KUMBHALGARH
Tourist Attractions: Haldighati, Kumbhalgarh Fort, Ranakpur Temples
Best Time To Visit: October-March
The Mountain Fortress In The Wilderness
Cradled
in a cluster of 13 mountain peaks of the Aravalli ranges, the formidable
medieval citadel - Kumbhalgarh stands a wary sentinel to the past. Rising
from a prominent ridge, 1914 meters high from the sea level, the fort was
built in by Maharana Kumbha (1419-63 AD) and is the principal
fortification after Chittorgarh lying
90-kms north-west of Udaipur.
The massive fort, encompassed by a 36-km long wall, has seven majestic
gates and seven ramparts, one within the other. Rounded bastions and
soaring watchtowers strengthen the crenallated walls of the fort making it
an impregnable structure.
Fascinating chambers are built on the western side of the last gate - the
'Nimboo Pol'. According to history, the infant Udai Singh was smuggled
from Bundi and hidden in these chambers by his faithful maid Panna Dai to
save him from the murderous intentions of his uncles who desired the
throne.
Udai Singh ascended the throne of Mewar with Kumbhalgarh as his residence
and later established Udaipur - the beautiful
Lake City.
Within the fort are many magnificent palaces and an array of ruined
temples.
The most picturesque of the palaces is the 'Badal Mahal 'or the palace of
the cloud. The palace has got its name for being the highest of all the
structures. It offers a superb bird's eye view of the countryside
surrounding the fort as well as of other ruins within the fort.
The ancient ruins of the temples within the fort date back to the Mauryan
period built during the reign of the grandson of the Mauryan Emperor
Ashoka who belonged to the Jain community. Most of the ruins in
Kumbhalgarh are of the Jain temples of various periods.
As one moves to the East, Kali Temple and the Namadev Kund with royal
'Chhatris' can be seen. Another noteworthy temple, a little further;
enshrines a fine black marble 'lingam'. The 'mandap' or the hall of the
temple has beautiful pillars, finely fluted and having a tapering shape.
PRIME ATTRACTIONS
FORTS
Haldighati: The scene of the famous battle of 1576 AD fought
between Rana Pratap, the heroic son of Udai Singh and the massive forces
of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. A beautiful 'Chhatri' with white marble
columns, dedicated to Rana Pratap stands here.
Kumbhal Garh Fort: Kumbhalgarh
Fort was built by Maharana Kumbha in the 15th century. Perched on the
Aravallis, this is the second most important fort in Rajasthan after the
Chittaurgarh Fort. Nearby is the Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary. more...
WILDLIFE
Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary: The 286-sq-kms sanctuary
supporting a rich variety of wildlife like the Panther, Sloth Bear, Wild
Boar, Four-horned Antelope and scientifically bred crocodiles in the lake
are the major attractions. The Sanctuary is also noted for Flamingoes,
Cormorants, Spoonbills and Egrets, which are usually seen in winter.
LAKES
Rajsamand Lake: On the way to Kumbhalgarh lies the magnificent
dam - the Rajsamand Lake. The royal lake, was built in 1660 AD by Rana Raj
Singh. From here, one can have a spectacular view of the sunset with
beautiful 'torans' or arches and 'chhatris' adorning the embankment. The
lake has a Rest House of the Irrigation Department on the embankment
below. The Rest House has a beautifully laid out garden interspersed with
exquisite sculptures excavated from the ruins nearby.
The town of Kankroli nearby with a marvellous temple and a pretty palace
on the hill top offers a scenic view.
TEMPLES
Ranakpur Temples: (85-km from Udaipur and 50-km from Kumbhalgarh).
These beautiful Jain temples are fine examples of temple architecture.
Kankroli Rajsamand, located nearby are known for their scenic beauty.
HOW TO GET THERE
Air: Udaipur at 105-km is the most convenient
airport from Kumbhalgarh.
Road: Kumbhalgarh Fort is approachable by a good road, but there
aren't any train connections from here.
PLACES TO STAY
PWD Guest House and quite a few resonable budget hotels are avaialable in Kumbhalgarh.
NEARBY CITIES
Ranakpur: 50-km
Udaipur: 105-km
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