Rajasthan is known for its historical forts which are a major part of tourism here. You will get to see more than one fort in Rajasthan. Today in this episode we are going to talk about Kumbhalgarh Fort which is located in the Rajsamand district. The specialty of this fort is its 36 km long wall. It is a World Heritage Site included in the Hill Fountains of Rajasthan. Kumbhalgarh Fort is located at a distance of 88 km from Udaipur. Kumbhalgarh Fort is situated at an altitude of 1900 meters above sea level. This attractive fort is situated in the middle of a forest that has been converted into a wildlife sanctuary. This fort spread over the surface area has been a witness to the ancient history and valor of Mewar. If you are traveling to Rajasthan or its city of Udaipur, then you must also visit Kumbhalgarh Fort.
History of Kumbhalgarh Fort
Kumbhalgarh Fort is located in Rajasthan and has a very ancient and glorious history. The 36-kilometer wall of Kumbhalgarh Fort is the second largest wall in the world which is very impressive all over the world. Maharana Kumbha of Mewar had built many forts, and the Kumbhalgarh fort is considered very important. In this fort, many palaces, temples, and buildings have been built on the higher areas and inside this fort, there is another fort known as Katargarh. Kumbhalgarh fort is considered to be the most prominent after Chittorgarh fort in Mewar. The history of this fort has been that the Kumbhalgarh fort has always been impregnable and invincible.
Kumbh Mahal was the main residence of Maharana Kumbh. It was Maharana Udai Singh who founded the city of Udaipur, which is famous all over the world today. There are about 360 temples built inside the Kumbhalgarh fort, of which 300 are Jain temples and the rest are Hindu temples. There are 13 huge mountains and huge strong walls around the Kumbhalgarh fort. This fort has been the main residence of the kings of Mewar. Rana Sanga has also had a very important contribution to the history of Mewar. After the construction of this fort, attacks started on it, yet this fort has remained invincible. Despite Rana Sanga having 84 wounds all over his body, he continued to fight the war.
Kumbhalgarh Fort Architecture
Kumbhalgarh Fort is situated on a hill that is about 1100 meters above sea level. The gate of this fort is also known as Ram Gate or Ram Pol. The fort has about seven gates and a total of 360 temples, out of which 300 are ancient Jain and the rest are Hindu temples. The fort has a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, inside which a huge Shivling is installed. A beautiful view of the dunes in the Thar Desert can also be seen from this fort. The walls of the Kumbhalgarh Fort are 36 km in diameter, making it one of the longest walls in the world. The frontal walls of this fort are very thick, and the thickness is 15 feet. There is a Lakhola tank inside this fort which was constructed by Rana Lakha between 1382 and 1421 AD.
Attack on Kumbhalgarh Fort
This fort was built very strongly, as well as it had strict security arrangements. That's why, despite being attacked many times, Kumbhalgarh did not come into anyone's hands. When this fort was attacked by Alauddin Khilji, then after that the second attack on this fort was done by Ahmed Shah who was from Gujarat but he also got unsuccessful. Although Ahmad Shah was successful in demolishing the Ban Mata temple. But it is also said that the deities present in the fort saved the fort from further damage. Mahmud Khilji also attacked this fort in the years 1458, 1459, and 1467 but failed to win the fort.
Apart from this, Akbar, Raja Uday Singh of Marwar, Raja Mansingh, and Mirza of Gujarat also made a fierce attack on this fort, but all the enemies were defeated in front of the bravery of the Rajputs. The fort of Kumbhalgarh had to face defeat in only one battle and the reason behind that was the lack of water. It is said that in that fight 3 Baghbans had committed fraud. In that battle, Shahbaz Khan had taken the fort under his control. Shahbaz Khan was the general of Akbar. In the year 1818, the Marathas also succeeded in capturing the Kumbhalgarh fort.
Second largest wall in the world
You must have heard about the Great Wall of China, but Kumbhalgarh is called the Great Wall of India. Located 80 km north of the jungles of Udaipur, Kumbhalgarh Fort is the second largest fort in Rajasthan after Chittorgarh Fort. Built on a hilltop 1,100 m (3,600 ft) above sea level on the Aravalli range, Kumbhalgarh Fort has perimeter walls that extend for 36 km (22 mi) and are 15 ft wide, making it the longest in the world. Makes one of the walls. The Kumbhalgarh Fort spread over the Aravalli Range is the birthplace of Maharana Pratap, the famous king of Mewar. This is the reason why 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.
Best time to visit Kumbhalgarh
Talking about the best time to visit Kumbhalgarh, let us tell you that due to the cold climate here, many tourists come during the winter season. At this time, there is only greenery here, due to which the view here looks very nice. If you are going to Kumbhalgarh in the summer season, then let us tell you that you may have to face some difficulty in going here because the temperature is high in the summer season.
