Rajasthan is known for its historical forts which are a major part of tourism here. You will get to see many forts in Rajasthan. Today in this episode we are going to talk about Kumbhalgarh Fort which is located in 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 kilometers from Udaipur. Kumbhalgarh Fort is situated at an altitude of 1900 meters above sea level. This attractive fort is situated amidst a forest which has been converted into a wildlife sanctuary. This fort spread over the surface area has been a witness to the ancient history and bravery of Mewar. If you are traveling to Rajasthan or its city of Udaipur, then you must visit Kumbhalgarh Fort.
History of Kumbhalgarh Fort
Kumbhalgarh Fort is located in Rajasthan, and has a very ancient and glorious history. The 36-kilometer-long wall of Kumbhalgarh Fort is the second-largest wall in the world and is very impressive across the world. Maharana Kumbha of Mewar had built many forts which Kumbhalgarh Fort is considered very important. In this fort, many palaces, temples, and buildings are built on the elevated areas, and inside this fort, there is another fort which is known as Katargarh. Kumbhalgarh Fort is considered to be the most prominent in Mewar after Chittorgarh Fort. The history of this fort is that this Kumbhalgarh Fort has always been impenetrable and invincible.
Kumbh Mahal was the most important 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 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 built around the Kumbhalgarh fort. This fort has been the main residence of the kings of Mewar. Rana Sanga has also made a very important contribution to the history of Mewar. Attacks on this fort started ever since it was built, yet this fort has remained invincible. Despite Rana Sanga having 84 wounds all over his body, he continued fighting the war.
Architecture of Kumbhalgarh Fort
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. This fort has about seven gates and a total of 360 temples, out of which 300 are ancient Jain temples and the rest are Hindu temples. This fort has a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva inside which a huge Shivalinga is installed. A beautiful view of the dunes in the Thar Desert can also be seen from this fort. The walls of 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 with a thickness of 15 feet. Inside this fort, there is a Lakhola Tank which was constructed by Rana Lakha between 1382 and 1421 AD.
Attack on Kumbhalgarh Fort
This fort was built very strongly and it also had strict security arrangements. Therefore, despite being attacked several times, Kumbhalgarh did not fall into anyone's hands. When this fort was attacked by Alauddin Khilji, then the second attack on this fort was made by Ahmed Shah who was from Gujarat but he also failed. However, Ahmed Shah was successful in demolishing the Ban Mata temple. But it is also said that the gods present in the fort protected the fort from further damage. Mahmood Khilji also attacked this fort in the years 1458, 1459, and 1467 but failed to conquer the fort.
Apart from this, Akbar, King Udai 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 it was lack of water. It is said that three gardeners had committed fraud in that fight. In that battle, Shahbaz Khan took control of the fort. Shahbaz Khan was the commander of Akbar. In the year 1818, Marathas also succeeded in capturing Kumbhalgarh Fort.
The 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 forest of Udaipur, Kumbhalgarh Fort is the second largest fort in Rajasthan after Chittorgarh Fort. Built on a hilltop 1,100 meters (3,600 ft) above sea level on the Aravalli range, the Kumbhalgarh Fort has perimeter walls that extend for 36 km (22 mi) and are 15 feet wide, making it the longest in the world. Makes one of the walls. Kumbhalgarh Fort spread in the Aravali range is the birthplace of the famous king of Mewar, Maharana Pratap. 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.
Benefits of visiting 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. During this time, there is only greenery here due to which the view here looks quite nice. If you are going to Kumbhalgarh in the summer season, then let us tell you that you may face some difficulty in going here because the temperature here is high in the summer season.
(PC: Lifeberrys)