens and palaces. The Fort has a grand and welcoming gate, one step inside it can make you forget everything on your mind. Attractive temples on the right await a glance while a way leading to the top of the Fort is too hard to avoid. The entire view of the lush green land around from the top of the Fort is serene and beautiful.

Kumbhalgarh also has a wildlife sanctuary housing endangered species of plants, animals and birds. It stretches 578 square kilometers and has small as well as large water reservoirs that attract birds like golden orioles, grey pigeons and red spur owls. Animals mostly seen in the sanctuary are leopard, sloth bears, wolves, hyenas and different species of deer. Jungle treks and safaris are also are arranged by the authorities of the sanctuary. A visit to Kumbhalgrah is a peaceful retreat in nature’s vicinity.

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