Located
64 kms north of Udaipur in the wilderness, Kumbhalgarh is the second most
important citadel after Chittorgarh in the Mewar region. Cradled in the
Aravali Ranges the fort was built in the 15th century by Rana Kumbha.
Because of its inaccessibility and hostile topography the fort had remained
un-conquered. It also served the rulers of Mewar as a refuge in times of
strife. The fort also served as refuge to the baby king Udai of Mewar. It is
also of sentimental significance as it is the birthplace of Mewar's
legendary King Maharana Partap. The fort is self-contained and has within
its amalgam almost everything to withstand a long siege. The fort fell only
once that too to the combined armies of Mughal and of Amber for scarcity of
drinking water. Many magnificent palaces an array of temples built by the
Mauryas of which the most picturesque place is the Badal Mahal or the palace
of the clouds. The fort also offers a superb birds view of the surroundings.
The fort's thick wall stretches some 36 kms and is wide enough to take eight
horses abreast. Maharana Fateh Singh renovated the fort in the 19th century.
The fort's large compound has very interesting ruins and the walk around it
can be very rewarding.
Udaipur travel can be adventurous if you
can plan an excursion to the Kumbhalgarh fort near Udaipur. Kumbhalgarh fort
can be included while listing the places of interest in Udaipur. It is more
interesting due to its hostile rough surroundings. Even if you want to spend
your excursion in acute confinement then the fort in Kumbalgarh, which is
near Udaipur, is the ideal destination for you. Kumbhalgarh fort is 64 km
north of Udaipur and is standing on the surface of the sky reaching Aravilli
ranges. Rana Kumbha built the fort of Kumbhalgarh and it became a safe
shelter for the baby and future king Udai Singh. Also it was a safe hideout
to countless Mewar rulers during the difficult times. It is also the
birthplace of the honorable Maharana Pratap. Several massive armies had to
lay their weapons under this massive and tough fort but unluckily the fort
once turned out to be aggressive to its own people. Once when the combined
army of Mughal and Amber attacked the fort the hideout became their
deathbed, as there was a shortage of water. Because of its rough terrains it
can also be said as one of the exotic destinations of Udaipur.
| » Other
Attractions in Udaipur |
Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary : Spread
over an area of 578 sq km, the Kumbhalgarh wildlife sanctuary is home to a
wide variety of wildlife. Wolf, leopards, sloth bear, hyena, jackal, jungle
cat, nilgai, four horned antelope, chinkara, grey jungle fowl and a number
of other animals inhabit this sanctuary. A birds watcher's paradise, the
sanctuary serves as a habitat of peacocks, doves, red spur owls, parakeets,
golden oriole, gray pigeons, bulbul, white breasted kingfisher, etc.
Haldighati :Haldighati was the venue of the famous
battle fought between Rana Pratap (son of Udai Singh) and the Mughal Emperor
Akbar in 1576 AD. Haldighati has a chhatri (cenotaph) of Rana Pratap with
white marble columns. Also present, is a small chatri dedicated to Rana
Pratap's famous horse Chetak.
Muchchal Mahavir Temple :Muchchal Mahavir temple is
famous for a statue of Lord Mahavira with a moustache, which it enshrines.
Guarding the gateways of the temple are two beautiful elephant statues. The
temple is situated in the Kumbhalgarh Sanctuary, approximately 5 km from
Ghanerao.
| » Places to
Stay in Udaipur |
There are several budget hotels and paying guest
accommodations available in Udaipur.
Air : The nearest airport is at Udaipur which is
about 85 km.
Rail : Some train services
connects Kumbhalgarh with some of the cities of Rajasthan.
Road : A good network of roads links Kumbhalgarh with
many important cities in and outside the Rajasthan.
Udaipur weather is quite moderate. The summer season in udaipur
extends from April to July and is pretty hot and humid. The average
temperature in summers falls in the range of 45° C (max) to 25.8°
C (min). The climate of Udaipur in winters is pretty cold. Lasting from
October to March, the winter season experiences average temperature in the
range of 22° C (max) to 8.3° C (min). The climatic conditions of
Udaipur, Rajasthan during this period lead to sunny day and chilly nights.
Monsoons start around the latter half of July. However, the city of Udaipur
does not receive much rainfall. Best time to visit Udaipur is during the
winters.
Kumbhalgarh Fort
