Kumbhalgarh is the second
most important bastion in the Mewar region, after Chittorgarh. Where it now
stands, was once the site of an ancient citadel dating back to the 2nd
century AD. That citadel belonged to a Jain descendant of India's
Mauryan emperors. Rana Kumbha founded the fort of Kumbhalgarh in the 15th
century. Kumbhalgarh in Rajasthan, India is one of the few forts in India
that remain unconquered till date. One of the reasons behind this is the
inaccessibility and hostile topography of the fort. Maharana Fateh Singh got
the fort renovated in the 19th century.
The fort provided refuge to the rulers of Mewar in the times of
conflict, especially Udai, the baby king of Mewar. It is also the birthplace
of Maharana Pratap, a legendary King of Mewar. The fort was made in such a
way to protect it against the enemy forces. Encircling the fort is a 36 km
long wall, with width thick enough to accommodate eight horses abreast. A
self-sufficient fort, Kumbhalgarh was built with almost everything within
its premises, with a view to endure a long siege. A number of palaces as
well as temples inside the fort add to its appeal. Only once in its
lifetime, the fort fell to the combined Mughal and Amber armies, that to
because of a scarcity of drinking water.
Apart from this
magnificent fort, Kumbhalgarh travel and tourism is known for a number of
other attractions also. The Kumbhalgarh wildlife sanctuary is the perfect
place for the nature lovers. It is home to some of the exotic species of
animals as well as birds. Then there is the Muchchal Mahavir temple,
dedicated to Lord Mahavira and Haldighati, the venue of a famous historical
battle. One thing is for sure, that you will not be disappointed with a
visit to this fortress city.
| » Major
Attractions of Kumbhalgarh |
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.
Kumbhalgarh Fort : Rana Kumbha got the Kumbhalgarh fort
constructed in the 15th century. One of the few forts in Rajasthan that have
remained unconquered. Kumbhalgarh was also the birthplace of Maharana
Pratap, Mewar's legendary king. The attractions of the fort include a number
of fascinating palaces and an array of temples inside it. The fort is
enclosed by a thick wall, running up to 36 km and offers a splendid view of
the surroundings.
| » Places to
Stay in Kumbhalgarh |
The RTDC has done a lot to retain the traditional flavour in its
hotels in and around Kumbhalgarh. Hotels like RTDC's Khadim, come with AC
Deluxe rooms as well as ordinary rooms, which give a comfortable stay in the
city. There are also Sarai facilities for the pilgrims. The government
sponsored paying guest scheme makes the visitor feel at home.
Air : Udaipur is the nearest airport from
Kumbhalgarh, which is serviced by regular flights to and from cities like
Delhi, Mumbai and Jaipur.
Rail : The nearest
Railhead from Kumbhalgarh is Udaipur. The railway network links Udaipur to
Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur and other cities of India.
Road
: Kumbhalgarh is well connected to Udaipur, which in turn is linked to
other major cities in Rajasthan, Gujarat and other neighboring states.
Summers are warm with the maximum temperature climbing up to around
42° C. Kumbhalgarh weather experiences delightful and pleasant winters.
The average temperature in the winter season falls in the range of 25°
C (max) to 11° C (min).Max 42 ºC, Min 25 ºC (summer); Max 22 ºC,
Min 2 ºC (winter)
Kumbhalgarh
Tours
